 | Acne care
Poor hygiene doesn't cause blemishes, but practicing good hygiene can help prevent acne -- especially body acne. Cleansing your skin daily and exfoliating weekly can keep pores from getting clogged. But when caring for your face, remember the sensitivity of your lips. |
|  | Bath sponges and loofahs
Be sure to replace bath sponges and loofahs regularly to avoid skin irritations due to bacteria. One study found that the amount of bacteria grew exponentially in 24 hours when exposed to a loofah sponge. Next, see whether or not you should be washing your hair. |
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 | Bathing
Anyone who's ever taken a warm bath or shower at the end of a tough day knows the calming influence it exerts. One scientific study showed a significant decrease in stress levels following bathing. But remember to clean your cleaning tools! Learn about the dangers of dirty loofahs on the next page. |
|  | Bathing regularly
Bathing regularly is one way to prevent body odor, but it turns out sweat itself has no odor. Then why, you may ask, is a sweaty person so smelly? When the bacteria on your skin and hair metabolize the proteins and fatty acids, they produce an unpleasant odor. Next, find out what you can do to stop sweat. |
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 | Body odor
You may think that body odor has long been taboo, but it wasn't until the 1950s that Western society deemed it a turnoff. Now, most people apply an antiperspirant to stop sweat from soaking their underarms. But those underarms need to be clean first. Learn about bathing and hygiene next. |
|  | Brushing teeth
Brush your teeth often to defend against cavities, periodontal disease, plaque and bad breath. The process should take at least three minutes -- and don't forget to clean your tongue and the roof of your mouth! Toothpaste and floss are items you should use daily. Next, see what the U.S. Army has to do with the next daily hygiene routine. |
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 | Diet
Remember that you eat three meals a day, and what you put into your body makes a big impact on its overall health -- inside and out. Learn more about how nutrition and skin health are related. |
|  | Foot care
Good foot skin care contributes to overall good health, but if you're diabetic, excellent foot care is absolutely vital. Diabetes can damage foot nerves, reduce blood flow and make it harder to resist or overcome infection. But diabetics aren't the only ones whose health is affected by their food intake. |
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 | Hair removal
Being clean-shaven became fashionable during World War II when United States soldiers were required to shave their beards so that their gas masks would fit properly. Gillette also introduced its first "safety" razor around the same time, making it easy for men to keep facial hair trimmed. Men aren't the only ones who have made hair removal part of their daily routine. |
|  | Hand washing
Good personal hygiene is key to preventing infection and disease and maintaining general cleanliness. Surprisingly, one study showed that only 77 percent of people wash their hands after using public restrooms and 34 percent after coughing or sneezing. People may not realize that you haven't washed your hands, but body odor is a dead giveaway -- see what you can do about it next. |
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 | Leg waxing
Many women shave or wax to remove unsightly body hair in a variety of areas such as the legs and armpits. Although this practice is primarily for cosmetic reasons, it makes many women feel cleaner to be free of body hair. But don't focus too much on the arms and legs -- the hands and feet need attention, too! Learn more on the next page. |
|  | Lips
You should always protect your skin from the sun's UV rays, but this is especially true for your lips since they don't produce as much melanin. Use a lip balm that moisturizes with at least SPF 15. Read on to find out how else to brighten your smile. |
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 | Nails
Men and women alike enjoy manicures, and strong, healthy nails reflect a strong, healthy you. Keep them neat with frequent trims, daily moisturizing and cleaning, and be sure to resist the urge to bite hangnails. We may use and see our hands more often, but taking care of our feet is important, too. |
|  | Washing hair
In 2007, a guest on an Australian radio show mentioned he hadn't washed his hair in a decade. Five hundred listeners participated in a challenge, and after six weeks of going without shampoo, 86 percent of them reported that their hair was no worse or better than it was when they used shampoo regularly. Learn about facial cleansing on the next page. |
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 | Washing your face
Washing your face a couple of times a day can help loosen blackheads up and clean out your pores. The black substance in blackheads, however, has nothing to do with dirt. It's actually the result of a combination of sebum and dead skin cells. Find out next how hygiene and acne are linked. |
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