Why do people need hygiene needs?

The Importance of Good Personal Hygiene

Maintaining personal hygiene is necessary for many reasons; these can be personal, social, for health reasons, psychological or simply as a way of life. Essentially keeping a good standard of hygiene helps to prevent the development and spread of infections, illnesses and bad odours.

If a person is due to go into hospital, sometimes that person becomes very aware of their hygiene. The thought of being vulnerable and exposed to strangers can cause the person to become very strict on their hygiene needs. If you have cut yourself, the wound should be cleaned and dressed suitably, this can help reduced the risk of infection and pain. Conditions such as head lice, athlete's foot etc. should be treated immediately to prevent further infections and spread to others. Hand washing cannot be emphasised enough as this simple action can prevent a plethora of illnesses and disorders developing. Many people 'forget' to wash their hands after using the toilet or before handling foods; this deed can cause a great deal of illness and even death.

By being well presented, clean and tidy, people can feel more confident, especially in social situations. Many job interviews and such like are highly dependent of hygiene as many decisions are made by first impressions within the first few minutes of meeting; these decisions are often made in the sub-conscious. Maintaining hygiene practices helps to reduce the risks of ill health, but equally important affects how we and others perceive ourselves and can influence our levels of confidence and self-esteem which can affect many aspects of our lives.