- Personal hygiene is defined as a condition promoting sanitary practices to the self. Hygiene is the science concerned with the prevention of illness and maintenance of health.
Cleansing of the skin is a complex interaction between the stratum corneum barrier, environmental dirt, body secretions, and a surfactant. Washing of the skin is the single most common cause of dermatologic disease, yet it is necessary in terms of personal hygiene and health.
Personal hygiene is defined as a condition promoting sanitary practices to the self. Hygiene is the science concerned with the prevention of illness and maintenance of health. It is important to know, understand and practice good personal hygiene for as early as childhood to ensure a healthy lifestyle up until the stage of puberty and adulthood.
I. HANDWASHING
Hand washing is an easy way to prevent infection. It is a simple habit that can help keep you healthy. Learn the benefits of good hand hygiene, when to wash your hands and how to clean them properly.
Hand washing is something most people do without thinking. Yet hand washing,when done properly, is one of the best ways to avoid getting sick. This simple habit requires only soap and warm water or an alcohol- based hand sanitizer — a cleanser that doesn't require water.
IMPORTANCE
1. To cleanse the hands of pathogens (including bacteria or viruses) and chemicals which can cause personal harm or disease.
2. One good way to prevent transfer of infectious diseases that are commonly spread through hand-to-hand contact and contact with fomites (doorknobs) including the common cold, flu and several gastrointestinal disorders, such as infectious diarrhea.
3. Inadequate hand hygiene contributes to food-related illnesses, such as salmonella and E. coli infection.
PROCEDURE
•Wet your hands with warm, running water and apply liquid soap or use clean bar soap. Lather well.
•Rub your hands vigorously together for at least 15 to 20 seconds.
•Scrub all surfaces, including the backs of your hands, wrists, between your fingers and under your fingernails.
•Rinse well.
•Dry your hands with a clean or disposable towel.
•Use a towel to turn off the faucet.
II. ORAL CARE
Get daily dental care tips and learn ways to protect your oral health. See which symptoms should prompt a call to your dentist. Don't take your smile for granted. Maintain good oral health by practicing regular dental care habits and reporting problems to your dentist promptly.
IMPORTANCE
1. Prevents losing your teeth and gives you a wide good smile.
2. Cleaning your teeth daily and visiting your dentist one to two times a year
prevents gum disease and other oral health problems.
PROCEDURE
- Brush your teeth at least twice a day and ideally after every meal, using fluoride-containing toothpaste.
- Use a soft-bristled toothbrush — it's gentler on your gums.
- To brush properly, hold your toothbrush at a slight angle against your teeth and use short back-and-forth motions.
- Brush the inside and chewing surfaces of your teeth.
- Brush your teeth for about two minutes each time you brush.
- Avoid vigorous or harsh scrubbing, which can irritate your gums.
- Replace your toothbrush every three or four months, or sooner if it become frayed.
III. HAIR AND NAILS
The hair follicles (which the hair grows from) produce oil which keeps the hair smooth. You also have sweat glands in your scalp, and dead skin cells come off the scalp. The oil, sweat and dead cells all add together and can make the hair greasy and look dirty unless you wash it regularly.
IMPORTANCE
1. Gains good impression from other people especially the peers.
2. Prevents acquiring of infestations and different parasitic organisms.
3. Cut nails helps to avoid a perfect environment for germs to live and breed.
4. Wearing nail polish adds color and style to your nails but may harbor microorganisms and maybe harmful to health.
5. Nail biting must not be practiced even if hands have been washed.
PROCEDURE
•Wash hair regularly with shampoo (cheap ones are often as good as very expensive ones).
•massage your scalp well. This will remove dead skin cells, excess oil and dirt.
•rinse well with clear water.
•conditioner is helpful if you have longer hair as it makes the hair smoother and easier to comb, but hair doesn't need to have conditioner.
•a shorter hair and avoiding prolonged exposure to the sun would minimize damage to the hair and acquiring of nits.
•use a wide toothed comb for wet hair as it is easier to pull through.
•Cut nails once a week. Best time would be after taking a bath.
IV.BATHING AND BODY CARE
According to the experts young kids may sweat but they don't start having body odour (BO) until they reach puberty. That's when special sweat glands under the arms and around the genitals roar into full production pouring out sweat which smells!
Even if you're not heavily into puberty style sweating, clothes can get stained, dirty and generally grubby, so you need to change them often.
Underclothes are right next to your skin and collect dead skin cells, sweat and possibly other unmentionable stains. Overnight bacteria start to work on these stains so your clothes do not smell as nice on the second day of wearing.
IMPORTANCE
1. Prevents body odor.
2. Helps refresh the body and the mind.
3. Prevents acquiring pimples and having oily face.
4. Gives a good impression from other people.
PROCEDURE
•Take a bath everyday or after periods of sweats or getting dirty.
•May use scented body soaps but germ-free soaps are more effective in giving a sure clean. After washing with soap and completely drying, immediately apply an underarm antiperspirant. Remember, deodorants do not prevent sweating. They mainly mask the smell of the bacteria on your sweaty skin. Antiperspirants are chemical agents that reduce sweating.
Many antiperspirant preparations also contain a deodorant, which helps to mask the smell. Check the product you use to make sure it contains an antiperspirant.
Keep your underarms dry. Bacteria have a hard time breeding in dry areas of the body.Shaving your underarm regularly will help prevent the accumulation of bacteria and can reduce sweat and odor.
If you have excessive sweating (called hyperhidrosis), talk to your doctor. There are many treatment options for those with more severe sweating who desire more permanent treatments. Also, certain medical problems can lead to excessive sweating. Your doctor can make a diagnosis and prescribe treatment.
•Scrub off thoroughly especially the elbows, knees and armpit parts.
•Use a separate facial wash for the face.
•Rinse well.
•Change clothes every after bathing or when soaked with sweat.
•Clean the ears after every bath.
Adequate access to health care, to early intervention programmes
and to inclusive education, as well as appropriate research, are vital
to the growth and development of the individual.
