Personal hygiene – Better Health Channel

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Summary

Read the full fact sheet

• Good personal hygiene is one of the most effective ways to protect ourselves and others from many illnesses, such as gastroenteritis.
• Wash your hands regularly, especially before preparing or eating food and after going to the toilet.

One of the most effective ways we have to protect ourselves and others from illness is good personal hygiene. This means washing your hands, especially, but also your body. It means being careful not to cough or sneeze on others, cleaning things that you touch if you are unwell, putting items such as tissues (that may have germs) into a bin, and using protection (like gloves or condoms) when you might be at risk of catching an infection.

Personal hygiene, such as bathing, is very much dependent on the culture in which you live. In some cultures, it is expected that you will wash your body at least every day and use deodorants to stop body smells. Other cultures have different expectations.

Body odour

Body smells are caused by a number of factors working in combination, including:

• Chemicals in sweat, including pheromones, which are made by the body and sexually attract (or repel) other people.
• Wastes excreted through the skin, such as metabolised alcohol.
• The actions of bacteria that live on the skin and feed on dead skin cells and sweat.
• Unwashed clothes, such as underwear and socks.

Hand washing

Most infections, especially colds and gastroenteritis, are caught when we put our unwashed hands, which have germs on them, to our mouth. Some infections are caught when other people’s dirty hands touch the food we eat. Hands and wrists should be washed with clean soap and water, using a brush if your fingernails are dirty. Dry your hands with something clean, such as paper towels or hot air dryers. You should always wash your hands:

• After using the toilet
• Before making or eating food
• After handling dogs or other animals
• If you have been around someone who is coughing or has a cold.

Personal hygiene for women

The vagina is able to clean itselfno special care is needed, other than washing the external genitals. Do not put anything like douches into the vagina, as the delicate skin can be damaged. Here are some personal hygiene suggestions for women:

• Menstruation – wash your body, including your genital area, in the same way as you always do. Change tampons and sanitary napkins regularly, at least four to five times a day. Always wash your hands before and after handling a tampon or pad.
• Cystitis – is an infection of the bladder. This is a common condition for sexually active young women. Urinating after sexual intercourse can help to flush out any bacteria that may be in the urethra and bladder.
• Thrush – some soaps and detergents can irritate the skin of the vagina, and make thrush infections more likely. Some people find that they often get thrush when they use antibiotics. Use mild soap and unperfumed toilet paper. Avoid tight, synthetic underwear. Try cotton underwear, and change regularly. There is medical treatment for thrush, so talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

Personal hygiene for men

A build-up of secretions called smegma can form under the foreskin of uncircumcised men. If you are uncircumcised, gently pull back the foreskin when you have a shower and clean with water. You can use soap if you like, but make sure you rinse it off well.

Bad breath

Good dental hygiene includes regular brushing and flossing. Bad breath can be caused by diseases of the teeth, gums and mouth, such as infections. Most people have bad breath first thing in the morning because saliva is not made while you’re asleep. Some foods that can cause bad breath include garlic and onion. Mouth washes, mouth sprays and flavoured chewing gum can make your breath smell better for a while, but if you have a health problem in your mouth, you need to see your dentist.

Travelling hygiene

When travelling overseas, take special care if you’re not sure whether the water is safe. Suggestions include:

• Drink only bottled water.
• Don’t use tap water to clean your teeth.
• When you wash your hands, make sure they are totally dry before you touch any food.
• Don’t wash fruit or vegetables in unsafe water.
• If you have no other water source, make sure the water is boiled before you drink it by holding it at a rolling boil for one minute.
• Make sure any dishes, cups or other utensils are totally dry after they are washed.

Where to get help

• Your doctor
• Dentist.

Things to remember

• Good personal hygiene is one of the most effective ways to protect ourselves and others from many illnesses, such as gastroenteritis.
• Wash your hands regularly, especially before preparing or eating food and after going to the toilet.

