Meaning And Tips On How To Maintain A Good Personal Hygiene

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Hygiene is synonymous to cleanliness. Thus, personal hygiene refers to the care of the body. The human body can serve as host of diseases and germs which can get into the body through the openings on our body, thereby affecting our health. Good personal hygiene reduces the chances of falling ill and contacting diseases. The external parts of the body, which includes the skin, mouth, ear, nose, eyes, hands, fingers, hair and others, need to be taken care of.

Taking Care Of the Skin

The skin is the outer covering of the body and it covers the internal organs. This external organ (skin) is very important because it protects the body from germs, regulates the body’s temperature, act as a sensory organ and serves as an excretory organ for sweats and also the main sensory organ. There is a need to take care of the skin. The skin should be washes at least once in a day. It is advisable to bath twice daily – early in the morning and before bed time. Night bath cleanses the body from sweats and germs that might have been on the skin as a result of the day’s activities. The body should be washed with good soaps and mild sponges. Antiseptic soaps can help to wash away germs and also treat skin infections. The body is refreshed after a bath and will be ready for the day. Night showers enhance sound sleep. A night swim is also good for the body.

Towels should be big, clean and have a high absorbing capability. Towels should be washed weekly and dried after use. Still on the skin, we should also cultivate the habit of wearing clean clothes. Dirty clothes should be washed and dried in the sun. The heat helps in killing the germs. Underwears are closer to the skin. They should be washed, dried and changed if worn-out. Pants and boxers are not to be worn twice. To protect the private parts, they are to be washed, dried and changed when stained with sweat or urine. Private parts should be cleaned with tissue papers, water and clean towels. The weather and season should be put into consideration when choosing our clothes for the day. This has a way of protecting the skin. Sweat shirts or thick fabrics should be worn during the cold. It will be uncalled for to put on a light-textured cloth or revealing clothes that will expose body parts to cold. Clothes that will reduce heat and sweat should be worn in sunny days. Our skin should also be oiled after bathing. Those with dry skins are advised to oil their skin frequently so as to prevent skin cracks. The weather should also be a factor that will determine our choice of cream. For example, vaselines are meant for the harmattan periods. Creams with components such as Hydroquinone or corticosteroids are to be avoided as most of them bleach the skin and are cancerous. Dermatologists should be visited regularly for choice of cream and in cases of skin infections. Body fragrances, perfumes, roll on, and deodorants should also be used. Adequate care of the skin prevents body odour.

Taking Care Of The Mouth

Nothing can be more embarrassing than people covering their noses or avoiding you when you are talking. The teeth should be brushed at least twice in a day-morning and before going to sleep at night. The mouth should be rinsed after each meal and especially after taken sugary meals, snacks, chocolates, sweets and chewing gums. Intake of sweets, chocolate and sugary foods should be reduced while healthy food should be encouraged. Mints and herbal chewing gums healthy for the teeth should be taken, if at all there is a need to chew gum. Good tooth brush should be used and are advisable to be replaced after three more months. Herbal toothpastes are healthier to the teeth. The tongue should be washed well; teeth should be brushed in an up-down motion and not front-back motion. Greater attention should be given to the lower parts of the teeth and the areas close to the gum when brushing.

Bad breath or mouth-odour results from irregular mouth wash. Food particles hide in the mouth and if they remain there for a long time can cause bacteria growth. Bacteria, smoking and tooth decay all lead to mouth-odour. Tooth decay and related teeth problems should be reported to the dentists and treated accordingly. Caries or holes in the teeth should be filled up. Regular check – ups should be done.

