Maintaining personal hygiene is important for many reasons; these can be personal, social or for health reasons. Essentially keeping a good standard of hygiene helps to prevent the development and spread of infections, the risks of illnesses and bad odours. By ensuring that our body is clean and well presented, we are more assured of projecting a positive body image that reflects our personalities. And also by maintaining a good hygiene, for example healthy hair, skin and nails are signs of a good well-balanced diet and can increase our self-esteem, confidence and motivation in everyday life.
1.2 Describe the effects of poor personal hygiene on health and well-being. The effects of poor personal hygiene on health and well-being can have many implications. Not only is there an increased risk of developing and spreading of infection or illness, but there are many social and psychological aspects that can be affected. Common infections that can be developed and spread in the domestic setting may include E coli salmonella, fungal infections and every day cough and cold bugs. Maintaining a high level of personal hygiene will also help to increase self-esteem and confidence, while minimising the chances of developing imperfections.
2.1 Support an individual to understand factors that contribute to good personal hygiene.
When supporting a service user we need to help them to understand how to contribute to maintain good personal hygiene by keeping the body clean, in order to prevent the spread of germs or any kind of illness. Feeling and looking good are important for each individual’s emotional and physical wellbeing. Our responsibility may vary from assisting to providing personal care. By helping a service user to keep good personal hygiene this may include having a shower/bath every day, washing their hair