Most people develop a daily routine of personal hygiene throughout their lives. This process usually begins in childhood and is copied and internalized by parents and other adults. Personal hygiene serves primarily an end in itself, but it also has to do with the social environment. Thus, it equally fulfills various functions, and various types of cleaning and care are summarized under the field of personal hygiene.
What is personal hygiene?
The health task underlying personal hygiene is the prevention of disease. Lack of personal hygiene, for example, can lead to fungal infections and an accumulation of bacteria. In the broadest sense, the term is understood to mean the cleaning of the skin and teeth. In addition, there is the care of the so-called skin appendages, which include the hair as well as the toenails and fingernails. Under the care of the teeth is summarized the entire oral hygiene, which includes not only brushing the teeth, but also the use of dental floss and other possible treatments. The care of fingernails and hands is called manicure, while that of feet and toenails is called pedicure. In addition, shaving, removal of body hair or trimming of beard hair also fall under personal grooming. The same applies to hair cutting in addition to washing the hair and scalp. The use of deodorants and other fragrances to influence body odor as well as decorative cosmetics (e.g. make-up) can also be counted among these. In addition to soap, there are various aids used for body hygiene. Shampoos, conditioners and hair treatments are used for hair care. But hair styling products such as sprays, gels and hair mousse can also be counted among them. In the most distant sense, in addition to cutting hair, hair coloring is also included here. Nail care involves cutting and filing the nail with the help of nail scissors and nail clippers, although nail oils and hand creams can also be found on the market. Decorative cosmetics include make-up, hair color and nail polish. For skin care, a wide variety of products can be found, such as creams that serve different purposes, oils, lotions and various types of washing gels. The high number of products shows the importance that body care has taken in the last century.
Function and task
Personal hygiene fulfills various functions, which are located in different areas. One part of personal hygiene serves to maintain health, another to increase personal well-being. In addition, a well-groomed appearance conveys an appropriate image. Thus the task of body hygiene is also a social one. In most cultures, strong body odors are perceived as unpleasant, although they are part of non-verbal communication. They emit messenger substances to which other people instinctively respond, such as pheromones. Regular washing of the body and the use of perfumes and deodorants serve to keep these body odors to a minimum. Many products, for example, influence the body’s own perspiration and regulate it. In industrialized countries, the cosmetic function has now developed a much higher status than the medical function. It ensures a feeling of well-being in one’s own skin and a correspondingly pleasant, appealing image that is conveyed to the outside world. The health task underlying personal hygiene is the prevention of disease. Lack of personal hygiene can lead to fungal infections and an accumulation of bacteria, which can cause infections. Therefore, daily personal hygiene is important to keep the body healthy and prevent inflammation. This is especially true for more sensitive areas of the body, such as the intimate area or oral cavity.
Diseases and ailments
In industrialized societies, however, the problem of excessive personal hygiene is becoming increasingly apparent, which in turn is not healthy. Thus, too frequent washing or the use of the wrong products can lead to the destruction of the acid mantle. The body’s own bacteria, which are supposed to defend against external attacks, are killed or weakened. As a result, pathogens can penetrate the skin more easily and likewise cause inflammation. In addition, excessive washing dries out the skin. Eczema can be the result. The situation is similar with excessive care of the teeth and hair.Brushing the teeth too often can attack the substance of the tooth and thus trigger discomfort. Too much hair care not only attacks the hair, but also the scalp. Thus, people with rapidly oily hair quickly get themselves into a vicious circle from which it is difficult to escape: Frequent hair washing stimulates the scalp’s oil production, which makes hair greasy all the more quickly. Moreover, daily washing dries out the scalp and can lead to dandruff and itchy scalp. Apart from this, there are people who suffer from compulsive washing. This obsessive-compulsive disorder can lead to severe skin diseases and its importance can be attributed to today’s society. The reason for the obsessive-compulsive disorder is often the neutralization and washing away of unwanted thoughts or actions that have happened, which the affected person wants to get rid of or forget. Thus, personal hygiene is to some extent enormously important for the maintenance of health, but if exaggerated, it can also lead to illness and should therefore be used consciously.