Taking Care Of The Hands and Nails

Germs are transmitted into the body by our hands. We do many things with our hands, things like writing, shake others, clean up after going to the toilet and eat. We are more susceptible to diverse diseases if the finger nails and hands are not taken care of. This is because they harbor germs. Fingernails should be well trimmed with sterilized nail cutters or razors. Apart from housing germs, long and sharp finger nails injure people and also hinder some activities that involve the use of the hands. Long toe nails can damage the toes when hit on stones or obstacles. Hands should be washed with soaps and water before and after eating, they should also be washed after using the toilet. Washing of the hands with warm water keeps them healthy. Sanitizers should be close to us and used to fight against germs. The hands should be oiled frequently to make them soft and attractive. The cuticles and tiny flaps beside the nails are not to be torn with the teeth but instead cut with nail cutters Manicure and pedicure should be done frequently. Intake of salt should be reduced to avoid wet palms, wet palms breed germs easily

Taking Care of The Eyes

The eye is the king of all sense organs. Losing one’s sight is very bad and disheartening. The visually impaired do not know what is going on around them, they cannot see the beautiful works of God, and they do not know the colour of the sky, seas, and oceans. They cannot watch movies, see the beautiful ladies and handsome men around them, write nor read. They depend on people for survival, to move around and they can hardly do what their counterparts are doing. Those that lost their sight from birth don’t even know how their parents or siblings look like. They are being deprived of many opportunities, jobs and advantages. All these make the eyes to be important and thus should be taken care of.

It is dangerous to look directly into the sun, rub the eyes with dirty hands, use people’s medicated glasses, and expose the eyes to dust or metals. Those in steel industries and in welding profession should always wear goggles to prevent the eyes. Eyes discomfort should be reported to the opticians. Sun glasses should be used under the sun. Disobedience and ignorance has made some people lose their sight at a young age. Some people detest using glasses and thus have impaired their own sights. Eye care should begin at an early age. The eyes of little children should be a great concern to the parent. Infections and eye-defects should be treated. Eyes should be operated on if need arises. Students should read in a well illuminated environment. Candles, oil lamps, lanterns and other sources of dim lights should not be used for reading. The eyes must not be strained when reading. Medicated glasses should be used always and replaced on expiration. There should be intake of food rich with Vitamin A, C and E. Vegetables, carrots and oil palms, food like these are good for the eyes

Contact lenses should be removed before going to bed. Cautions are to be taken by those with contact lenses. Wrong use of contact can lead to eye irritations and permanent damage of the eyes. Limits should be set on the number of hours spent before the computer and phones. Googles should be used by those who spend more time before the screens.  Ladies should remove their make-up before going to bed. Eye liners, mascaras and eye related make-ups can wash down into the eyes and can cause irritations. Old and aged people with reading problems should read with medicated reading glasses and should avoid buying glasses from random people sellers.

Taking Care of the Ear

The auditory nerves are very delicate and important. The ear drum and the ear canals should be taken care of. Sharp objects are not to be inserted into the ear drum. The ear can be damaged in the course of cleaning the ear. This can be done by constant removal of the ear wax. The wax (cerumen) is being secreted by the ear and healthy because they serve as lubricants; protect the eardrum against external germs and dirt. Constant cleaning of the ear can puncture the ear drums, exposes the ear to germs and make the ear dry. The wax should be cleaned by doctors when due. Ear piece and headphones should not be plugged in always. If possible, they should not be plugged into the ears at all. Loud music damages the ear drum and can impair the hearing ability of an individual. Noisy areas should be avoided; sound absorbers should be used in auditoriums. The external areas of the ears called the Pinna should be washed when bathing and wiped with clean towels. Dangling and heavy earrings are dangerous to the human ears and thus should be avoided. Earrings should be removed before sleeping at night.

Taking Care Of The Hair

The hair should be washed with shampoos and treated in saloons. Men and ladies with low hairs should wash, comb and oil their hairs daily. Women with long hairs should wash and make their hairs regularly. Men with bald hairs are advised to keep low cuts always; bears should be trimmed and well shaved. Dry hairs need more oil and grease. Dandruff and other hair infections should be treated. The hair should be lice-free, neat, and attractive with nice smell.

Taking Care Of The Nose

There is the need for the care of the nose because we breathe through our nostrils. The hairs and mucus protects the nose from dangerous external agents. Sharp objects should not be inserted into the nostrils. They should be covered with clean handkerchiefs when sneezing or when we are in dusty environments. We should turn away from others when they sneeze. Cold, catarrh, cough should be treated. The nose should be gently blown when they are blocked with mucus. Small children should be helped in clearing their nostrils. Nose bleeding should be reported to the doctors.

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