Photo by Yan Krukov from Pexels To stay tidy and presentable, one must practise good personal hygiene. It significantly enhances your whole personality and is a crucial component of grooming. But you have to do it correctly for it to work. Unfortunately, many individuals have misconceptions about the basics, which this article can assist clarify.

1. Overbathing

Because it is the most exposed part of your body, your skin is constantly being exposed to dirt, sweat, oil, dead skin cells, and germs. So that your skin can breathe and perform as it should, it is imperative that you take a bath on a regular basis to remove these impurities. In the hopes that the more you wash your skin, the cleaner and healthier it will be, you must not overdo this process.

Bathing frequently or for an extended period of time might harm your skin and hair. Your skin and scalp get dry and itchy when they are repeatedly exposed to soap and water, which removes their natural lipids. It is advised to only take baths in cold or lukewarm water because hot water is extremely drying. Dry skin is less elastic and more likely to break.
In the meantime, dandruff and general irritation are more common on a dry scalp. When your hair is exposed to water and shampoo on a daily basis, it also loses its shine and softness.

2. Frequently exfoliating

Exfoliation gives your skin a deep clean by removing dirt from your pores. Additionally, it helps to eliminate the dead skin cells that have accumulated on top of your skin by loosening them so that the new, fresh skin beneath can be seen.

Exfoliating too frequently or violently, however, can actually remove your skin's natural oils and even injure the delicate skin on your face. Therefore, it's crucial to apply it gently and no more than two or three times every week. If you have sensitive or dry skin, only do it once a week.
Additionally, avoid scrubbing over active pimples as this may cause them to split and transfer the contagious pus to the nearby skin.

3. Not cleaning your hands properly

Your hands gather up dirt and germs from numerous contaminated surfaces as you use them to touch and grasp objects. When you handle food while cooking or eating, you run the risk of ingesting germs that could cause gastroenteritis or other infections. Similarly, touching your face with dirty hands can spread germs to your skin and even into your mouth or nasal passages, leading to an infection.

Therefore, it is crucial to maintain good hand hygiene. This calls for frequent hand washing with soap and water, especially after using the restroom, touching an animal, coming into contact with someone who has an active cough or cold, as well as before handling food.

4. Cleaning your ears' inside with cotton swabs or Q-tips

The standard tools for removing wax buildup within the ear are cotton swabs or Q-tips, although doing so can be extremely risky and is being opposed more and more by doctors.

To begin with, the ear cavity's inner walls are very delicate and are quickly harmed by these sharp things. Additionally, using a Q-tip too deeply might tear your eardrum and cause hearing loss by pushing wax further into the ear canal.
Instead of pushing the Q-tip inside the ear, you should gently clean the wax and dead skin that have gathered on the outer edge of the ear.

Before using any products, it is recommended to read the product label's directions and speak with your doctor.

5. Excessive facial cleaning

A common misconception is that the more individuals wash their faces, the cleaner they will be. However, using too much water or cleanser can harm the delicate skin of your face. The sebaceous glands under the skin are stimulated by the lack of moisture to generate more oil to make up for the dryness. The extra sebum then clogs your pores, resulting in acne flare-ups. Overwashing your face can also throw off the skin's normal pH balance, which encourages bacterial growth.

Washing your face twice a day, first in the morning and then at night, is advised by skin care specialists. After waking up, your skin is generally clear, so you can even skip the morning session.

Avoid these common personal hygiene mistakes and try to learn the correct ways and measures to properly take care of your body.