Your mother was right. Good personal hygiene is essential for both mental and physical health. A shower, shampoo or brush of the teeth not only makes you feel better but it makes you more approachable. If you take care of your physical body you’re more likely to have a strong immune system and will be less likely to develop infections. So what is considered hygienic? There are some generally accepted ideas of what is considered good hygiene. These are the rules that we at Workman’s Friend follow as well (thank goodness). Read on and learn what constitutes smelling and feeling good.
Related: Handwashing Tips for Health-Care Workers
Brush, floss, and rinse
Very few of us ever really listened to the dentist when they said brush after every meal; at the very least, you should be brushing and flossing twice a day in the morning and at night. Brushing both your teeth and your tongue eliminates or minimizes the bacteria build-up in your mouth. It is these germs that cause to bad breath and ultimately tooth decay. Flossing too helps prevent gum disease. Unhealthy gums leads to lose teeth which makes it difficult to chew your food. Additionally, the bacteria that builds up around the gums can be ingested and accumulate around heart valves. Then you’ve got a very serious problem.
Bathe or shower
Shower or take a bath at least once a day. Stick to the order of washing your hair, body and then lastly your face. It’s recommended to use no more than a quarter size dollop of shampoo for your hair. For conditioner apply it to the length of your hair and comb it through while in the shower to make sure it detangles.
Once you’re finished washing your hair, you can start cleaning your body. Try to use a hydrating body wash and avoid the soaps and scented cleansers. Soaps can be extremely drying on your skin. Don’t overlook washing your feet, including between your toes and your heels. These areas are often overlooked when bathing, yet the take such a beating on a daily basis.
Wash your hands
Before a meal, when you return home at the end of the day, when working on a project, or when you’re sick, wash your hands. This basic hygiene tip cannot be emphasized or performed enough. Your hands touch millions of objects and regularly come into contact with such things as dusty keyboards, money and tables. Not to mention the variety of people who you hug, shake hands with, kiss on the cheek, on a daily basis. If you find that your hands get especially dry after washing, try applying a thin layer of Workman’s Friend Barrier Skin Cream. Our formulation will protect your hands from the harsh effects of regular washing. However, don’t let the worry of dry hands prevent you from getting clean. It’s simple but so crucial: wash your hands!
Trim Your Nails
Trim your finger and toe nails on a weekly basis. We’re not talking about getting extravagant manicures or pedicures, though you could do that if you enjoy it. Basic nail maintenance means ensuring they are short, filed and clean. There is nothing more disgusting than shaking the hand of a person with dirty nails. Additionally, dirty nails carry germs and as a result can make you sick with a cold, flu or something much more serious. Remember, tidy nails speak volumes about your health and are a direct reflection of how you feel about yourself.
There are many more personal hygiene tips that are specific to men and others to women that are not listed here. Yet regardless of gender the rule is simple: take care of your body. Proper hygiene not only benefits your physical but also your mental health. The cleaner you are the better you feel and the less likely you are to get sick. So the next time you decide to skip brushing your teeth or taking a shower, remember the tremendous advantages and benefits of doing both. Your mother was right.
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DO YOU HAVE OVER-WASHED HANDS?
Are your hands dry from frequent hand washing? Soaps dry out your skin, leaving them craving moisture. What if there was a way to protect your skin and keep it moisturized even during frequent hand washings? Well, you can! Coat your hands with Workman’s Friend Barrier Skin Cream to form a protective layer around your skin and re-apply every four hours. The barrier protection will moisturize your hands from beneath the protective layer. The barrier protection will shield you hand from harmful chemicals, dirt and grime. The barrier protection binds to your live skins cells and will only be removed when your skin cells die and shed every four hours. In the meantime, your skin is moisturizing from the inside and healing your dry and cracked skin. Workman’s Friend Barrier Skin Cream is the perfect combatant for over-washed hands. PURCHASE HERE.
Another option for over washed hands is Workman’s Friend Healing Hand Cream. Add this hand cream to your daily regimen for healthy, stored hands. An application in the morning and again before bedtime will help your skin survive those frequent hand washings unscathed. Workman’s Friend Healing Hand Cream will moisturize and heal your dry, cracked, and damaged skin. When used over time, your skin will return to its once healthy appearance. PURCHASE HERE.
Sometimes you just need a hand cleaner that revitalizes your skin. Try Workman’s Friend Hand Cleaner with Activated Charcoal to get a deep clean and feel fresh afterwards. The activated charcoal cleans deep into your skin, detoxing away the bad elements that hard-working hands pick up on an active day. Unlike other hand cleaners, Workman’s Friend Hand Cleaner with Activated Charcoal hydrates your skin as it cleans, leaving them feeling alive and fresh while other hand cleaners leave your hands feeling dry. PURCHASE HERE.