Guide to Personal Hygiene for Women of All Ages

It is very important to maintain a healthy mind and a healthy body. When we talk about health, we often think that it is simply about being disease-free. However, health has a very wholesome meaning to it. It is about being mentally at peace and being comfortable from all aspects. When one is free from any stresses, illness, and worries, then they are truly happy from inside and outside.

Quite similarly, people often assume that personal hygiene is about the regular mundane activities that we carry out every single day. It could be brushing your teeth, having a bath, or even washing hands before and after meals. The truth, however, is that personal hygiene is much more than just smelling good. At the same time, we can also overplay the hygiene card and do more damage than good to our bodies. So here I am, to share my tried and tested tips to help you maintain good hygiene.

Some Basic Tips to Maintain Personal Hygiene:
1. Cleansing and Skincare:

Your skin is your largest organ that covers all areas of your body. It protects your vitals from any external dirt, damage, or foreign objects. Your skin allows you to enjoy the sensation of touch, temperature, texture, and much more. Hence, it is of utmost importance to maintain the health of your skin. Caring for your skin is much more than just washing. You must:

• Choose a mild soap or a moisturizing bar to maintain healthy skin.
• Clear out your pores and moisturize often to keep your skin supple and soft.
• Remove any makeup before going to sleep
• Drink adequate amount of water to hydrate your skin

2. Oral Hygiene:

Bad breath is not the only indicator of poor oral hygiene. In fact, oral diseases can be silent and may go undetected for an extremely long duration. Hence, it is always advised to visit a dentist once every 6 months. A good dentist can detect even other problems. For maintaining oral hygiene at your personal level, you must:

• Brush your teeth for 3-5 minutes at least twice a day. Remember to hold the toothbrush at 45 degrees and do not apply excessive pressure.
• Use an anti-microbial mouthwash to protect your mouth from germs. Using an essential oil-based mouthwash offers greater protection.
• After brushing your teeth, remember to clean your tongue off the deposits.
• Use some dental floss to remove any food particles or debris stuck in or between your teeth.

3. Menstrual Care:

When it is that time of the month when Aunt Flo comes to visit, it becomes even more important to maintain personal hygiene. For the 3-5 days (or more) you feel irritable, cranky, and icky. Since you cannot control your moods, at least caring for your hygiene can make you feel better. You must:

• Wear cotton intimates. Cotton is a breathable material that also absorbs sweat. It will help you feel cleaner.
• Change your sanitary pad or tampon frequently. It is advised that you should not use them for more than 8 hours at a stretch since they can become breeding grounds for germs.
• If you use a menstrual cup, sterilize it in hot water before and after use. Remember to empty your menstrual cup after every 12 hours.
• Trim your pubic hair regularly so that menses does not get entangled in the overgrown hair.

4. Odor Care:

Let’s face it, nobody likes body odor. It is simply off-putting to be around someone who bears an overpowering smell. Body odor is a sign that the individual is not expending enough efforts in personal hygiene. Simply spraying deodorant all over yourself is not the answer to tackle body odor. You must:

• Bathe daily, especially after some athletic activity or exercise. It will help you feel fresh and invigorated.
• Keep your underarms dry. You may even apply antiperspirants at night if you tend to sweat a lot.
• Wear clean socks and clothing articles to prevent the build-up of body odor. Furthermore, wear loose fitting clothes made from breathable material.
• Shave or wax your underarms regularly.

5. Diet Care:

As the old saying goes, you are what you eat. So take care of your diet to lead a healthier life.

• Avoid certain foods such as onion, garlic, or curry as it may cause you to develop unpleasant body odor.
• While occasionally binging on junk food is okay, eating too much of it will cause breakouts.
• Drink enough water to keep your body hydrated.
• Try incorporating more fresh fruits and vegetables.

Some Extremely Helpful Personal Hygiene Items

As women, we have multitudes of appliances and products thrown at us. This can be rather confusing as it becomes difficult to differentiate what items are truly necessary and what items are just some trend. So I decided to compile a list of items that will help women of all ages maintain excellent personal hygiene.

