Personal Hygiene: What’s Harmful, What’s Helpful

When it comes to personal hygiene, you break down which common grooming habits you can miss and you we should maintain.

Not dealing with bad breath: possibly harmful. Bad breath isn’t just embarrassing, it can also be a sign of underlying health problems like an infection. Regularly rinse with mouthwash, brush after you eat, and keep hydrated for a healthy, sweet-smelling mouth. If you have any other cause for concern, check with your doctor.

Using hair dye: possibly harmful. According to the National Cancer Institute, there is conflicting information regarding a link between use of personal hair dye and development of cancer since chemicals in hair dyes today are significantly less harmful than boxed color from the ’70s. However, you can still suffer hair damage from over-coloring.

Clipping your nails: helpful. Neatly trimmed fingernails and toenails aren’t just aesthetically pleasing, they can be critical in helping to ward off fungal infections that can result from picking or biting.

Overdoing the perfume: harmful. Not only a possible cause of annoyance if applied too much, skin allergies to fragrances are not uncommon and can result in a red itchy rash. If your skin is sensitive, skip it, or experiment until you find one you’re not allergic to.

Shampooing daily: possibly harmful. You can skip a day of lather unless you have extremely oily hair. Fewer washes means your hair will be healthier because it requires less styling products, which can cause it to look dull. Long hair and curly hair can even go a few days without a wash.

Flossing: helpful. Flossing is often overlooked, but it shouldn’t be! Regular flossing removes food particles and plaque from between your teeth that toothbrushes can’t reach. And many studies have been done exploring the links between problems in your mouth as a predictor for heart disease, as well as shown a link between flossing and a reduction in gingivitis.

Plucking your nose hair: harmful. Plucking can expose hair follicles to bacteria, which can lead to infection. If the hairs aren’t there, you also might breathe in more dust or particles, which can lead to sickness. If long nose hairs make you self conscious, trim the ends slightly.

Shaving incorrectly: harmful. When you shave you’re not only removing hair but also affecting the skin. Use warm or hot water to help hydrate and soften hairs, making them easier to cut. Apply a shave gel to further hydrate and allow the blade to slide over skin smoothly, and use single strokes in the direction of hair growth, which might not give you the closest shave but will reduce the irritation. (Adapted by Jessy Pearl)

Source: www.rd.com