Introduction
Personal hygiene entails keeping our hair, teeth, body, genital areas, and clothes clean. Burnett, Lee, and Kydd (2008) claim that personal hygiene is used to terminate disease spread cycles. It also helps to boost a person’s aesthetic value. Personal hygiene aids in the promotion of wellbeing, particularly in areas that cannot access health care services. A majority of health complications arise due to poor hygiene. A community cannot benefit from the supply of clean water and other services meant to promote health if it observes unhygienic behaviors. Burnett et al. (2008) argue that personal hygiene has physical and mental benefits to individuals. An individual who keeps personal hygiene feels good about himself, which boosts his/her mental wellbeing. On the other hand, people with sanitation problems suffer from social embarrassment. The society tends to avoid unhygienic persons. This article will discuss what constitutes a personal health and its significance.
Importance of Personal Hygiene
According to Chen, Carriker, Staheli, and Isaacs (2013), personal hygiene has social, health, psychological, and personal benefits. Individuals who observe cleanliness are unlikely to contract diseases. Maintaining cleanliness helps to combat viral and bacterial infections. Washing one’s hands regularly contribute to stopping microbes from spreading. Medical professionals recommend cleaning and dressing wounds as it minimizes not only infection but also the pain. Personal hygiene boosts one’s self-esteem. Chen et al. (2013) claim that a person who takes care of his/her physical appearance has high self-esteem.
The individual feels motivated and confident. Depressed people do not care about cleanliness. Chen et al. (2013 maintain that keeping unhygienic behaviors aggravates a person’s physical appearance. It becomes hard for one to interact with other people or walk with confidence. Today, media advocates personal hygiene. The media portray individual images as tolerable. Even though it would be hard for the youths to attain the hygienic standards depicted by media, they can look attractive if they observe the basic cleanliness principles.
Constituents of Personal Hygiene
Hand Washing
Personal hygiene entails various practices. They include hand washing, dental care, hair cleansing, and body health among others. Burnett et al. (2008) argue that cleaning hands is “the first line of defense in protecting oneself from illness spread by other people through personal contact or contaminated surfaces” (p. 21). Medical professionals encourage people to clean their hands regularly, particularly after visiting toilets, shaking hands and before eating. People are supposed to use fresh water and soap to wash their hands. Hand washing entails not only cleaning the palms but also nails. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) maintains that people should clean their hands for at least twenty seconds. One should wash hands before eating even if he/she has not visited a toilet, shaken hand or touched his/her nose.
According to Burnett et al. (2008), the warm and damp weather makes people’s hands sweat. Besides, the skin secretes oil that forms a favorable environment for microorganisms to thrive and burgeon. Thus, failure to clean hands may subject a person to the danger of contracting a disease.
According to Chen et al. (2013, it is important to ensure that the nails are clean when washing hands. Unclean nails may lead to one contracting skin diseases. The bacteria in the nails may come into contact with the skill through scratching. Besides, one may develop intestinal worms. Some microscopic worms might hide in the nails. In such a case, the worms may find their way into a person’s intestines when eating.
Unclean nails may also result in food contamination. Apart from washing fingernails using clean water and soap, it is imperative to keep them trimmed. In most cases, people wash their hands in a hurry, therefore leaving some areas such as inside the nails unclean. Others do not use soap to clean their hands. Instead, they use water alone. In the absence of soap, one is advised to wash his/her hands for at least thirty seconds. Besides, one can use ash to clean his/her hands after visiting the toilet. Chen et al. (2013) allege that ash increases friction when rubbing hands, thus ensuring that all germs are removed.
Cleaning Feet
Many people are indisposed to cleaning their feet on a daily basis. The assumption that keeping the feet covered protects them from bacteria contributes to people avoiding to wash them. According to Goldman, Pebley, and Beckett (2001), one should clean his/her feet, particularly toes on a regular basis. Failure to clean the toes predisposes a person to the danger of contracting diseases. Most people suffer from athlete’s foot for inability to clean their toes. Athlete’s foot is a fungal infection that affects the gap between toes. Besides, fungal infection, failure to clean feet results in social embarrassment. It becomes hard for one to remove shoes especially in rooms with poor aeration.
To keep our feet clean, we require not only washing them but also cleaning shoes and socks. One should ensure that the shoes and socks are completely dry before wearing them. In places where people cannot afford shoes, it is imperative to wear sandals.
Body Hygiene
The body secretes oil and sweat that attract dust. Once the dust accumulates on the skin, it covers the pores and prevents it from functioning normally. Besides, the sweat and oil facilitate breeding of bacteria that cause different diseases and bad odor. Larson (2001) claims that some insects dump their eggs on clothes when hanged out to dry. The eggs hatch into larva that penetrates human skin resulting in irritation. Thus, it is imperative to clean the body to avoid the growth of harmful bacteria or parasites. The parasites and bacteria are threats to human health. Besides, they result in social embarrassment. An individual with parasites like body lice does not like interacting with people.
Larson (2001) claims that the skin shields vital organs in the body. Thus, it is imperative to keep the skin clean and healthy to guarantee the safety of the organs. One must wash the whole body from forehead to toes with warm water and soap. Doctors recommend the use of antibacterial soap to clean the body. Furthermore, they advocate the use of gentle facial soap to clean the neck and face. Apart from using warm water and soap to clean the body, it is imperative to wear the appropriate clothes. One should select clothes based on weather condition. Exposing the skin to sunlight and air can go a long way towards promoting personal hygiene.