Clean Towels

As surprising as it may sound, clean towels are highly underrated as personal hygiene products! We all know that it is important to wash your towel as often as possible. We are also told that we should not share towels so to maintain personal hygiene. So quite naturally, the first item to be featured on my list is clean towels!

If you think that technology has left towels unaffected, then think again! I have just recently come across bacteria detecting towels. These smart towels can detect residual soap, dirt, sweat, and bacteria metabolites through its color changing strips. By simply rubbing these towels against.

Epilator

If you are troubled by bodily hair, then an epilator will definitely come handy. Although hair was once a useful part of the body aimed at offering protection and shelter, the usefulness of body hair has reduced with evolution. Having an epilator at hand will drastically cut down the time wasted in scheduling an appointment with your beautician for a waxing session. Additionally, the smooth skin that you get after epilating can last as much as 4 weeks, which is amazing!

Epilators are not just for your legs and arms. In fact, some high-end models come with attachments that can even take care of the hair in your bikini area. Those who have sensitive skin will also be greatly benefited by purchasing an epilator as it is more suited for their skin type. Once you begin epilating, you will notice how the hair not only grow back at a slower rate but also have a fine texture. In short, epilation is the best hair removal technique and an epilator is a must-have.

Facial Steamer

Let me tell you one thing – the secret to a glowing face is nothing but steam! The best news is that you no longer have to spend a bomb on getting steam at a sauna or a spa. You can get the same effect right at home through a facial steamer! A facial steamer helps open up your pores thereby dislodging any dirt or particles clogging the pore.

We all know how dirt and pollution affect the skin adversely and there is no better way to counter these harmful damages than through some good ol’ steam. Regularly steaming your face will make your face softer, smoother, and healthier. So if you are looking for ways to get a natural glow and younger looking skin, then get your hands on a facial steamer.

Anti Chafing Balm or Cream

If you work out at the gym or just are extremely active in a hot and humid climate, then you may be well aware of the pains of chafing. Chafing occurs when one part of your body (or some material such as clothes or footwear) constantly rub against a specific portion of your body causing it to turn sore. It is not only painful but is also distracting. Some women experience chafing when they are on their period, which can only add to the discomfort. Most commonly affected regions are inner thighs, armpits, bra line, neck, back of the heel, and panty line. If you do not attend to chafing immediately then you may even find it difficult to move around!

Hence, to avoid such a situation, I would highly recommend purchasing an anti-chafing balm or cream. Fortunately, there are many high-quality anti-chafing balms are creams readily available. You can even get them in the stick form that will simply glide over your body creating an invisible barrier between your skin and any other material.

Toilet Seat Sanitizer or Spray

If the thought of relieving yourself in a public toilet gives you the shivers, then this is the perfect item for you to carry in your handbag. Furthermore, if you love traveling, this item would be your messiah! Unlike your toilet at home, which you know is clean and hygienic, you can never be sure of the ones present in public spaces. On the other hand, holding in your pee is not an ideal situation. Plus, the fear of contracting a urinary tract infection (UTI) is an absolute nightmare.

So if you are bracing yourself to use a public restroom, a toilet sanitizer will come to your rescue. A toilet seat sanitizer allows the user to sanitize the commode before you use it. They protect you from any toilet-borne infections or diseases. All you need to do is shake the can and spray it on the toilet seat (at a minimum distance of 2 feet) and allow it to dry for 10 seconds. The toilet is now clean to use. Every woman should definitely get a toilet seat sanitizer for her peace of mind.

Panty Liners

Panty liners are like the little sister of a sanitary napkin. However, a lot of women are confused about the real purpose of a panty liner and whether panty liners are worth buying. Well, let me tell you – they are. Vaginal discharges are pretty common and it can be an embarrassing experience for some. It leaves you feeling damp and uncomfortable. They are also effective in absorbing sweat around your private parts so you can feel fresh, moist-free, and clean.

