Is your teen constantly standing in front of the mirror and cribbing about zits and greasy hair? Is your teen over conscious of his sudden facial furriness? Parenting a teen can be a test of patience but the responsibility to help, guide and teach your teen about the various aspects of life, including health and personal hygiene lies with you.
While your teen may not show it, he is very concerned about his body image and presentation. His self-image is directly proportional to his self-esteem, so it is critical for you to discuss certain important hygiene habits with your teen. Read on to gain a few tips about hygiene for teenagers.
Why Do Teens Face Personal Hygiene Issues?
Personal hygiene for teens should be an integral part of his or her daily routine to get protection from various illnesses, irrespective of the age. Once your child enters adolescence, his personal hygiene is of utmost importance to create a positive self-image that boosts his self-confidence. Here is a list of factors that explain why hygiene becomes an issue for teens:
- A changing body demands a change in habits.
- Explain to your teen the many changes his body will be undergoing both externally as well as internally.
- Puberty brings a sea change in your child’s skin and scalp as it becomes excessively oily.
- Your child can suffer from excessive sweating and body odor.
It is normal for all these to cause anxiety and potential embarrassment to your teen.
Here are some common hygiene issues that teens face, and tips to help them tackle it in your teen:
1. Body Odor:
As your teen enters puberty, sweat glands develop in the armpits and the genital area. The bacteria present in the skin feed on the sweat from these glands and produce a distinct odor, which may be strong and sweaty.
- Ask your teen to take a shower daily, multiple times if required.
- Anytime your teen participates in some physical activity that causes sweating, ask him or her to use a damp wash cloth and clean the armpit and genital area.
- Stress on the fact that all inner garments need to be changed daily and after any sweaty activity.
- Encourage your teen to use an antiperspirant deodorant.
2. Smelly Feet:
Your teen does not have to be a sports enthusiast to get smelly feet. Smelly feet are a common problem for teens. Smelly feet and shoes can be very repulsive and demand urgent care.
- Ask your teen to follow a home foot care routine.
- Let your teen soak his or her feet in warm water and use a pumice stone or foot scrubber to clear off dead skin cells regularly.
- Encourage your teen to use a good foot cream, especially ones that are made to neutralize foot odor.
- Toenails should be regularly trimmed to avoid any dirt or germ buildup.
- Ask your teen to ensure his or her feet are completely dry before they wear socks or shoes.
- Ask your teen to change socks daily and replace them at regular intervals.
3. Greasy Hair:
Greasy hair is a constant worry for most teens as they fight excess oil secretion.
- Encourage your teen to wash hair each day or every alternate day.
- Stress on the importance of hair care.
- If the scalp gets too oily, your teen can try a weekly home head massage.
- Help your teen to choose shampoos, conditioners, and other hair care products as per his hair type.
4. Body Hair Removal:
The sudden spike in body hair at the onset of puberty can be quite an appalling sight for your teen. Excessive body hair is a menace that troubles all teenagers across sex.
- Talk to your teen about various methods of body hair removal like shaving, waxing, threading, hair removing strips, and bleaching. Help your teen to make an informed choice.
- Post hair removal, advise your child on body care.
- If required, you should accompany your teen to a parlor and seek professional help to tackle the nuisance of excessive body hair.
- It is extremely important that your teen practice caution while shaving. You or your partner can be around the first few times. Your teen may not want to do this in front of you. If so, respect your teen’s feelings.
Always remember that the teenage years are extremely difficult and crucial for your child. Your teen may either feel shy or try to act independent like a grown up. In either case, choose to be around as a friend your child can count on.
Discuss, talk and always keep the channels of communication open. Do not be judgmental or critical. Remember any negative comparisons can dent your teen’s confidence and overall personality for life. Keep an open mind and remember to show your teen that you do care.
If you have a teen at home, do share teen hygiene tips if you have any and also home remedies and how to tackle the hygiene issues.
