Dr.
Faisal khattak
Department of COMMUNITY MEDICINE
Personal hygiene
Learning Objectives
At the end of the session, students will be able to:
• Define Hygiene.
• Define Components of Hygiene and their Public Health Importance.
• Differentiate between hygiene and cleanliness.
• Define body, hair, hand, foot, nail, ear, and dental hygiene in detail.
Hygiene
• It is defined as the science of health and
embraces all factors which contribute to healthy
living (J. Park).
• Greek word: Hygiea-Goddess of Health-means
healthy & Sound.
• It is employed to prevent or minimize the
incidence and spread of communicable diseases.
Components of Personal Hygiene
Personal hygiene
• Body hygiene
• Hair Hygiene
• Hand & Foot Hygiene
• Dental hygiene
• Ear hygiene
• Menstrual Hygiene
Environmental hygiene
• Environmental cleanliness
Public health Importance
• Preventing faeco-orally transmitted
diseases.
• Aesthetic values of personal hygiene.
• Social Impact.
Cleanliness Hygiene
• Cleaning is removing dirt, waste, • Hygiene focuses on removing
or unwanted things from the the invisible microorganisms
surface of objects using
detergents and necessary
equipment. • Hygiene aims at preventing the
spread of disease-causing
organism
• Cleaning is a mean(input) to
achieve hygiene.
Body Hygiene
Body odor is caused by several factors working in combination, including:
• Chemicals in sweat, including pheromones, are made by the body and attract
(or repel) other people.
• The actions of bacteria that feed on dead skin cells and sweat.
• It is especially observed in the groin, underarms, and feet, and in clothing that has
absorbed sweat.
• Skin infections such as scabies, acne, and ringworms are the result of poor
body hygiene.
Body Hygiene Tips
• Bath daily or after periods of sweating or getting dirty, using soap and water to
rinse away dead skin cells, oil, and bacteria.
• Pay special attention to areas that accumulate more sweat, such as armpits,
between the toes, and the groin area.
• Dry the body with a clean towel. Change into clean clothes after a bath.
• Avoid sharing soaps and towels because of the danger of cross-infection.
• Applying deodorant when fully dry can help prevent body odors.
Hair Hygiene
• The hair follicles produce oil from the sebaceous glands that keep the hairs
smooth.
• The scalp is a surface for the accumulation of dead skin cells. The oil, sweat,
and dead cells all add together and can make the hair greasy.
• Poor hair hygiene could cause dandruff and skin infections such as Tinea
capitis.
• Head hair is a good harbor for head lice (Pediculus humanus capitis) and nits.
Hair Hygiene Tips
• Use clean water to wash your hair regularly (at least
twice weekly, preferably once every other day).
• Massage your scalp well. This will remove dead skin
cells, excess oil and dirt.
• Comb the hair and ideally use a wide-toothed comb
for wet hair.
• Dry the hair and the head with a clean towel. Never
share comb or towel with someone else.
Hand Hygiene
• Hand hygiene plays a critically important role in preventing disease
transmission.
• Gastroenteritis, colds and many diseases spread through dirty hands.
• The CDC recommends washing hands at certain times:
• before, during, and after preparing food
• before eating food
• before and after treating a cut or wound
• after going to the bathroom
• after blowing the nose, coughing, or sneezing
• after touching garbage or dirty surfaces or objects
• after handling pets or pet-related items, such as food
Foot Hygiene
• Feet sweat as we walk and the sweat accumulates on all foot surfaces and
between the toes.
• Sweat also encourages fungal growth between the toes (athlete’s foot). The
symptoms of an athlete’s foot are scaly skin and sores or blisters, which
start between the toes but can often spread to the soles of the feet.
• Sometimes cracks and sores become the site for other infections.
• Foot hygiene is also important in the treatment of podoconiosis (mossy
foot). It is a reaction in the body to very small soil particles that have passed
through the skin of the feet.
Foot Hygiene Tips
• The feet should be washed daily. Dry them
carefully, especially between the toes.
• Moisturize them.
• Change socks daily.
• Avoid walking barefoot in public areas.
Nail Hygiene
• Nail is hard tissue that constantly grows and tends to accumulate or trap dirt
on the underside.
• Keep nails trimmed and in good shape weekly.
• Clip nails short but do not cut them so close that it damages the skin.
• Nail cutters should not be shared with others.
• Without proper care, they can become brittle, ingrown, or infected.
Ear Hygiene
• Ear wax accumulates in the ear, and as the
secretion comes out of the ear it collects dust
particles from the air.
• Daily washing with soap and water is enough
to keep the outer ear clean.
• Putting in Q-tips, hairpins, safety pins, or
blunt-edged things for cleaning purposes
might harm the ear.
Dental Hygiene
• Healthy teeth and gums enable us to chew food thoroughly.
• The oral cavity is prone to collecting harmful bacteria and generating infections.
• The decaying process that takes place on the surface of the teeth eventually
produces a build-up called plaque (a sticky deposit on which bacteria grow).
• Plaque is then converted into tartar (a hard, yellowish, calcified deposit on the
teeth, consisting of organic secretions and food particles). The result is tooth
decay (Dental Carries).
• Unpleasant smell of breath (halitosis or stinking odor), and teeth and gum
infections could be a result of poor oral hygiene.
Dental Hygiene Tips
• ADA recommends brushing teeth for 2 minutes at
least twice a day — once before breakfast and once
before bed.
• Use fluoride toothpaste and replace the toothbrush
every 3–4 months.
• ADA also advises people to floss daily.
• Limit intake of Sugar.
• Visit the dentist every 6 months.
Prevention of Dental Carries
• Modification of diet
• Use of fluoride in various forms:
• Community water fluoridation.
• School water fluoridation.
• Fluoridized salt.
• Fluoride supplement program.
• Fluoride mouth rinse program.
• Fluoride toothpaste.
• Reducing carcinogenic bacteria in the oral cavity.
• Health Education
References
• https://ccsuniversity.ac.in/bridge-library/pdf/Toxicology-2704-Health-
&-hygiene-open-elec-Unit-II.pdf
• https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/personal-
hygiene#children
