Practising good personal hygiene is essential to keeping yourself free from germs. These infectious agents can spread via touch, sneezes and coughing as well as dirty surfaces that spread them further.
Women should perform regular self-hygiene routines that focus on keeping the vulva and genital areas clean, such as washing the vulva and genital area properly and avoiding trendy practices like douching and vaginal steaming, which may disrupt natural bacteria that help fight infections and cause infections.
Wash your hands
Handwashing is one of the most essential hygiene practices that can help prevent the spread of germs – and any associated illness from diarrhea to colds – by washing hands often and thoroughly.
Maintaining clean hands is especially essential before and after using the restroom, handling raw meat or being in contact with sick individuals. Wash your hands often throughout the day for best results.
When washing your hands, make sure you use warm water and soap. Lather your hands up together for at least 20 seconds (around the length of time it takes to sing “Happy Birthday”) focusing on wrists, backs and spaces between fingers as well as wrists and backs of hands – and then make sure you rinse well to get rid of all that soap residue!
Be sure to dry your hands using a paper towel or hand towel regularly – germs tend to latch onto damp hands more easily, and this simple step can prevent further spread to parts of the body such as eyes, noses and mouths.
Brush your teeth
Personal hygiene routines like washing your hands, brushing your teeth and cleansing private areas are crucial in order to avoid germs and maintain cleanliness. Adults and kids should make this part of their regular schedule – however factors like mental health issues, age or living conditions may have an impactful role here; those suffering from psychotic disorders, severe depression or drug or alcohol use disorders may find it challenging to keep up with this aspect of personal care; those living in poverty may lack access to soap or water which impedes this practice – brushing properly can keep your smile looking healthy!
Change your tampons
Tampons are menstruation products designed to absorb menstrual blood during menstruation and come in various sizes and absorbency capacities, as well as being readily available at stores that sell sanitary protection products.
To insert a tampon, sit comfortably with legs apart or on the toilet seat and remove its outer packaging. Depending on which type of tampon you have selected, use either your fingers or an applicator to place it into your vaginal opening.
Before removing a tampon, ensure your hands are thoroughly cleansed. Sit comfortably in an ergonomic position while relaxing your body as you use your index finger to grab its string. Gently pull it from your vagina and wrap in toilet paper if necessary before disposing of the used tampon appropriately and washing hands again afterwards.
Clean your vagina
The vulva, the internal canal that contains your tampon and clitoris, provides natural protection from bacteria. Washing it with soap, gels or sprays may disrupt this balance and lead to bacterial vaginosis or yeast infections; douching involves squirting water through your vulva canal in an attempt to dilute or eradicate these germs.
If it comes to cleaning your vulva, less is best. All that’s necessary for successful vulva care is a gentle cleanser and warm water; anything scented could irritate the area further and anything that claims to “balance pH levels” is an absolute no-no, according to Streicher.
One crucial tip for maintaining feminine hygiene is wiping from front to back instead of back to front after using the bathroom, in order to prevent harmful bacteria from your anus entering your vagina and potentially leading to infection. Wearing panty liners daily for additional support may also prove effective.