This page has been produced in consultation with and approved
by:

This page has been produced in consultation with and approved
by:

Give feedback about this page

Was this page helpful?

More information

Content disclaimer

Content on this website is provided for information purposes only. Information about a therapy, service, product or treatment does not in any way endorse or support such therapy, service, product or treatment and is not intended to replace advice from your doctor or other registered health professional. The information and materials contained on this website are not intended to constitute a comprehensive guide concerning all aspects of the therapy, product or treatment described on the website. All users are urged to always seek advice from a registered health care professional for diagnosis and answers to their medical questions and to ascertain whether the particular therapy, service, product or treatment described on the website is suitable in their circumstances. The State of Victoria and the Department of Health shall not bear any liability for reliance by any user on the materials contained on this website.

Reviewed on: 30-06-2011

Personal hygiene – Better Health Channel

Actions for this page

Summary

Read the full fact sheet

• Good personal hygiene is one of the most effective ways to protect ourselves and others from many illnesses, such as gastroenteritis.
• Wash your hands regularly, especially before preparing or eating food and after going to the toilet.

One of the most effective ways we have to protect ourselves and others from illness is good personal hygiene. This means washing your hands, especially, but also your body. It means being careful not to cough or sneeze on others, cleaning things that you touch if you are unwell, putting items such as tissues (that may have germs) into a bin, and using protection (like gloves or condoms) when you might be at risk of catching an infection.

Personal hygiene, such as bathing, is very much dependent on the culture in which you live. In some cultures, it is expected that you will wash your body at least every day and use deodorants to stop body smells. Other cultures have different expectations.

Body odour

Body smells are caused by a number of factors working in combination, including:

• Chemicals in sweat, including pheromones, which are made by the body and sexually attract (or repel) other people.
• Wastes excreted through the skin, such as metabolised alcohol.
• The actions of bacteria that live on the skin and feed on dead skin cells and sweat.
• Unwashed clothes, such as underwear and socks.

Hand washing

Most infections, especially colds and gastroenteritis, are caught when we put our unwashed hands, which have germs on them, to our mouth. Some infections are caught when other people’s dirty hands touch the food we eat. Hands and wrists should be washed with clean soap and water, using a brush if your fingernails are dirty. Dry your hands with something clean, such as paper towels or hot air dryers. You should always wash your hands:

• After using the toilet
• Before making or eating food
• After handling dogs or other animals
• If you have been around someone who is coughing or has a cold.

Personal hygiene for women

The vagina is able to clean itselfno special care is needed, other than washing the external genitals. Do not put anything like douches into the vagina, as the delicate skin can be damaged. Here are some personal hygiene suggestions for women:

• Menstruation – wash your body, including your genital area, in the same way as you always do. Change tampons and sanitary napkins regularly, at least four to five times a day. Always wash your hands before and after handling a tampon or pad.
• Cystitis – is an infection of the bladder. This is a common condition for sexually active young women. Urinating after sexual intercourse can help to flush out any bacteria that may be in the urethra and bladder.
• Thrush – some soaps and detergents can irritate the skin of the vagina, and make thrush infections more likely. Some people find that they often get thrush when they use antibiotics. Use mild soap and unperfumed toilet paper. Avoid tight, synthetic underwear. Try cotton underwear, and change regularly. There is medical treatment for thrush, so talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

Personal hygiene for men

A build-up of secretions called smegma can form under the foreskin of uncircumcised men. If you are uncircumcised, gently pull back the foreskin when you have a shower and clean with water. You can use soap if you like, but make sure you rinse it off well.

Bad breath

Good dental hygiene includes regular brushing and flossing. Bad breath can be caused by diseases of the teeth, gums and mouth, such as infections. Most people have bad breath first thing in the morning because saliva is not made while you’re asleep. Some foods that can cause bad breath include garlic and onion. Mouth washes, mouth sprays and flavoured chewing gum can make your breath smell better for a while, but if you have a health problem in your mouth, you need to see your dentist.

