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Healthy, normal skin should be regularly washed
with lukewarm water and soap that is mild. Doing so, helps in
removing perspiration, grease, and dirt. For those with a limited
water supply or inadequate bath and shower facilities, sponge
bath are a good substitute if the sponge or washcloth is thoroughly
rinsed as various parts of the body are washed.
Many
people prefer a shower than a bath because showering washes
away the dirt as opposed to bathing because the bath water catches
the dirt which makes it less effective in cleaning the body.
No matter
what method is used, all soap should be thoroughly rinsed off
the skin after washing. Unless told by a physician, medicated
soaps or those advertised as germicidal should not be used,
since they may be an irritant. Skin should be dried with a fluffy
towel, and use only your own bath towel. Hands should be cleansed
frequently in a day, and fingernails kept tidy.
Facial
skin requires special care because of its constant exposure.
The face should be cleaned both before you head to sleep and
once again when you wake up in the morning. Some women may prefer
to use a cleansing cream rather than soap and water. However
everyone to avoid drying of the skin should not massage regular
soap directly into their skin.
Dry skin
is a condition resulting from the loss of moisture from the
outer surface of the skin and its inability to replace lost
moisture. Some causes of the moisture loss are harsh soaps and
constant exposure to dry air. Office workers who spend time
in the day in an air-conditioned environment are more prone
to dry skin.
To correct
the condition, the use of soap and water should be kept to a
minimum for those parts of the body where the skin is dry. Cleansing
creams or lotions containing lanolin should be used on all areas
of your skin where dryness and aging show first. Typically these
problem areas are the face, hands, and other areas like the
elbows. If tub baths are taken, bath oil can be used in the
water or applied to the skin after drying.
Baby oil
is just as effective and much cheaper than glamorously packaged
and overadvertised products. Baby oil or a protective lotion
should also be used o any parts of the body exposed to direct
sunlight for ant extended length of time. Applying oil to the
skin will not however, prevent wrinkles.
Heredity,
emotional condition and environmental temperature all contribute
to the amount of oil that surfaces on the skin via the sebaceous
glands. In warm weather, when the skin perspires more freely,
the oil spreads thinly across the skin surface. Non-oily foundation
lotions and washing of soap and water can decrease the spread
of oil.
When washing
is inconvenient during the day, cleansing pads packaged to fit
in pocket or purse are a quick and efficient solution for both
men and women. |
