Keeping the body clean is an important part of keeping healthy and feeling good. Personal hygiene which is an exercise that leads to cleanliness and healthy living; is the first step to good health and good appearance. It is not just about combed shiny hair and brushed teeth but it requires the cleaning of all parts of the body (face, hair, body, legs and hands).
The best way to keep the body clean and free of infections is to wash on a daily basis, this means taking a shower or a bath and using soap and hot water to wash away germs that build up over the course of the day. This also includes washing the hands several times a day, which will prevent harmful germs from damaging one’s health, besides a permanent layer of dust which reduces the sensitivity of the hands.
Experts say hands and finger nails have to be cleaned because germs in them can cause contagious diseases such as diarrhoea. Good hand washing and scrubbing with water and soap helps to remove germs, contaminants, and chemicals; it can also prevent ingestion of contaminants from surfaces touched.
According to the World Health Organisation(WHO) proper hand washing reduces the spread of infection. Hands should be washed periodically during the day, after using the restroom; before, during, and after preparing food.
To control the spread of germs that can cause the flu or common cold, hands should be washed after coughing, sneezing, or blowing the nose, and when around a sick person.
Also the hands and nails have been known to be a hotbed for germ activities. Usually germs, which are picked up from a vast variety of sources such as door handles, computer keyboards and the telephone can spread to areas of the body that are particularly vulnerable such as wounds, the mouth or the groin area; and all can cause an infection.
Mrs Erukilede Temitope of Ring Road State Hospital, Ibadan, Oyo State said the hands should be washed as many times as possible because it ensures protection from infections.
She also said the hands should not be washed with toilet soaps, especially in public areas where other people will also use the same soap, but liquid soap should be used.
She stated that the hands should be rinsed under running water and a disposable towel should be used instead of napkins.
When washing the hand soaping and rinsing should cover the areas between fingers, nails and back of the hand. The hands should be well rinsed and dried. The nails should be grown only if they can be kept clean otherwise the nails should be clipped short, along their shape. It is advised that the hands and nails should be pampered once every three weeks with a manicure. This requires soaking the hands in warm water for 10 minutes, massaging of hands, thorough cleaning and shaping of nails.
Likewise the teeth and mouth have to be cleaned because they emit bad odours which can cause mouth and dental diseases and good oral hygiene is necessary for the prevention of bad breath and other dental problems like plaque, bleeding from the teeth, inflamed gums and yellowness of teeth.
According to Pastor Lawal Adeniyi of the School of Hygiene, Eleyele, Ibadan, Oyo State, infection from dental problems can lead to mental illness so the teeth should be brushed twice a day - after breakfast and before going to bed. Brushing the teeth each morning and night gives a better breath.
According to Family Doctor, a website of the American Academy of Family Physicians, not brushing of the teeth, or brushing ineffectively, can lead to dental problems that are expensive and painful. Also during the day, the mouth should be filled with water and swished around to get rid of anything sticking to the teeth.
While brushing, the objective is to get rid of the food particles stucked in between the teeth and in the crevices of the flatter teeth at the back, the molars and premolars. The upper teeth and the lower teeth should be brushed up and down using a circular motion. Attention should be paid to the tongue and the inner surface of the teeth as well.
The toothbrush should have resilient bristles neither too hard nor soft stated Erukilede Temitope; it should be rinsed well and left to dry after use.
The ears are also an important part of the human body and should be kept clean and carefully protected from injury. The ear which provides the sense of hearing, is an important anatomical part.
Research has shown that children with hearing defect from infancy are unable to speak properly. It is therefore necessary to avoid injury to the ear. For example, the region of the ear should not be hit; picked with a pencil, hairpin, or a piece of iron wire. Clumsy pulling of an object which accidentally entered the ear or allowing water get into the ear should be discouraged.
The hair is regarded as the crowning glory. Nuns were required to cover it and orthodox hindu widows were required to shave it, perhaps because a good head of hair can add to sex appeal. For those that are blessed with hair, it is better to keep it at a length that it can be easy to maintain. Wash the hair at least once a week using soap or mild shampoo, Avoid shampoos with borax or alkalis, Rinse well because this is more important than working up a head load of lather. Dry the hair after a wash. Oil the scalp, once a week, preferably an hour before hair wash.
According to experts, young kids may sweat but they don’t start having body odour 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.
Soap and water are essential for keeping the skin clean. A good bath once or twice a day is recommended, especially in tropical countries.
Pastor Lawal Adeniyi,head of department,public health nursing of the School of Hygiene Eleyele expounded on the importance of regular bathing and balanced diet in good personal hygiene. He also emphasised that bathing should be done in the morning and before going to bed at night. Those who are involved in active sports or work would do well to take a bath after the activity; a mild soap will do the job adequately.
Research shows that antiseptic soaps are not essential for daily bath and a sponge can be used for scrubbing. The genitals and the anus need to be cleaned well because of the natural secretions of these areas. Wash it off well after soaping, Dry with a clean towel and avoid sharing soaps and towels. Washing of the body must start from the head, face, move to the trunk, outer and inner arm, the back of the thighs down to the legs, the soap should be rinsed off and the vagina should be well washed.
Underclothes are right next to the skin and collect dead skin cells, sweat and possibly other unmentionable stains, so they should be washed properly and regularly.
A lot of time is spent on the feet and the shoes are very close to the place where a very large collection of sweat glands live. Sweat gets into the shoes and then germs thrive.
It is advisable to keep the shoes clean by brushing, polishing or washing. They will look better, last longer and be less likely to smell.
Experts say the feet should be washed at least once a day, dried carefully, especially between the toes. Lots of people walk bare-footed in places where they can easily pick up fungal infections or other problems for the feet, such as warts!
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