Travelling hygiene

When travelling overseas, take special care if you’re not sure whether the water is safe. Suggestions include:

• Drink only bottled water.
• Don’t use tap water to clean your teeth.
• When you wash your hands, make sure they are totally dry before you touch any food.
• Don’t wash fruit or vegetables in unsafe water.
• If you have no other water source, make sure the water is boiled before you drink it by holding it at a rolling boil for one minute.
• Make sure any dishes, cups or other utensils are totally dry after they are washed.

Where to get help

• Your doctor
• Dentist.

Things to remember

• Good personal hygiene is one of the most effective ways to protect ourselves and others from many illnesses, such as gastroenteritis.
• Wash your hands regularly, especially before preparing or eating food and after going to the toilet.

This page has been produced in consultation with and approved
by:

This page has been produced in consultation with and approved
by:

Give feedback about this page

Was this page helpful?

More information

Content disclaimer

Content on this website is provided for information purposes only. Information about a therapy, service, product or treatment does not in any way endorse or support such therapy, service, product or treatment and is not intended to replace advice from your doctor or other registered health professional. The information and materials contained on this website are not intended to constitute a comprehensive guide concerning all aspects of the therapy, product or treatment described on the website. All users are urged to always seek advice from a registered health care professional for diagnosis and answers to their medical questions and to ascertain whether the particular therapy, service, product or treatment described on the website is suitable in their circumstances. The State of Victoria and the Department of Health shall not bear any liability for reliance by any user on the materials contained on this website.

Reviewed on: 30-06-2011

PERSONAL HYGIENE OF A WOMAN – Outpatient medical facility

Compliance with the basic rules of personal hygiene is the key to health, everyone knows this. This rule, no doubt, applies to women’s health in general, and to women’s intimate hygiene in particular. Talking about such a delicate topic, of course, is best with a gynecologist.

Basic rules:

1. Wash with warm, clean water at least twice a day. As a cleaning agent, you can use either special intimate hygiene products sold in pharmacies, or not use any. Soaps, shower gels, etc. have an alkaline environment, while the environment of the vagina is acidic. The acidic pH and the lactobacilli living on the mucosa are a very important component in maintaining a normal vaginal environment and protecting it from harmful microorganisms. Regular use of products with an alkaline environment destroys this defense system and contributes to the development of diseases.
2. When performing hygiene procedures, it is necessary to ensure that all movements of the hands or the water jet are directed from front to back. The reverse movement can bring bacteria from the anus to the vaginal mucosa, which will lead to inflammatory diseases.
3. The towel must be clean, soft and always individual. Some harmful microorganisms are able to survive on fabrics, napkins, on the surfaces of objects and be transmitted to humans through contact with these surfaces.
4. Vaginal douching (i.e. rinsing from the inside) is a medical procedure that is performed only on doctor’s orders and using special solutions, depending on the disease. A healthy woman does not need this procedure and can even harm.
5. The use of sanitary napkins and synthetic underwear can cause bacterial growth, reduce the protective properties of the vaginal mucosa and, as a result, the development of the disease. Therefore, it is preferable to wear underwear made from natural fabrics and use panty liners only when necessary.
6. For early detection and prevention of diseases of the female genital area, a sexually active woman of any age should visit a gynecologist at least once a year, even if there are no complaints. It must be remembered that some diseases may not manifest themselves for a very long time.

7. The period of critical days is a special period in a woman’s body, when the level of ovarian hormones in the blood is minimal, the body’s defenses are reduced, local immune defenses are weakened, and the uterine cavity from the inside is an extensive wound surface.

