Latest news with #personalhygiene
Washington Post
2 days ago
- General
- Washington Post
My 11-year-old daughter doesn't wash her hair or brush her teeth effectively
Dear Meghan: Our 11-year-old daughter is not motivated by personal hygiene. She will shower when reminded to, but she does not wash her hair effectively (I still have to wash it for her sometimes to make sure it gets clean). She is in puberty and is starting to get pimples on her face, but she will not wash her face at night unless I basically walk her into the bathroom and do it with her. When she brushes her teeth in the morning, she still has morning breath afterward, so clearly is not doing an effective job. I am at a loss. We have worked with her and, frankly, nagged her for years, and I'm just tired of it. Is this developmentally appropriate? We do not believe she is neurodivergent, and she's a great kid — smart, social and involved in a lot of activities. I don't understand this refusal to do the basics of effective personal hygiene. The approach we've been taking is clearly not working, so I would love some advice. Thank you! — Nagging Not Working Nagging Not Working: Personal hygiene is a sticky issue in these in-between years. Your daughter is no longer a young girl, but she's not quite a teen yet. Hormones, changes in her body and social pressures all take center stage at this age, and three things come to mind when I read this letter. First, parents need to understand the development stage of their child. Second, I am not sure that neurodivergence is off the table. And third, you need to find a new style of communication with her, stat. Developmentally, your daughter is experiencing puberty in her body, but her mind may still be immature. In her book, 'The Crucial Years,' psychologist Sheryl Gonzalez Ziegler says: 'Children in the earlier years of middle school aren't equipped for puberty. Their bodies may be maturing faster, but their brains are not. … This means that kids under the age of twelve aren't ready to understand or process many of the feelings and situations their changing bodies might lead to.' Essentially I am wondering, despite the nagging and helping, does your daughter actually understand what is happening in her body? She needs guidance and support, beginning with flipping through a book (choose one that matches your family's values) with her, detailing what puberty is and isn't. This isn't a moment of shame, 'See, this is why you have more zits and your hair is oily!' Rather, it's a moment to say: 'Hey, everyone goes through this, and here are some ideas for how to take care of your body. Let's figure it out so it works for you.' I know that there is much talk about the autism spectrum these days, but it is worth mentioning that girls go un- and underdiagnosed, often well into adulthood, because of how well they mask (which is the term used for coping to look 'neurotypical' in social settings and even with family). It isn't that people with autism don't 'care' about hygiene, it's that their sensory system is sometimes overwhelmed, clouding how well a task has been completed or even completed at all. Some people hate the feeling of sudsy hair, or the toothpaste is too minty. And some people simply get stuck in their own minds and don't attend to needs right in front of them — which is maddening until you understand that this is not a willpower issue. Finally, I don't know whether your standards of cleanliness are, in fact, appropriate for your daughter. Check with your pediatrician to see whether your expectations are in line with typical hygiene behavior in an 11-year-old. If your expectations are reasonable, use the Ross Greene Collaborative and Proactive Solutions problem-solving method to find solutions that work for both parties (there are books, a website and trained facilitators). Hygiene is important, but your daughter's voice must be centered here, and the Greene model allows for both parent and child to voice their point of view. When the parent is controlling a child's body as much as you are, this problem-solving model may feel slow and frustrating at first, but there's a bigger goal: We want our children to find reliance on and independence with their own bodies. You may have a vision of cleaner hair and fresh breath (understandably), but let's instead focus on helping your daughter grow skills to care for her own body. There are numerous resources available in the Greene approach, and don't be afraid to hire someone trained in the framework to help you. In the meantime, immediately find and praise what your daughter is doing well. She may feel quite ashamed by your fussing over her body, so establish a deeper connection by creating situations where your daughter shines (especially when it comes to self-care). Whether it is her outfit or hair style, find what is working and truly see her, while ignoring the bad breath and skin (for now). Get the support you need, start with her doctor and stay loving. Good luck.
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Truth about 'whole-body' deodorant: Doctors reveal what really makes you smell, where to spray - and the best ways to truly beat body odour
Applying deodorant to the armpits is a morning routine for many – but is a squirt under the arms enough? There is an increasing number of 'whole body' deodorants on the market, designed not only to be applied to the armpits but also the feet, belly and 'underboobs' – even the genital area.
