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.
Here are some common hygiene issues that teens face, and tips to help them tackle
Body Odor
- As your teen enters puberty, sweat glands develop in the armpits and the genital area.
- 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.
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.
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.
