Due to busy routine and changing weather, women often have to face problems to personal hygiene. If you are also facing similar problems then read the article.
Shikha returned home from her office tired in the evening. The humid heat of Delhi and the metro journey had completely exhausted him. For the last few days, she was so busy with her new project deadline that she was not getting time to focus on herself. While sleeping at night, he suddenly felt a slight itching and burning sensation in his private parts, which he initially ignored as normal, but in the next two days, this problem increased so much that it became difficult for him to sit and concentrate on work. When Shikha consulted the doctor, it was revealed that it was a serious UTI or urinary tract infection caused by wearing synthetic clothes, ignoring sweating and minor lack of personal hygiene. This story of Shikha is like that of every other working or housewife around us, who often leaves behind her basic hygiene in the pursuit of work and later faces great difficulties.
self love means self care
As women, we take very close care of the health, cleanliness and food of the entire house. But the irony is that when it comes to our own personal hygiene, we are often careless. Women’s bodies undergo hormonal changes and a complex physical structure, due to which they are more prone to infections than men. Personal hygiene does not just mean taking bath daily or applying expensive perfumes, but it is directly to your internal health, mental peace and self-confidence. When you feel clean and fresh from inside, your efficiency and energy levels also increase. To make women aware on this topic and show them the right direction, well-known women health and lifestyle expert Dr. Kavya Sharma of ‘Women Wellness Foundation’ has joined us. According to Dr. Kavya, by adopting some very basic but modern habits, every woman can stay away from diseases and always remain active.
1. Intimate Hygiene- Do not disturb the natural pH balance
Dr. Kavya Sharma tells that the skin of the intimate area (private parts) of women is very sensitive. It has a natural acidic pH level (3.5 to 4.5), which helps good bacteria (lactobacilli) to grow and prevent infection.
Suggestion: Nowadays, do not use scented soaps, body washes or chemical based intimate washes available in the market on this area. These products disturb the natural pH balance there, which increases the problem of fungal infection and bad smell. To clean this area, use only plain lukewarm water and always clean from front to back so that stomach bacteria cannot come forward.
2. Do not neglect changing sanitary pads during periods.
The days of menstruation or periods are physically challenging for every woman. In these days, taking care of hygiene becomes doubly important than normal days. Many women, on the pretext of being busy with work or having less bleeding, use the same sanitary pad the whole day, which is the most dangerous habit.
Correct rule: Whether the bleeding is less or more, change your sanitary pad every 4 to 6 hours. If you use menstrual cups or tampons, empty and clean them within the prescribed time limit. Dirty pads allow bacteria to grow rapidly, which can cause uterine infections.
3. Right choice of clothes – Let your skin breathe
In today’s fashionable lifestyle, the trend of tight fitting jeans, leggings and synthetic (nylon or polyester) undergarments has increased a lot. According to Dr. Kavya, these clothes block air ventilation, due to which sweat gets accumulated inside and creates an ideal environment for bacteria and fungus.
Expert Choice- Always choose 100′ cotton undergarments for the day. Cotton absorbs sweat and keeps the skin dry. Apart from this, wear completely loose-fitting clothes while sleeping at night so that the body gets a chance to breathe naturally.
4. Bathroom Hygiene- Caution while using public toilets
Working women or traveling women often have to use public toilets, which are the biggest bastions of UTI. Infection spreads very quickly due to contact with a dirty toilet seat.
Modern habit- Always keep a small ‘toilet seat sanitizer spray’ in your handbag. Spray the seat before using it. Additionally, always close the lid of the commode when flushing a western toilet, as the pressure of the flush can send fine contaminated particles flying into the air and sticking to your skin and clothes.
5. Oral and skin hygiene- protection of face and smile
Personal hygiene also includes cleaning our mouth and face. After staying in pollution and dust all day, the pores of the skin get clogged.
Daily routine- Never forget to remove makeup from your face before sleeping at night, no matter how tired you are. Also, make it a habit to brush at night. The bacteria present in the mouth cause decay overnight, which not only causes bad breath but also causes stomach diseases.
6. Rule after workout and sweat- change clothes immediately
Women who go to the gym, do yoga or do heavy household work sweat a lot. Sitting for hours in sweat-soaked clothes increases the chances of skin rashes, acne and fungal infections (like ringworm or scabies). Remedy- Take a bath immediately within 15-20 minutes of finishing the workout (when the body temperature becomes normal). If bathing is not possible, at least change your sweaty clothes and undergarments and dry your body thoroughly.
7. Regular cleaning of towels and sheets
We clean our body, but if the towel with which we wipe the body or the bedsheet on which we sleep is dirty, then all the hard work goes in vain.
FAQ
What is the main cause of UTI in women?
Drinking less water, wearing synthetic tight innerwear, accumulation of sweat, using dirty toilet seat and using the same pad for a long time during periods are the main causes of UTI.
Is it safe to wash intimate areas with soap?
No, the alkaline nature of soap destroys the natural acidic pH (3.5-4.5) of the private parts, which kills the good bacteria and increases the infection. Use only plain lukewarm water.
How often should sanitary pads be changed during periods?
It is mandatory to change the pad every 4 to 6 hours according to the flow of bleeding to avoid infection and bad smell.
How to avoid infection while using public toilets?
Always use toilet seat sanitizer spray, close the lid of a western toilet and flush it, and clean the seat with toilet paper or tissue before sitting.
Why is it important to change clothes after a workout?
Due to moisture in sweat-soaked clothes, bacteria and fungus grow rapidly, which can cause ringworm, itching and folliculitis (rashes) around the thighs and waist.