Health Line
21-05-2025
- Health
- Health Line
Anyone Can Get Head Lice — It Doesn't Matter How Often You Wash Your Hair
The myth that head lice prefer unwashed hair has fueled plenty of stigma. In reality, there's no link between these tiny parasites and personal hygiene. Anyone can get them. Getting head lice doesn't mean your hair, or any other part of your body, is 'dirty.' Even though some insects are attracted to unclean places, that's not the case for head lice. These parasites feed on blood, and anyone can acquire them. According to experts, it doesn't make a difference if you recently washed your hair or not. Lice are incredibly common around the world. Estimates suggest that each year, between 6 and 12 million infestations affect kids ages 3 to 11 in the United States. Read on to learn more about head lice spread, how to treat infestations, and what you can do to avoid getting head lice. Who is more likely to get lice? While you can get head lice at any age, lice do tend to affect children more often than adults. This may be because children tend to play closely, with their heads touching, and lice move from one scalp to the next through close head-to-head contact. Lice also tend to be more common in girls. Experts say this may happen because girls are more likely to play with their heads close together. Hair length doesn't have any effect on your risk of getting head lice. That said, you may have a harder time finding lice and their eggs (nits) in thick, long, natural, or curly hair. This has fueled a myth that people with coiled, curly hair can't get lice. In reality, people with any hair type or texture can get lice. How can you prevent head lice? Head lice don't care how often you shower or wash your hair. There's no tried-and-true way to prevent head lice, but you can take steps to lower your risk. Here are some recommendations: Avoid close head-to-head contact: Lice often spreads due to close contact at slumber parties, contact sports, and children's games. Just keep in mind, you won't get lice simply by standing near someone who has lice. Avoid sharing clothing or accessories that touch your hair: It's possible to transmit lice by sharing hats, hair ties, barrettes, scarves, and coats — anything that has prolonged contact with your head and hair. Avoid sharing brushes, combs, or other hair styling accessories: These items may also transmit lice, but this is less common. If you do share these items, you can kill lice by soaking them in hot water (at least 130°F, or 54°C) for 5 to 10 minutes. Avoid lying on communal couches, beds, pillows, and stuffed animals: Lice can live in bedding and furniture for up to 2 days. Always wash and dry bedding, clothing, and other items: If someone in your home has head lice, you can kill any lice in these items by washing them in hot water and drying them on high heat. If you can't wash something, you can dry clean it, or seal it in a plastic bag for 14 days to make sure all the nits (lice eggs) die. Vacuum your furniture and floor: Pay careful attention to carpeted areas, rugs, and furniture like sofas and chairs. What's the best way to treat head lice? You can't kill head lice by washing your hair with shampoo. If you have live lice or lice eggs in your hair, you'll need to use a special lice treatment. Over-the-counter (OTC) options approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) include: Permethrin 1% (Nix): Permethrin 1% is safe for children of all ages, including babies more than 2 months old. If your child under 2 months has lice, consider consulting a pediatrician. Pyrethrins and piperonyl butoxide (Pronto, Rid): You can use pyrethin treatments for children ages 2 and up, but avoid this option if you're allergic to chrysanthemums or ragweed. Both of these treatments kill live lice but not unhatched eggs. A second treatment, roughly a week after the first, can kill newly hatched lice. You can also ask a doctor about prescription treatments, such as: Benzoyl alcohol 5% (Ulesfia): This treatment kills lice but not unhatched eggs. You'll need to treat your hair again about a week later. Ivermectin 0.5% (Sklice): This treatment kills lice and seems to prevent newly hatched lice from living. Malathion 0.5%: This treatment kills live lice and some lice eggs. You may need a second treatment to kill any lice still living 7 to 9 days after treatment. It's only approved for use on those ages 6 and up. Spinosad 0.9%: This treatment kills live lice and unhatched eggs. Re-treatment isn't usually necessary. It's only approved for use on those ages 6 and up. If these methods don't get rid of head lice, your doctor may recommend trying lindane 1%. As this treatment is strong, experts only recommend it if other treatments are ineffective. If you use too much or swallow some by mistake, it may harm your brain or nervous system. Use this treatment once. This treatment isn't safe for: babies or children pregnant or nursing people older adults people who weigh under 110 pounds those living with HIV or seizures people who have sores or skin irritation on the application site Whichever treatment option you choose, consider checking your hair every 3 to 14 days after applying a treatment to ensure its effectiveness. Can you use home remedies instead of OTC treatments? As an alternative to OTC or prescription treatments, you can manually comb out the lice and nits with a fine-toothed comb or a specially designed lice comb. Applying olive oil to the hair can help capture the lice and nits. You'll need to repeat this at least every 2 to 3 days until all lice and eggs disappear — but keep in mind that experts say this may not work as a stand-alone treatment. Learn more about home remedies for head lice. Takeaway Anyone can get lice — no matter where you live, how old you are, or how often you wash your hair. Since lice feed on blood in your scalp, it doesn't matter whether your hair is freshly shampooed or not. If you or your child has lice, washing your hair or your child's hair with shampoo will not help. An effective OTC or prescription treatment can help you get rid of head lice, though certain treatments may require more than one application.
