How to Maintain Personal Hygiene

Shower every day. This is the best way to clear dirt, sweat and/or bacteria that the body accumulates throughout the day and prevent hygiene-related pathogens. ^[1] Besides, showering daily helps you feel clean, look good and smelling good all day long.

• Use a loofah, sponge or towel to gently scrub the entire body, removing dead cells and dirt. However, remember to change these items often because they are very easy to catch bacteria.
• If you don’t want to wash your hair every day, you can cover your hair with a shower cap and wash your body with soap and water.
• If you don’t have time to shower, use a towel to wash your face and underarms before going to bed.

Choose a daily face wash. Remember that the skin on your face is often more sensitive than the rest of your body. You can use the product in the shower or wash your face separately at the sink.

• Consider your skin type when choosing a face wash. If your skin is very dry, you should avoid products that contain a lot of alcohol because this ingredient will make your skin drier. If your skin is extremely sensitive, it’s best to choose a non-irritating product with a low chemical content.
• If you have heavy makeup, you need to choose a cleanser that combines makeup remover. Or you can buy a separate makeup remover and remove makeup before washing your face at the end of the day.

Brush your teeth in the morning and evening. Regular brushing helps prevent gum disease, which is often the cause of other diseases in the body such as heart disease, stroke and diabetes. ^[2] Brushing after eating sweets or acidic foods is essential to prevent tooth decay.

• For stronger gums, you need to carry a travel-sized toothbrush and toothpaste to brush your teeth after meals.
• Floss your teeth every night to prevent gingivitis.

Use deodorant. Antiperspirants help control perspiration, while deodorants reduce unpleasant odors caused by perspiration. Choose a natural, aluminum-free deodorant to reduce the health risks posed by traditional deodorants. ^[3]

• If you don’t use deodorant every day, you should use it on days where you sweat a lot, or on special events. Use deodorant before playing sports, hitting the gym, or attending a formal event.
• If you don’t use deodorant, wash your underarms with soap and water throughout the day to get rid of unpleasant odors.

Wash clothes after each wear. Usually, the shirt should be washed after each wear, while the pants and shorts can be worn a few times and then washed. Use your judgment to determine when to wash your clothes.

• Clean stains on clothes before wearing.
• Flatten wrinkles, use a lint remover to remove lint and hair from clothes.

Cut your hair every 4-8 weeks. Whether you want to grow your hair long or keep it short, a haircut will keep your hair healthy, eliminate split ends, and make your hair look cleaner and stronger.

Regularly trim fingernails and toenails. Not only will this help keep your hands and feet looking great, but it will also prevent nail scratches, broken nails, and other damage to your nails. Short nails don’t get dirty underneath like with long nails. How often you cut your nails depends on the length of your nails. When deciding on a nail length, consider the activities you usually do each day. If you usually spend a lot of time typing on the computer or playing the piano, short nails are probably the best option for you. If you like long nails, that’s okay, but remember to trim them regularly to avoid breaking your nails.

• Use a nail cleaner to clean dirt under the nail to prevent infection.