Personal Hygiene
What can be used as a substitute to showering every day?
NOTHING! Using body sprays, lotions, or even deodorant does not take the place of a clean body.
True or False: People who have body odor may be unable to smell it.
TRUE!
Name two things you can do to help reduce body odor?
- Shower with soap & water, at least once per day
- Wear antiperspirant deodorant daily
- Change your clothes regularly, do not rewear clothing (especially socks, under garments, etc.)
Doing these things regularly helps reduce the build-up of bacteria, therefore preventing BO
Myth or FACT: Bathing/showering with just water is just as effective as using soap.
MYTH: Using soap is necessary for proper personal hygiene.
True or False: Good hygiene habits like showering every day and brushing your teeth every morning takes up too much time, causing extra stress.
FALSE! Although healthy hygiene habits might take a little extra time, they also serve as a "reset" each morning which improve your mood, not hurt it.
True or False: Rewearing the same clothes will NOT lead to body odor.
FALSE! Clothing retains dead skin cells and swear which leads to a germ party.
True or False: Using scented body sprays, perfumes, or lotions can take the place of deodorant.
False! Body odor is caused from sweat and bacteria. Using scented products only "covers up" body odor and can sometimes make things worse!
How many sweat glands (odor-causing structures) does your body contain?
- 3,000
- 30,000
- 300,000
- 3,000,000
3,000,000
Myth or Fact: Eating greasy food causes acne.
MYTH!
Fill in the blank: Activities like showering or taking a bath can trigger the release of _______, which naturally improve your mood.
Endorphins
Yikes! I do not have enough clothes to get me through a week and my family cannot bring me more. What can you do?
Talk to staff about washing it or ask about donations.
True or False: Around the age of 11, a new type of sweat gland develops.
TRUE! When this new sweat gland develops, skin bacteria feed on the sweat produced by this gland leading to body odor.
What are the three areas of the body that cause the most body odor?
Head, armpits, and feet
It is important to wash your hair regularly, shower daily with soap, and be sure to thoroughly dry your body before getting dressed.
MYTH OR FACT: Tanning/sun exposure reduces acne.
MYTH! There is no evidence that tanning improves or prevents acne.
When surveyed, what percentage of people brush their teeth the recommended amount of times each day?
69% of Americans brush their teeth at least twice a day, which aligns with the recommendations of the American Dental Association. This means that around 31% of Americans do not brush their teeth with the suggested frequency, according to a survey by Delta Dental.
Oops! You forgot to put on deodorant this morning. Where can you go to grab some on the unit?
in my hygiene box or ask staff for some deodorant.
True or False: Deodorant & Antiperspirant are the same thing.
FALSE! There are many deodorants that do not contain an antiperspirant. Antiperspirants help control how much you sweat; deodorants help cover up body odor.
Why do we sweat?
Myth or Fact: Washing your hair daily has a tendency to reduce acne.
FACT! Oil develops in your hair, which often leads to acne. Regular hair washing is shown to reduce acne!
What is the number one contributor to a self-esteem?
Appearance! If you feel better about how you look, your self-esteem is likely to improve too! Easy ways to control your appearance are by maintaining good hygiene practices.
At what age should you start showering daily and wearing deodorant?
Around age 10!
True or False: Body odor is caused by sweat.
What type of material absorbs sweat best?
Cotton! Synthetic materials tend to carry more odor than cotton. Cotton socks, tshirts, and undergarments can help reduce body odor.
Myth or Fact: I don't play any sports or take gym, so I do not sweat or have body odor.
Myth! Although some activities are more likely to produce sweat than others, it is just as important to practice proper hygiene.
What are the 5 domains of self-care?
Physical
Emotional
Social
Spiritual
Psychological