If you love breaking a sweat at the gym, then you should consider using some panty liners. You can even use them instead of sanitary pads for dealing with light menstrual flow. Panty liners are available in different types, shapes, size, thickness, and absorbances. Additionally, you can choose between the disposable and the reusable kind of panty liners to stay dry and happy.

Deodorizing Body Wipes

A woman should carry hand or body wipes with her at all times. They come in tiny packaging that makes them extremely portable. However, wipes may simply help you get clean but deodorizing wipes will also help you smell great. What I really love about deodorizing body wipes is that they come enriched with the goodness of essential oils. If you were to choose from synthetic smells or the fragrance of essential oils, you should go for essential oils at any given day.

Essential oils have a positive effect on the human body and mind. They can help you calm down and relax. Furthermore, essential oils are also suitable for those suffering from allergies. Having these fragrant hypoallergenic body wipes will allow you to freshen up in a jiffy at any time and any place. Body wipes also come in the bio-degradable variants, which means that you are using an eco-friendly product. Keep a pack (or two) handy and you may never have to fear smelling gross ever again!

Intimate Washing Products

Truth be told, intimate hygiene is an entirely separate and vast area when it comes to maintaining hygiene. However, it does not mean that it should not be considered or be willfully ignored. In fact, intimate hygiene should be thought of as an extension of day-to-day personal hygiene. Even though the vagina is self-cleaning, it is still prone to infections. Its pH is generally acidic, which allows it to only sustain good bacteria such as lactobacilli.

If you make use of soap, you may upset the pH of your intimate area thereby making it susceptible to infections. It may also cause dryness and odor, which is a sign of poor intimate hygiene. In this case, you should only use tepid water and a dedicated intimate washing product to maintain intimate hygiene. Choose an un-perfumed and gentle washing product that will help you in maintaining natural pH balance while also cleaning effectively.

Epsom Salt

The benefits of using Epsom salt is endless. It can help take care of your skin, it makes an excellent carrier or base for essential oil-based bath salts, and most importantly, it helps you unwind and relax after a hard day at work. If you are suffering from rashes or skin eruptions, then Epsom salt can help in calming down your inflamed skin. They are also very effective exfoliating agents so you can get rid of dead skin.

Those suffering from chronic pain caused by conditions such as lupus, arthritis, or gout, can prepare a nice bath and sprinkle in some Epsom salt to ease their pair. An Epsom salt bath will detoxify your skin, enhance your foot health, and fire your neurotransmitters to reduce stress and induce sleep. You should stock up your toiletries with some Epsom salt not only to destress but to also stay hygienic.

Foot File and Scrub

Speaking of maintaining foot hygiene, another product worth mentioning is a foot file and scrub. Our feet are one of the most used body parts and we often forget to tend to them. When you wear heels or you walk often, you will notice the callus formation in certain sections of your feet. Although calluses are the body’s mechanism to offer a cushioning surface, it can lead to problems such as corns. Cracked and chapped heels can also make walking unbearable.

Thus, to take good care of your feet, you must have a decent foot file and scrub at hand. Regularly exfoliating your feet will give you baby soft skin and also prevent the development of callus. You can even make foot scrub at home. Once you make scrubbing and filing your feet a routine, your feet will not only be happy but they will also be cleaner and odor-free. Thus, you will end up killing two birds with one stone.

Final Thoughts

This concludes my guide for maintaining personal hygiene for women. Contrary to popular belief, good hygiene can be practised by women of all ages, not necessarily just young ladies. Once you follow these tips to maintain personal hygiene, you will notice a significant improvement in the quality of your life. You will feel fresh and rejuvenated every single day and a hygienic and disease-free life would also greatly enhance your mental health. Depending on your skin type, geographical location, and needs, the list of personal care items may vary slightly. However, in the larger picture, the list will significantly help women of all ages and from all over the world.