Saturday, 01 September 2007
By: Kholod F. Al-Rhamah
By: Kholod F. Al-Rhamah
Saudi Gazette
Personal hygiene is essential to good grooming and good health. Basic personal hygiene or washing habits usually take hold when we are young, taught to us by parents and brothers and sisters. "Neglect may cause problems that you may not even be aware of," says Dr. Hanady Haj Hammod, a Dermatologist in Jeddah.
She says the heat of the summer increases opportunities for germs to settle in around washing areas, like sinks and bathtubs, and a lack of good hygiene practice can lead to skin irritations and infections. A common concern for many parents is imparting good grooming habits in their children. Regular bathing and hair washing is tops on the list.
Personal hygiene
In simple terms according to Dr. Hanady of the Jwel Poly Clinic, germs are delicate and living creatures that can spread easily. Some germs cause diseases and there are others that are passive germs; they co-exist in the human body causing no harm to the body.
In simple terms according to Dr. Hanady of the Jwel Poly Clinic, germs are delicate and living creatures that can spread easily. Some germs cause diseases and there are others that are passive germs; they co-exist in the human body causing no harm to the body.
A common manifestation of not bathing daily or not washing your hair regularly is lice in the hair, commonly referred to as head lice. They're nasty tiny insects that live on the human scalp, pinprick the skin where hair follicles grow and feed on blood. "Children are especially prone to lice infestation," says Dr. Hanady. Infants as well may be exposed to head lice that may cause disturbed sleep and bouts of crying.
Left unchecked, head lice can lead to scalp infection and it can easily be spread to others. Schoolrooms and playgrounds where groups of children are in close proximity to one another can lead to the spread of head lice. It's children with poor hygiene habits that can spread this nasty insect, not schools.
Recommendations
Over the counter remedies at a pharmacy include anti-lice lotions and shampoos. However in persistent cases a doctor's advice can be sought. Home remedies include regular attention to scalp and painstaking insect removal. A fine-toothed comb and regular monitoring can get rid of the problem. Another recommendation is an anti-lice shampoo, which all members of the family are advised to use.
General steps for healthy skin, states Dr. Hanady, is taking care of body hygiene with frequent showering, especially, in the hot summer season. "It's the best thing to secure your skin from any germs and infections," he recommends. He advises diabetes patients should be especially concerned to take care of their personal hygiene along with other diseases that weaken the body immunity.
Some people take hygiene and routine hand washing for granted. "Keeping hands clean is very important to protect the body in general and the skin in particular, especially fingernails, because germs collect under the nail and a small scratch to the skin with contaminated finger nails could cause very serious skin infections" said Dr. Hanady. Keep routine personal hygiene habits in mind daily, wash your hands often and it will lessen the possibility of passing along germs and infections to your family and friends.
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