Taking care of personal hygiene may seem like something we take for granted. Washing your body, brushing your teeth or taking care of your hair are elements of your daily routine that we approach without much thought. However, it is worth taking a closer look at them - it turns out that even such simple activities are not always performed correctly. A dermatologist takes a closer look at the most common mistakes and reveals how to avoid them!

Personal hygiene is an indispensable part of our daily life. Taking care of it provides a sense of freshness, maintaining an attractive appearance, but is also an important element of preventive health care. The systematic and routine nature of grooming makes us perform it instinctively, so we may unknowingly make - seemingly - innocent mistakes, which can have more or less serious consequences. Dr. Edyta Engländer, dermatologist and expert of the true™ men skin care brand, talks about how to guard against them and why it is worth changing your habits.

(Too) hot baths

Hot showers and long baths are undoubtedly relaxing and enjoyable, but they can actually do a lot of damage to the skin. Excessively hot water violates the hydrolipidic barrier of the epidermis, responsible for maintaining adequate moisture levels and protecting it from irritation. As a result, the skin can become dry, sensitized and more susceptible to harmful external factors. Hot baths should absolutely be avoided by people struggling with acne or atopic dermatitis, as they aggravate these ailments.

Inadequate care of intimate areas

The delicate skin of intimate areas requires proper treatment. Avoid cleaning them too intensively or using cosmetics that are not designed for these extremely sensitive areas. Such actions disrupt the natural bacterial flora, opening the door to irritation and infection. It is important to use only gentle products with a mild formula and soothing properties to care for the intimate area. Remember that intimate hygiene lotion is a must have not only in a woman's makeup bag. Men, too, should reach for special products for intimate zones, rather than using full-body gels for them.

Rinsing out the hair conditioner

Acne lesions on the back and neckline are a problem that affects many people. If imperfections occur only in these areas, their cause may be inaccurate washing of hair products. Masks and conditioners are cosmetics with rich compositions, containing butters and oils, which, if left on the skin, can cause pimples. In such a situation, it is worth paying attention to the order in which you rinse off the products during a bath or shower. It's best to start with the hair, so that you can thoroughly clean all parts of the body of the residue of cosmetics that take care of the appearance of the hairstyle.

Rinse your mouth after brushing your teeth

Although it seems that rinsing your mouth after brushing is a good way to freshen your breath and get rid of toothpaste residue, this is a mistake that few people know about. Toothpaste leaves a protective layer on the enamel, which helps prevent tooth decay. If you rinse your mouth with water or liquid after brushing your teeth, you wash away this coating, reducing its effectiveness. Simply spit out the excess paste, without having to rinse again. Oral hygiene liquids, on the other hand, should be used before brushing to loosen plaque and remove food debris from hard-to-reach spaces between teeth.

Deodorant is not antiperspirant

Sweating is a perfectly natural thing, but in order to take care of our hygiene and comfort, we usually reach for a product designed to prevent foul odor or wet spots - deodorant or antiperspirant. Although we often use their names interchangeably, confusing these cosmetics is a fairly common mistake. Deodorants exclusively combat the unpleasant smell of sweat by masking it. Antiperspirants, on the other hand, contain ingredients that reduce the secretion of sweat by blocking the sweat glands. Be sure to always apply such a product to washed and thoroughly dried armpit skin - otherwise it simply won't work. Antiperspirant and deodorant are cosmetics that complement their effect - they can be used simultaneously, which will provide optimal protection against sweat and guarantee a feeling of freshness.

Taking care of personal hygiene is an important aspect that affects not only our health, but also our mood and self-confidence. It's worth being aware of common mistakes we may make in taking care of our body, skin or mouth in order to enjoy comfort every day.

Source: press mat.