Dental Care
Observing dental care protects a person from gum disease, cavities, bad breath, and periodontal disease among others. According to the National Institutes of Health, dental care protects people from heart disease and preterm labor. Some food particles are trapped between the teeth whenever people eat (Goldman et al., 2001). They decompose quickly if not removed and may lead to a person suffering from tooth decay or gum disease. One requires brushing teeth after every meal. Physicians recommend the use of soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste to clean teeth. Besides, it is imperative to floss teeth regularly.
Most people forget to clean their tongue when brushing. As a result, they do not remove the bacteria attached to the tongue. It underlines the reason some people have bad breath even after brushing teeth. The inability to afford a toothbrush should not be used as a scapegoat. One can improvise a toothbrush. For instance, some people use twigs to brush their teeth. Goldman et al. (2001) maintain that it is not advisable to use charcoal or piece of glass to clean teeth as it would remove the enamel.
Hair Cleansing
Keeping the hair tidy makes one appear groomed and healthy. People should clean their hair whether it is short or long. Exposing the hair to rain, wind or sun damages it. The hair becomes dry. Besides the hair, it is imperative to clean the scalp as it can serve as a breeding ground for lice that transmit diseases. A person with unclean scalp may have difficulties sleeping due to irritation. Larson (2001) claims that failure to clean the hair may lead to one developing ringworms. Thus, it is imperative to clean hair using the right shampoo. Individuals with oily hair are encouraged to clean it on a daily basis.
The Genitalia
Larson (2001) argues that it is important to keep the genital areas clean at all times. Cleaning the genital areas saves one from contracting diseases. Besides, it becomes hard for a person to develop an offensive odor. Cleaning the genital areas entails shaving the pubic hair. Larson (2001) holds that shaving helps to curb lice infestation. It also makes it easy for one to clean the area. One can clean the genital area when taking a shower. Nevertheless, some conditions call for a regular cleaning of the genital areas. For instance, a lady who is having menstrual periods ought to clean the genital area on a regular basis. Additionally, women ought to clean the area before and after giving birth. Doctors advocate utilization of clean and soft piece of cloth to clean the genital area, particularly when experiencing menstrual period.
Washing Clothes
Clothes comprise a core human need. They shield the body from cold and other adverse conditions. Failure to clean clothes leads to the spread of pests and pest borne illnesses. People should wear clean clothes at all time to remain healthy. Individuals can use fresh water and soap to wash clothes. Alternatively, they can use local cleaning products. Shlim (2005) maintains that it is imperative to ensure that clothes are dry before wearing them. One should make sure that the laundry room is clean to avoid contamination. Unhygienic clothes can result in one contracting disease. One of the illnesses associated with dirty clothes is typhus. Besides, wearing dirty clothes causes body itch and bad smell. People are encouraged not only to wash their clothes but also wear clean garments at all times.
Cleaning Eyes
The eyes comprise a significant component of personal hygiene. According to Shlim (2005), it is imperative to clean eyes to avoid contracting diseases. Unclean eyes attract houseflies. The houseflies carry a lot of germs that could cause diseases such as trachoma. Failure to keep eyes clean may lead to one becoming blind. People should wash their eyes every morning as they clean their faces. Additionally, it is imperative to clean eye after exposure to dust. Exposure to dust, soot or smoke causes irritation of the eyes. Cleaning the eyes help to manage irritation. People ought to use fresh water to clean their eyes. Currently, there are numerous products that people can use to clean their eyes. In the absence of eye wash, one can use fresh water and soap.
Cleaning Nose
According to Snow, White, Alder, and Stanford (2006), a nose serves as an air treatment system. It ensures that harmful, microscopic particles do not find their way to the lungs. Additionally, it keeps the airway moist. Keeping a nose clean protects a person from contracting numerous diseases. Additionally, it helps to ease breathing. The accumulation of dirt in a nose can result in a person developing an allergy. One can use a nasal spray to clean nose. Besides, many varieties of nasal wash are readily available in shops. Individuals who cannot afford the nasal wash or spray can use home-made saline solutions to clean noses. Doctors discourage people from using tap water to clean noses. It contains harmful contaminants which can cause allergies. One should boil the tap water before using it to clean nose.
Conclusion
Personal hygiene entails keeping the body, clothes, eyes, teeth, hair, hands, and genital area clean. It helps to stop the spread of diseases. Personal hygiene is associated with psychological, social, and health benefits. An individual who observes personal hygiene does not suffer from low self-esteem. Additionally, a clean person can quickly interact and relate to other people. Failure to follow personal hygiene may result in a person contracting many diseases. They include trachoma, typhus, skin diseases as well as cholera. Cleaning hair protects a person from getting lice, which cause irritation and social embarrassment. Doctors encourage people to maintain personal hygiene at all the times to lead a happy and disease-free life.
References
Burnett, E., Lee, K., & Kydd, P. (2008). Hand hygiene: What about our patients? Journal of Infection Prevention, 9(1), 19-24.
Chen, L., Carriker, C., Staheli, R., & Isaacs, P. (2013). Observing and improving hand hygiene compliance implementation and refinement of an electronic-assisted direct-observer hand hygiene audit program. Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology, 34(2), 207-210.
Goldman, N., Pebley, A., & Beckett, M. (2001). Diffusion of ideas about personal hygiene and contamination in developing countries: Evidence from Guatemala. Social Science & Medicine, 52(1), 53-69.
Larson, E. (2001). Hygiene of the skin: When is clean too clean? Emerging Infectious Diseases, 7(2), 225-230.
Shlim, D. (2005). Looking for evidence that personal hygiene precautions prevent traveler’s diarrhea. Clinical Infectious Diseases, 41(8), 531-535.
Snow, M., White, G., Alder, S., & Stanford, J. (2006). Mentor’s hand hygiene practices influence student’s hand hygiene rates. American Journal of Infection Control, 34(1), 18-24.