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- Yahoo
Editor confessions: 22 slightly embarrassing things we use on the sly
There are certain things we talk about at dinner parties: the weather, the news, our latest true-crime binge. And there are other things we keep to ourselves, like funky feet, itchy scalps and rogue chin hairs. While we're not saying we should scream our thigh-chafing woes from the rooftops, airing our dirty laundry (quite literally!) can help us feel connected — less alone in our strivings to be acceptable to the that vein, Yahoo editors have decided to bare it all. We're spilling our guts about our tired tootsies, our poor cracked heels, our huddled masses yearning to breathe non-funky air (enter Poo-Pourri's Before-You-Go toilet spray, which one editor won't leave home without). Why are we being so open? To pay it forward. By letting you in on the secret products that have bettered our lives (and de-stunkified and de-gunkified them), we're giving back to society! You're welcome!Below, we present 22 slightly embarrassing yet absolutely essential handy helpers we're using on the daily. Enjoy.
Daily Mail
13-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
You're using deodorant wrong! Experts reveal common mistake 'decreases effectiveness' - and why you should NEVER reapply throughout the day
It's the everyday product that people reach for almost automatically. Deodorant is commonly applied first thing in the morning, before the gym and even when we get home from work. Whether it's a spray or a roll-on, almost everyone has one that they keep returning to. But have you ever thought that you could be applying it wrong? Oliver Batiste, co-founder of natural deodorant brand Make Waves, has provided advice on how best to use it. He warned that people commonly make mistakes about how much product to apply. And certain methods could even lead to irritation. So, what does he suggest? 'It always amazes me how often people are overusing their deodorant,' he said. 'Some apply between five and 10 swipes of deodorant to each underarm. 'When applying a roll-on on you should only be using between two and three swipes of the product per armpit.' He explained that using too much deodorant can lead to excess product, which till take a much longer time to dry. 'It could potentially cause the product to spread onto your clothes and cause stains,' he explained. 'Despite what many people seem to believe, using more deodorant will not increase its effectiveness. 'For best results and to save money on how often you need to repurchase your deodorant, stick to the two to three swipe rule.' He said as well as applying too much of the product, many people are making the mistake of reapplying their deodorant throughout the day. 'On hotter days you may be tempted to add another layer of your chosen deodorant, but this won't always have the desired effect,' he said. 'Applying deodorant over your old deodorant from earlier in the day without first cleaning your underarm can lead to decreased effectiveness and, in some cases, cause irritation due to product buildup. 'If you feel that your deodorant needs to be reapplied, first clean your underarms as best as possible using warm water or a wet wipe. 'This will help you feel much fresher and ensure the product you're using can be as effective as possible.' How do you get rid of stains? Even if you have the dining etiquette of a duchess, your clothes will at some point fall victim to a splash of sauce or a dribble of gravy. But most stains do disappear. The clue is to work out what kind of stain you've got . . . Pigment-based stains Coloured products and food e.g. wine, coffee, tea, fruit juice, perfume, grass, ink Treatment: Blot stain with kitchen paper, flush with cold water and blot again. Pre-soak using a biological pre-wash powder or apply a gel. Leave for five to ten minutes then wash. Remember: For tannin-based stains, never use salt or soap. Both will set it permanently. Protein-based stains Most food stains eg. egg. Sweat, blood. Treatment: Lift excess solids with a blunt knife. Blot with paper towel. Soak in cold water and add a biological pre-soaking agent. Machine wash at 40c with biological detergent. Remember: Never use hot water; the protein can set into the fibres of the textiles. Grease-based stains Butter, oil, mayonnaise, sun tan lotion Treatment: Scrape off solid parts. Soak up excess moisture with kitchen paper. Sprinkle with baking powder or baby powder to absorb the oil. Shake off and apply liquid detergent, then leave for a few minutes. Machine wash.
