Men’s Personal Care and Hygiene Essentials

Personal care is not vanity. Good hygiene prevents infections, keeps skin and teeth healthy and affects how you feel day to day. The basics are simple and do not require a shelf full of products. This guide covers the habits and the handful of essentials worth having.

Hand hygiene

The CDC recommends wetting hands, lathering with soap, scrubbing for at least 20 seconds, rinsing and drying. Do this:

• before preparing or eating food;
• after using the toilet;
• after coughing, sneezing or blowing your nose;
• after handling garbage or touching animals;
• before and after treating a cut or caring for someone who is ill.

Use a hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol when soap and water are not available.

Daily washing

• Shower or wash daily, and after exercise or heavy sweating.
• Pay attention to the underarms, groin, feet and skin folds, where sweat and bacteria collect.
• Wash the genital area gently with warm water each day. If you are uncircumcised, gently pull back the foreskin and rinse underneath, then dry.
• Dry thoroughly, especially between the toes and in the groin, to help prevent fungal infections.
• Put on clean underwear and socks every day.

Face and skin

The American Academy of Dermatology recommends that men:

• wash the face daily and after exercise with a mild cleanser and lukewarm water;
• moisturize daily;
• wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher on exposed skin outdoors;
• check their skin regularly for new or changing spots.

A light product such as our Men’s Daily Face Moisturizer suits use after washing or shaving.

Shaving

Dermatologists’ advice for a comfortable shave:

1. Wet your skin and hair first to soften it. Shaving after a shower works well.
2. Apply a shaving cream or gel.
3. Shave in the direction the hair grows.
4. Rinse the blade after each stroke.
5. Change the blade or cartridge after five to seven shaves.
6. Store the razor somewhere dry.

Our Sensitive Shaving Gel and 5-Blade Razor with 4 Cartridges are designed to work together. Do not share razors.

Beard care

• Wash the beard and the skin under it when you wash your face.
• Dry it and comb through.
• A few drops of beard oil, such as Nourishing Beard Oil, soften coarse hair and ease dryness of the skin beneath.
• Trim regularly.

Oral care

The CDC advises adults to:

• brush thoroughly twice a day with fluoride toothpaste;
• clean between the teeth daily;
• visit a dentist at least once a year;
• avoid tobacco and limit alcohol;
• drink fluoridated water.

Bleeding gums, persistent bad breath or mouth sores that do not heal should be checked.

Hair and scalp

Wash hair as often as your scalp needs: more often if it is oily, less if it is dry. Persistent flaking or itching may be dandruff, which usually responds to a medicated shampoo from a pharmacy.

Body odor

Sweat itself has little smell; odor develops when bacteria break it down. Daily washing, thorough drying, clean clothes and a deodorant or antiperspirant control it for most people. See a doctor about excessive sweating or a sudden change in body odor.

Nails

• Keep nails short and clean.
• Cut fingernails with a slight curve and toenails straight across to help prevent ingrown nails.
• Do not bite nails or pick at the skin around them.

Our Stainless Steel Grooming Kit contains clippers, scissors, tweezers and a file.

Feet

• Wash and dry feet daily.
• Change socks every day and let shoes dry between wears.
• Wear sandals in communal showers.
• Treat athlete’s foot early with an antifungal product; ask a pharmacist.

People with diabetes or poor circulation should have their feet checked regularly by a professional.

Clothing and laundry

Wash towels, bedding and workout clothes regularly. Do not share towels, razors or nail tools.

A basic kit

• Mild cleanser or soap
• Shampoo
• Toothbrush, fluoride toothpaste and floss
• Deodorant or antiperspirant
• Razor and shaving gel
• Moisturizer and sunscreen
• Nail clippers

When to see a doctor

• Rashes, itching or sores in the groin or on the genitals
• Persistent skin irritation or razor bumps that do not settle
• Nail changes or stubborn fungal infections
• Excessive sweating
• Any new or changing mole

The bottom line

Clean hands, daily washing, good oral care and careful shaving cover most of what personal hygiene requires. Keep it simple and consistent. Find grooming essentials in our men’s health department.

Sources

1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About Handwashing.
2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Oral Health Tips for Adults.
3. American Academy of Dermatology. Hair removal: How to shave.
4. American Academy of Dermatology. Skin care tips for men.