Nature has endowed man with a whole range of protective functions against the harmful effects of the environment. Leukocytes in the blood protect the body from harmful viruses and microorganisms. The thermoregulation system maintains body temperature and prevents thermal imbalance.
The skin has the same functions, being a natural barrier between the body and the environment. In addition to protecting against infection, the skin is involved in the process of thermoregulation, performs the function of respiration, and prevents dehydration. Considering that every week its surface releases about 300 grams of sebum and 3-7 litres of sweat, it becomes clear why it is necessary to follow the rules of personal hygiene.
The importance of personal hygiene for humans
Personal hygiene is a set of established medical standards under which a person keeps his body, hair, hands, clothes, shoes clean, and maintains his working capacity and health for a long time. The simplest rules of personal hygiene allow you to avoid many infectious diseases, and failure to comply with them can lead to the spread of epidemics.
Personal hygiene items
One of the basic hygiene requirements states that everyone must have individual personal hygiene products, which include:
- Soap – various resistant viruses and microorganisms can remain on its surface.
- Towel – A damp cloth encourages the spread of mould, mildew, and bacteria.
- Washcloth – microbes, and viruses remain in the fibres of a damp washcloth, which lead to acne and lichen.
- Razor – dead skin cells and bacteria remain on the blade.
- Manicure kit – when used together, it can become a carrier of the fungus or human papillomavirus.
- Toothbrush – can become a carrier of streptococci, norovirus infection, and even HIV.
- Comb – can lead to dandruff, seborrhoea, dermatitis, and the spread of the fungus.
The rest of the personal hygiene items include complexes for the care of face and body skin stored in jars, a hair clipper, lip balm, lipstick, and decorative cosmetics.
Keeping the body clean
The main rule of personal hygiene is to keep the body clean. The skin contains sebaceous and sweat glands. As a result of their activity, secretions remain, which serve as a good environment for bacteria and viruses. A daily bath or shower with a cleanser will wash away these secretions. It’s important to remember that clean skin kills bacteria and has protective properties.
The face should be washed every morning after waking up and in the evening before going to bed.
Make sure that your hands remain clean, as they can carry various infections. Hands should be washed with soap and water after each visit to the toilet, contact with a dirty surface, contact with animals, and immediately after coming home from the street. It is especially important to wash your hands before and after eating. In the absence of water, use damp sanitary napkins. If there is a good hand dryer, make sure to use it. Completely dry hands give less of a breeding ground for germs.
Perfectly clean hair
An important requirement for personal hygiene is keeping the hair clean. With regular scalp care, the work of the sebaceous glands is normalised, and blood circulation is improved. Wash your hair not by schedule but as needed. In this case, one should carefully approach the choice of shampoos and rinses, take into account the hair structure and the season.
Oral care
Personal hygiene and health are inseparable, especially when it comes to teeth. Many gastrointestinal diseases arise from poor oral health. Proper care of your teeth will not only keep them in good condition and minimise the risk of caries, bleeding gums but also prevent bacteria and microorganisms from entering the gastrointestinal tract.
Cleanliness of underwear, bedsheets, and shoes
Personal hygiene of a person is impossible without clean underwear and clean shoes. Traces of dirt, sweat, and fat deposits remain on the clothes, on which pathogens appear. Therefore, after taking a shower or bath, you need to change the underwear that is in direct contact with the skin (panties, tights, socks, T-shirts). When choosing clothes, preference should be given to products made from natural fabrics. In addition, you should dress for the season and regularly wash your underwear and outerwear.
To maintain personal hygiene, bed sheets should be changed every 7-10 days, and change towels every 3-4 days.
Shoes not only protect feet from damage but also bring dirt from the street into the house and are also a medium for spores of fungi and harmful microorganisms. Therefore, it must be cleaned not only outside, but also washed and dried inside, if necessary, change the insoles and never wear someone else’s shoes.
Conclusion
Everyone, starting from childhood, needs to learn to follow simple hygiene rules. Parents should make sure that children learn how to properly wash their hands with soap, brush their teeth on their own, and be sure to shower before bed. The personal hygiene of children must be monitored until they become independent, and then they will keep this habit forever.
