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Self-care is so important to supporting your mental and physical well-being. Think about how relaxed you feel after taking a warm, soothing shower or soaking in a bubble bath with essential oils or your favorite bath bombs. But did you know that dirt is actually bad for your health? Mike Bohl, MD, MPH, ALM, director of medical content and education at Ro, certified nutrition coach, certified personal trainer, and member of our Medical Expert Council, shares four bad hygiene habits that are making you sick. Read on to make sure you don’t include them in your routine, and for more, don’t miss 5 foods to always keep on hand in case you get sick.
Following your daily hygiene isn’t just about looking presentable.
Your daily lifestyle is filled with many daily tasks that involve cleanliness. Personal care such as brushing your teeth, showering, washing your hands and face, and chores like washing clothes and dishes are necessary, and they’re not just for looking good!
Dr. Bohl explains, “Infectious diseases are caused by microscopic organisms like bacteria and viruses, and the best way to get rid of these organisms is to clean them up. There are also larger organisms, such as fungi and lice, that cause disease, and these can also be avoided with good hygiene habits.”
If you’re cringing right now, know that the way to make sure you stay as clean and healthy as possible is to follow your daily hygiene. “Keep doing everything your parents taught you, like taking a bath, brushing your teeth, and taking care of your hair and nails,” Dr. Bohl advises.
Along with a great daily self-care regimen, there are several specific things to keep in mind when it comes to poor hygiene habits that can make you sick.
1. You don’t wash your hands.
Don’t think that keeping your hands clean isn’t important. “One of the easiest ways to get sick” without even realizing it, according to Dr. Bohl, is not washing your hands. Germs don’t necessarily pose a risk to your hands themselves, but rather anything your hands touch if you don’t wash them.
Dr Bohl points out: “The skin acts as a relatively good barrier against infectious material, but germs can enter the body much more easily through mucous membranes, such as the inside of your nose, mouth and eyelids. So if you have ‘If you don’t wash your hands and touch your face, you may be introducing disease-causing germs into your body.’
Be aware that germs can easily transfer to any food you eat, which also puts you at risk of developing gastrointestinal illness.
2. You don’t clean every part of your body in the shower.
Cleaning every part of your body when showering or bathing is huge to prevent disease.
Dr. Bohl explains, “This includes cleaning the armpits, under the breasts, around the groin, in the buttock crease and anywhere you have skin folds. Skin folds, which may be more common in obese people, can be damp, allowing germs to thrive.”
If you don’t clean every nook and cranny, your skin barrier can be compromised and an infection can develop in the folds of your skin.
3. You don’t floss.
Brushing your teeth is important and chances are that every time you get your teeth cleaned the dental hygienist or dentist will remind you to floss. Flossing is truly an essential step for good oral hygiene and cannot be ignored.
“When you brush your teeth, it’s always possible for objects to get stuck between your teeth where the toothbrush can’t reach, which can ultimately lead to cavities and other oral health issues,” warns Dr Bohl.
4. You wash your face too much.
You should definitely cleanse your face every day to remove oils, makeup, and dirt, but don’t overdo it! Washing your face more than two or three times a day can lead to complications.
Dr Bohl warns: “If you wash your face with cleanser too many times a day, you can strip the skin’s natural oils, which in some cases can be just as problematic as not washing. enough and can even make acne worse.”
Alexa Mellardo
Alexa is the associate editor of Eat This, Not That!’s Mind + Body, overseeing the M+B channel and delivering compelling stories about fitness, wellness and self-care to readers. Learn more about Alexa
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