Hygiene is a separate field of medicine that studies the impact of various factors of life, labor on human health, and also provides optimal living conditions through the introduction of disease prevention measures. The term "hygiene" itself came from the name of the ancient Greek goddess Hygiene - the patroness of a healthy body and spirit. Often, the word “sanitation” is used with it, which can literally be translated as “health”. The rules of sanitation and hygiene are the most important recommendations necessary to create and maintain the health of the entire population of the country.
Personal hygiene means a set of rules aimed at maintaining the health of each person individually. Personal hygiene rules in particular include recommendations for caring for the body (skin, external genital organs, teeth, hair) and objects that surround a person. In addition, personal hygiene in a broader sense affects proper nutrition, healthy sleep, daily routines, active lifestyles, and psychological state. These vital aspects improve immunity, increasing resistance to various infectious diseases, and therefore strengthen human health, which is the main goal of personal hygiene and sanitation.
The skin is considered the largest organ in the body, performing many different functions. That is why the rules of skin hygiene are one of the most important tenets of health science. The main and most important type of care for it is washing, in which microbes, sweat, dust and various impurities are removed.
When washing, be sure to use soap or special gels. If the skin is irritable and dry, it is recommended to give preference to children's soap, which does not injure the acid membrane so much. After cleansing, you can use special oils or lotions that soften the skin. With daily washing, it is not necessary to soap the whole body, it is enough to apply detergents to parts of the body that are most susceptible to the accumulation of pathogens, that is, the genitals, armpits and feet. These areas are recommended to be washed at least twice a day. And the whole body must be thoroughly cleaned at least once a week in a bath or in the bathroom.
Separately, it should be said about hand care. Personal hygiene rules say they should be washed after walking, going to the toilet, contact with pets, before eating, etc. A huge amount of bacteria accumulates on the hands, which can easily enter the body, as a result of which the so-called “dirty hands diseases” develop (typhoid fever, dysentery). In addition, you need to monitor the condition of the nails: regularly trim and daily clean out dirt and keratinized skin cells from under them.
Personal hygiene rules also apply to hair care. You need to wash your hair as it gets dirty. If the hair is very dirty and has to be washed every day, it is advisable to use shampoo for daily use. Oily hair, as well as oily skin, should not be rinsed with hot water, since high temperature only provokes the production of sebum. It is recommended to choose hair care products by their type. Herbal tinctures and acidified water are also available.
Other, equally important rules of personal hygiene relate to the care of teeth and the entire oral cavity. Dental diseases can affect the whole body. So, with periodontitis, caries or periodontal disease, the infection enters the tonsils, sinuses and even the kidneys. To prevent the appearance of various diseases will help daily brushing (at least 2 times). And after eating, you must always rinse your mouth with a special balm or at least clean water. Twice a year should visit a dentist.