Proper personal hygiene is profoundly significant for preventing illnesses of all kinds. Besides, good personal habits can also help you emotionally. Our human body is capable of developing diseases, especially on the skin. And, unfortunately, an athlete is more susceptible to such illnesses due to his or her nature of sport. Therefore, it is imperative for athletes and people in general to follow a healthy lifestyle that includes excellent levels of personal hygiene.

In this article, we’ll talk about various ways to keep good personal hygiene on a daily basis. Follow the mentioned personal hygiene habits in order to keep infections and illnesses at bay.

1. Washing Of Hands

Most of the contagious germs travel rapidly through hands, and these germs then cause infections. It is, therefore, pertinent to keep your hands clean, and wash them using the best antifungal soap. It so happens that while performing some daily activities of life such as working and playing, these disease causing germs get on to the hands and under the nails. That is why washing the hands prior to consuming food are necessary. All you need to do is follow simple tips such as washing hands prior to cooking and eating, after going to the toilet, and whenever needed.

2. Wash Your Body And Hair

Bathing is one such activity that is expected from all but no one really ever talks about what body wash to use while cleaning the body. Chances are that you are ill-informed and that you are taking a shower wrongfully till now. Firstly, shower every day. Keep your bodies clean using an antifungal body wash that helps in keeping your skin away from fungal infections. In addition, use a chemical-free shampoo to wash your hair. It is advisable to use personal hygiene products that have natural ingredients and essential oils only. Avoid using chemical-infused products as they may cause side-effects.

3. Do Not Share Personal Hygiene Items

Most of us show enormous levels of apprehension in not sharing personal items. It is, however, strongly advised to never share personal care items with your fellow athletes. For instance, don’t share towels, shampoos, soaps, razors, makeup, clothes, shoes, and so forth. The sharing of such items should be avoided in order to keep skin infections such as Staph infections at bay.

4. Wear A Deodorant

Antiperspirants provide two benefits, stops bad breath and help in controlling excessive sweat. It is suggested that one must use a deodorant that is aluminum-free and natural. Always apply deodorants before starting a game or hitting the gym.

5. Take Good Care Of Your Wounds, If Any.

Athletes in particular are more vulnerable to developing wounds and skin rashes. You must cover any kind of wound with the help of antibacterial bandage. Infected wounds usually produce pus, and this pus may cause MRSA, a known bacterial skin infection. Unfortunately, many athletes involved in sports such as rugby suffer from MRSA. So take very good care of your wounds.

6. Skin Checkup!

A regular skin checkup is must for athletes as they are more prone to developing skin related infections. As an athlete, you must be very particular about the health of your skin, and always stay vigilant about any changes that take place on your skin. Be on a lookout for any signs of abnormalities such as redness on the skin, skin itching, swelling or soreness. It is ideal to visit a dermatologist whenever you have doubts. Also, athletes with disabilities need to keep skin dry to prevent pressure soars.

You must invariably employ good personal hygiene habits in order to keep illnesses at bay. And, remember that prevention is always better than cure.