Hygiene
There are many areas of hygiene that should be considered and thought about. You have your daily routines, vaginal care, and body maintenance. Preventive care in this area is very important. If hygiene is not taken care of wounds can develop from skin breakdown. When the skin is broken it creates a wound that can become infected. If the infections continue it can cause hospitalization or death in extreme infection cases. All hygiene topics can be searched on YouTube or ask a professional for more information.
1
Bathing
Some people wash every other day and other people every single day. Both are ok. When showering make sure that you use body wash on all areas of external skin. The most important areas are the ones that sweat or have friction. This includes feet, between the toes, armpits, skin folds, under breasts, neck, and genital areas. When washing the genitals, use unscented soaps if possible. Shampoo your hair and scrub your scalp to remove dandruff. It is ok if you have to wash with shampoo multiple times, or if you wash with shampoo, apply conditioner, then wash with shampoo again. Find a routine that works for your body. After showering, apply deodorant. It is also important to remember if you have a disease or condition that dulls the senses of your nerves, like diabetes numbs feeling in the feet, to check these areas for wounds and clean them well.
2
Washing Your Hands
Scrub your hands with antibacterial soap. Get off the dead skin, dirt under the nails, scrub around the nails, and wash any wounds on the hands to prevent infections. If your hands are dry from washing them, apply lotion to them. They make lotions with and without scents and for all types of skin.
3
Clothing
Make sure you are wearing clean clothes. Dirty clothes can irritate your skin, cause rashes, and can begin smelling.
Wearing clothes that fit you is also important. Bras and underwear should be fitting to offer support and protection. Support can cause less pain, ill-fitting clothing can also cause irritation and pain, much like a shoe that fits wrong. Clean socks are just as important as clothes. If you continue to wear dirty and sweaty socks, athletes’ foot and fungal infections can occur.
4
Teeth
Brushing your teeth is important for all areas of health and can be a pre-indicator for other diseases such as heart disease. You should brush around all your teeth, the gums, between any teeth you can, and scraping/brushing the tongue and removing any discoloration from food through the day. Next floss your teeth, there are many types you can use. There are some you can wrap around your fingers, or some you can just hold that are on picks. When flossing, go between the gums and along the side of each tooth in between them. It is the best to do this after every time you eat, but once in the morning and once at night is a good minimum amount.
5
Nails
It is important to trim your nails and keep them clean underneath. Under the nails carries many types of germs and microscopic organisms if they remain long. When trimming the nails be careful to not cut them to close to the skin. If you cut yourself slightly just put some peroxide, or soap and water on it, to keep it clean to prevent infection.
6
Hair
Facial hair, head hair, and body hair retains heat and sweat. If you prefer to keep these areas longer it is important to keep them clean and wash them. It is best to keep these areas at a manageable length to lessen stress.
7
Menstruation
When replacing your period products, take them off your underwear if a pad (or remove if a tampon or cup) and wrap it up in toilet paper to throw it away in the trash can. This makes it sanitary not only for yourself, but when sharing a bathroom space, it makes it sanitary for others around you. Also make sure you are replacing your period products at a timely manner. Wearing them to long can cause infection and sickness making your health worse.
8
Genital Care
Vaginal Care
This is also called Perineal care. Basically, taking care of and washing your genitals in the correct way. This is a subject that can be sensitive or embarrassing for many people and can be an uncomfortable topic. This causes things to not be talked about, and there may be something you can improve and not know it. When washing this area, use unscented soap as it can be harmful. Also, when washing, only clean the external area. This is important because the vagina is self-cleaning, it naturally cleans itself and maintains its pH balance and bacteria. If you wash the internal skin then it can mess up this process and cause infections, irritation, or dryness in the area. This is also the same with perfumes as they should be avoided.
Something else that is important is wiping correctly. After using the bathroom, it is important to wipe front to back. In other words, clean the vagina area then move back to the anus. This is important because if bacteria from stool (poop) gets into the urethra it can cause an infection and UTIs. These can cause many problems such as pain and burning when urinating, confusion in older people, and sepsis. It is important that if you think you have a UTI to get checked and treated before it worsens.
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Penis Care
​This is also called Perineal care. Basically, taking care of your genitals the correct way. This is a subject that can be sensitive or embarrassing for many people and can be an uncomfortable topic. This causes things to not be talked about, and there may be something you can improve and not know it. When washing this area, use unscented soap as it can be harmful. If uncircumcised, it is important when washing the genitals that you wash under the foreskin of the penis. To do this properly, pull back the extra skin and clean underneath it. Also, with the penis it is important to clean the tip and creases while showering. When you are done washing, ensure the testicles and penis are fully dry to prevent irritation. If you are having issues with excess sweat during the day, there are powders, friction deodorant style barriers, and breathable clothing that can be added or adjusted.
9
Taking Care of Your Face
When washing around and on your face, you can buy facial specialty products or use soap and water. Use a washcloth and warm water to scrub your face. Then scrub your face again but this time with your cleaner or skin safe soap on your warm washcloth. When scrubbing, clean the corner of your eyes, cheeks, forehead, behind your ears, in your ears, your jaw, and under your chin. Rinse your face and pat dry with a towel. Lastly, apply lotion to help keep skin healthy over time. In the morning, use lotion with SPF in it to help protect your skin through the day.
If you wear makeup of any kind, make sure to remove it before sleeping. Put SPF lotion under your makeup before applying to help protect the skin. Avoid picking acne because it can cause scarring and open wounds that can become infected. Something else you can do is make sure your bedding is cleaned regularly to wash off the oils that rub on them at night.
10
Deodorant
Deodorant is used to control odor. It does this by eliminating bacteria with antimicrobials and fragrances. There are a few kinds to choose from depending on sweat amount, skin sensitivity, and preference.​
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Traditional Deodorants- a stick of bacteria fighting, odor eliminating substance.
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Antiperspirants- Aluminum based compounds that plug pores to reduce the sweating.
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Natural Deodorants- Plant based deodorants that contain items like mineral salts and baking soda to get rid of moisture and smell.
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Clinical Strength- This is for an extreme level of sweat. Some need a prescription from a doctor.
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Deodorants may need to be changed through your life because of puberty and hormonal changes through the life. This is normal and sometimes can be a time to try a new brand or scent. There are also different application types.
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Stick- these are solid and often are the most chosen. They are convenient for travel and application.
Roll-on deodorant- these are liquid based deodorant that involves the solution and an often-plastic ball that rolls through it, then on the skin.
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Spray Deodorant- these are quick drying and are effective. Some prefer it because of the scent strength instead if the effectiveness.
It is important to remember that perfumes and colognes are NOT a good replacement for deodorant. While you may not be able to smell the body odor over the present scent, the people around you may smell the scent with the body odor fragrance.
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Free Hygiene
Places to Shower
-Churches often can provide showers if they have access.
-Homeless shelters
-State parks and campgrounds
Free Laundry Washing
There are also services that either have washers, or will pick up your clothes and bring them back clean.
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Free Hygiene Products
Free hygiene is possible if you know where to look. Are some examples.