   To maintain women’s health during menstruation, the following rules must be observed:

   1. Pads should be changed every 4-5 hours, tampons every 2 hours. Intimate hygiene products soaked in blood are a good breeding ground for bacteria, so they must be changed in a timely manner.
   2. You can not swim in water bodies, visit the pool, take a bath, i.e. dive into the water. During menstruation, a mucous plug comes out of the narrow cervical canal, which at other times protects the uterine cavity from foreign microorganisms, and the uterine cavity becomes vulnerable to bacteria contained in the water.
   3. Sexual intercourse during menstruation should also be avoided. this can also contribute to infection in the uterine cavity.
   4. It is necessary to avoid excessive physical exertion, heavy lifting. You can not download the press, perform exercises with lifting the pelvis above the head. But you need to remember that small loads – walking, physical education help relieve menstrual pain.
   5. Visits to saunas and baths are also undesirable – heat leads to the expansion of blood vessels and increased bleeding.
   6. Hypothermia of the lower back, lower abdomen, legs and general hypothermia should not be allowed – this can contribute to the development of chronic inflammatory diseases of the urinary and reproductive systems.

   Compliance with these necessary rules will help maintain the health of the genital area, prevent the development of many diseases and ensure a healthy pregnancy and childbirth for a woman.

Hygiene for children and adolescents



Hygiene of children and adolescents – a set of hygiene rules aimed at maintaining and strengthening health. The basics of hygiene for children and adolescents include norms for the proper maintenance of the body, oral cavity, genital organs, as well as the proper use of personal hygiene products, clothing and footwear. As important components of the concept of hygiene, issues of work and rest, daily routine and nutrition are considered. Compliance with the rules of personal hygiene is one of the conditions for a normal and healthy life.

Personal hygiene rules for teenagers

In adolescence, abrupt changes in the function of the endocrine glands occur, so a teenager should be morally prepared for the changes that will occur in his body. It is worth mentioning that in adolescence, acne can appear on the face (which is often the cause of complexes), so skin hygiene becomes very important for a teenager. For proper skin care, you can consult a cosmetologist, or resort to anti-acne cosmetics. Also in adolescence, the sweat glands begin to work hard, so you should pay special attention to keeping the skin in the chest and armpits clean and use deodorant.

Intimate hygiene of adolescents

In adolescence, intimate hygiene and proper sexual education are of great importance. A teenager should be talked about the physiological changes that accompany the onset of puberty. It is important that a teenager receive the maximum necessary information within the walls of the house, and not from older comrades. Thus, the teenager will know that with any problem he can turn to his parents.

Hygiene for teenage boys

Boys begin to grow facial hair during their teenage years, so a father should teach his son how to use a razor. In addition, the boy should be told that adolescence is characterized by the onset of wet dreams and the appearance of the first erections. Teach the boy to change his underwear in time, wash off the remnants of sperm from the penis. A teenager should know that these changes should not be shy, thanks to them, he turns from a boy into a man.

Adolescent girl hygiene

Girls need to be told about the onset of menstruation and the changes associated with this process. Adolescence is a good time to visit a gynecologist who will take a smear and talk about the menstrual cycle. Teach the girl to keep the external genitalia clean, use personal hygiene products. Also, in girls in the armpits and bikini, hair begins to grow actively, which should be carefully shaved.

Daily routine is an important component of adolescent hygiene

For a normal life of a teenager, a clear establishment of a work and rest regime is necessary. Labor hygiene of adolescents includes the distribution of mental and physical stress according to age characteristics. This is especially true of production activities and internships in the workplace for students of schools. Observing occupational hygiene, a teenager should alternate work with outdoor activities so as not to overwork. Considering the expansion of the volume of educational work, special attention should be paid to the hygiene of the eyesight of children and adolescents.

Nutritional hygiene for adolescents

Nutrition is of great importance for the development of a growing organism. In connection with the restructuring of the whole organism and intensive growth processes, a teenager needs a properly constructed diet. The diet of a teenager should contain all the nutrients in a balanced ratio. Proteins are the main building material. It is protein that is necessary for the growth and formation of the immune system, the development of muscle tissues. Fats and carbohydrates are a source of energy, “fuel” for the body. A special role is assigned to mineral salts, which prevent the occurrence of thyroid dysfunction.