At the onset of puberty, a child's body starts a rapid physical and chemical change. With this change in the body comes a need to change grooming and hygiene habits and routines. Where it used to be a shower every two or three days, it is now necessary to take one every day. There is also an introduction to a slew of personal products from deodorant and body wash to anti-fungal cream and facial scrubs.
Morning Routine
The most important thing a teenager can do to promote good hygiene is get into a routine that starts at sunrise and ends right before going to bed. This routine should start after breakfast and include a morning flossing and brushing of the teeth; mouthwash rinse; shower (and shave if necessary); application of deodorant and any perfume or body spray and combing of the hair. This is the time for styling your hair using either hairspray, mousse or gel and a hair dryer or curling/straightening iron. Applying make-up is the last step.
Mid Day Routine
After lunch, swishing a mouthful of water and spitting it out to remove any food particles is a good practice. Washing your hands throughout the day is also vitally important. Jon Hardy, the founding microbiologist of Hardy Diagnostics, estimates that 80 percent of all infectious diseases are spread by touch. Washing your hands for at least 15 seconds is recommended by the Center for Disease Control. If this is extended to 30 seconds, the likelihood of infection is reduced 10 times. Singing "Yankee Doodle" takes about 30 seconds (you don't have to sing it out loud).
Night Routine
Before bed, again brush your teeth and rinse with mouthwash to eliminate the germs that thrive in your mouth at night and create that bad breath in the morning. This is also the time to apply any anti-acne cream or astringent to clean the pores in your face. Wiping away the oil with an astringent will prevent the clogging of pores and subsequent forming of pimples and blackheads. And as mentioned before, always wash your hands before going to bed.
Having the Right Tools
It is important to have the right tools for the job. When it comes to hygiene, a fully stocked kit should include shampoo, conditioner, deodorant/antiperspirant, toothbrush and toothpaste, floss, astringent, hydrogen peroxide for cleaning scratches or scabs, a nail kit including tweezers and nail clippers and a wide-toothed comb for quickly running through your hair to remove tangles and snarls. Several other tools could be added for particular issues such as athlete's foot powder, hot oil treatment for dry hair or salicylic acid for bad acne.
References
- Kid's Health: Personal Hygeine - Taking Care of Your Body (Accessed March 2011)
- hardydiagnostics.com (Accessed March 2011)
Kenneth Sleight - Ken Sleight is a resident of Haslett, Mi. He was voted among his friends as, "most likely to be the phone a friend on Who Wants to be a ...
Join the Conversation