| 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. |
