HEALTH
teen hygiene
C
hildren seem to think
they can go through
life without washing
anything. That’s an
understandable concept
for a 5-year-old, but
when you have to ask your teen if they
showered, it gets hairy.
Thanks to puberty, a teen’s body
releases so many hormones, which
wreak havoc everywhere. Body odor is
caused by these hormones, as is excessive oil on both the scalp and face, causing greasy hair and acne. The sebaceous
glands are to blame for this phenomenon because they are over-active during
puberty. The bacteria on the skin attach
to these oils and produce an odor. Girls
can start puberty as early as 8 years old
until maturity around 14. Boys will start
later, the earliest around 9 years old,
and can mature much later. So, starting a good regimen at a young age may
thwart any cleanliness challenges going
forward for both parents and teens.
Dr. Stephanie Strozuk of Evolved
Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine
in Ridgewood offers this insight.
“When tweens and teens are going
through pubertal changes their hygiene
requirements change dramatically,” she
says. “Parents may assume that their
teens realize this, but we, as parents,
definitely need to guide them.”
Showering daily is a must. Be sure
to have mild soaps and shampoos on
hand that are not laden with hormone
disrupting chemicals like parabens and
phthalates.
The challenges brought on by puberty
and overactive glands are not a teen’s fault,
but starting good habits young will prevent
greasy hair, smelly armpits and more.
22
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016 | (201) FAMILY
Common
sense items
include hand
washing as a
preschooler, before
every meal, after
every trip to the bathroom, in the hospital
and after touching animals. Carrying around
hand sanitizer is a good idea,
but hand washing should become
part of the norm after all of these
activities.
It may seem obvious that hair washing and showering are an everyday
occurrence, but kids and teens don’t
necessarily see it that way. Don’t take
for granted that it will happen; insist
that it does. Greasy hair isn’t just
unpleasant, it’s a hotbed for dirt and
infection that can be transferred all over
the body. Keeping hair clean and washing regularly is paramount to keeping
the rest of the body clean. Washing the
face with a good, mild cleanser two
times a day is a must.
Girls face a challenge once menstruation hits because vaginal hygiene
becomes essential, especially during
that time of the month. However,
vaginal hygiene does not have to be
excessive. The vagina internally cleans
itself, but a mild hygiene wash during a
daily shower or bath routine is helpful
to keep away yeast infections.
Teens often avoid the use of deodorant or antiperspirant. Introducing the
use of these products at a younger age
makes it part of the daily routine. Hygiene
is about habits, both good and bad.
Changing clothes is another element
that will keep the smells away, but
it isn’t something a kid always does.
Young children get into the habit of
wearing the same stuff because it’s
comfortable or they have an attachment to the article of clothing. However,
when the hormones have a say in the
wardrobe, you just can’t put on the
same shirt and socks four days in a
row and not have an impact. Parents
need to make sure young teens know
the basics of laundry and provide clean
clothes to set an example.
There can be no waffling when it
comes to hygiene because it is damaging from a physical perspective, but
mentally as well. Aside from facing
the health consequences of infections
and illness, children with hygiene
poor enough that is noticed by others
can suffer self-esteem and social
consequences. ●
– LINDA PERILLO ZAZZILI
201magazine.com
THOM FOTO/GETTY IMAGES/ISTOCKPHOTO
FOSTERING CLEAN HABITS EARLY IN CHILDHOOD
CAN PAY OFF IN ADOLESCENCE