Washing your body can become such a routine task that you get through without much thought. You know where you start and the way you proceed to the end, taking the same route daily without fail. While this has the benefit of making your life easier and your showers faster, it carries the danger of not paying as much attention to certain body parts. Here are the body parts you’re likely not washing enough.
Behind your ears
The back of your ears often only sees action when you’re washing your hair. That means failing to wash your ears results in a failure to clean the back of your ears. The back of your ears can collect bacteria and dirt. If you don’t frequently wash your hair, clean the back of your ears using cotton swabs between washes.
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Belly button
The belly button is like the warehouse of bacterial growth. Leaving it unwashed can cause unwanted bacteria and yeast to flourish in it which in severe cases can lead to a foul smell and even infection. Use a wet cotton swab to clean the inside of the belly button during your shower.
Under fingernails
Bacteria can collect under your fingernails leading to things like indigestion and diarrhoea. You need to consistently clean under your fingernails especially if you keep long nails. A nail brush could be useful. Alternatively, keep your fingernails short.
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Scalp
When washing your hair, it’s important to make sure you’re cleansing your scalp. It’s important to massage and scrub your scalp to avoid the build-up of dead skin cells which body mites and bacteria love to eat. Failing to regularly scrub your scalp can make it itchy, red, flaky, and dandruff.
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Back
Who among us can claim to consistently do a good job cleaning their back? Invest in a loofah or an exfoliating sponge and make it part of your shower routine, a few times a week.
Between your toes
One of the things that’s easily overlooked when cleaning yourself is the area between your toes. The area between your toes can cause dirt and bacteria build up. Wash the gaps between your toes and dry them thoroughly to prevent moisture retainment which creates a breeding ground for bacteria and fungus.
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Elbows
Your elbows are likely darker and drier than the rest of your hand. This is likely because of the build-up of dead skin cells. Buy an exfoliating sponge and use it to scrub your elbows on occasion. You can also use lemon juice when cleaning your elbows to lighten them if they are too dark compared to the rest of your hand.
Tongue
Most people remember to brush their teeth, but not as many remember their tongues. The tongue absorbs everything you put in your mouth and not cleaning it well is likely to result in bad breath. When brushing your teeth, make sure you scrub off the white coating from your tongue using a toothbrush or tongue scarper. Using mouthwash can also be great for removing bacteria. Health: What Your Tongue Says About Your Health
If none of these rang true for you, congratulations, you’re better than all of us. 😊
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