Maintaining good personal hygiene involves caring for our skin, hair, mouth, teeth and body in general. Doing this helps avoid minor side effects like bad breath and greasy skin while protecting us from more serious health concerns like infections and serious diseases.
Women should also pay special attention to maintaining good vulvar hygiene, including both its external parts and canal. A healthy vulva ecosystem houses billions of good bacteria that protect against germs.
Bathing
Feminine hygiene is an integral component of personal health. Adopting an effective feminine hygiene regimen is key to avoiding infections like urinary tract infections (UTIs). Furthermore, regular check-ups with your gynecologist and self-exams will keep your health on track.
The vulva is a delicate area that needs special care to avoid irritation. Regular, gentle cleansing is key for intimate hygiene; harsh soaps may damage skin in this region and alter its natural pH balance; for optimal hygiene it is better to use a pH-balanced external wash or clean the area during your daily shower with warm water instead.
Many commercial products marketed towards women claim to help clean the vulva, yet often these are nothing more than marketing ploys with pink packaging and intoxicating floral fragrances that send the false message that using such products makes you cleaner than not using them does. Instead, opt for products which have been carefully formulated and clinically tested so as to provide targeted antimicrobial benefits without negatively affecting natural flora in any way.
Dressing
Skin serves as an armor against germs entering our bodies, so regular cleansing helps keep it clean. Washing all body parts daily with deodorant can also help eliminate body odor caused by sweat, chemicals known as pheromones that attract or repel other people and waste from bacteria.
Women should regularly cleanse the genital area (vulva) with soap and water or a cleanser specifically tailored for feminine hygiene, taking extra care in handling this delicate area. For further inquiries or additional guidance call Healthdirect 1800 022 222 in Victoria and ask to be connected to one of their registered nurses on Call.
Menstrual hygiene
Women and girls need to manage their periods safely and healthily during menstruation. This involves washing hands frequently and using only hygienic products; access to clean, affordable sanitary pads; as well as changing facilities that offer privacy during periods.
Unhygienic menstrual practices can increase your risk of infection. A recent study concluded that poor hygiene during menstruation increases your risk of cervical cancer and pelvic inflammatory disease. Furthermore, unsanitary habits may also result in yeast or thrush infections.
Before and after using the bathroom, it’s essential that you wash your hands. Furthermore, prior to and after using a tampon, pad, or menstrual cup it is a good idea to thoroughly rinse your hands after use as this will reduce germ spread and bacteria growth. Finally, after disposing of your menstrual products properly by wrapping them in toilet paper before discarding into waste bins will also help in decreasing spread of germs and inhibit further bacteria development.
Cleaning
Women should carefully wash and dry their external vulva on a regular basis while being mindful of this delicate area. Women should use mild, soap-free cleanser, without too vigorous rubbing motions. Also important is avoiding products which alter pH balance or microbiota of vagina.
Good hygiene practices keep the body clean, which in turn prevents illness and keeps people feeling better. Daily, the skin comes into contact with millions of germs that could make people ill; its role as a filter keeps these harmful agents at bay from other parts of the body. Hygiene also includes brushing teeth, washing hands, caring for mouth ears hair nails and feet – this takes practice to become part of everyday routine.
