How to Talk to Teens About Personal Hygiene
Teenagers go through a lot. Puberty begins, their bodies change, their voices can change, and now we have placed all sorts of unfounded expectations on them, such as taking a shower every day. Personal hygiene can be a sensitive topic for teens, but there are ways to deal with it to make the transition smoother and faster without adding any embarrassment or shame.
Be gentle with them
You’ve probably already talked to them about puberty and the changes their body is going through, and that means they need to do more to stay fresh. You may have even explained that they need to shower almost every day (or almost immediately), otherwise they will just start to stink.
In fact, they might already stink! How can they not feel when the smell is so strong for you ?! Why is it so important to let water enter their bodies once a day for 10 minutes? They have more time complaining about the shower than in the shower!
I know. Trust me, I know. But this is a really big adjustment, and it takes time for things like showering, washing your face, or applying deodorant to become an integral part of your daily life. Also, these aren’t the fun, playful baths of their childhood; taking a shower is a routine job. And it’s easy to forget to put on deodorant if you have n’t used deodorant your entire life.
When it’s time to get to the point of their hygiene (or lack thereof), do it alone and not in the presence of anyone else. Confusing them by speaking in front of a friend or brother or sister will not help anyone. Pick a time when you can fully focus on them. The car ride is a great opportunity to talk about it because you have this one-on-one time, but they don’t need to make eye contact (just don’t try to talk about it right before or after school – they won’t be in the mood then).
Cover the basics
Preschoolers may not immediately know how often they need to bathe or how to care for their skin. Now that they are young, you can invite them to teach them how adults take care of their hygiene. Their pediatrician can provide some personalized advice and guidance, especially since everyone’s skin is different and may react differently to different products, but here are some basics to get you started.
Bathing
Young children usually do not need to wash or shower every day until they reach puberty. But once they do, shower every day (or at least every other day) is likely to become important, especially after exercise. Teach them to hit all important parts of the body, including the armpits, genitals, and feet.
They should also wash their hair at least every other day to reduce the oiliness, which can also help reduce acne breakouts. Now it’s time to get into the habit of washing your face 1-2 times a day with a mild cleanser (no scrub).
Deodorant / Antiperspirant
Puberty gives us many things, but the main one is the chemical change in our sweat that makes it stink. Lot. If regular thorough bathing isn’t enough to get rid of your body odor, it might be time to consider using a deodorant to mask the odor or an antiperspirant to help stop sweating.
Which you choose may depend on how active your child is, how much they sweat, and your comfort level with the ingredients in each product. The family explains very well :
Some people are concerned about the aluminum content of antiperspirant, which has been linked to Alzheimer’s and breast cancer, but studies have shown a small risk associated with using products containing aluminum on your skin.6 Aluminum salts are the only ingredient that has been confirmed and approved. FDA is for moisture control, so if you’re concerned about antiperspirant content, deodorant is your best bet to stay dry. If you are concerned about phthalates (ingredients that help products stick to your skin) and parabens (preservatives) in a deodorant that can interfere with hormones, consider a natural brand.
Teeth cleaning
They should get used to it by this time, but it is important that older children continue to brush their teeth twice a day and floss daily. Skipping this job can cause gingivitis, tooth decay, and bad breath, and who needs it?
Clean clothes
Previously, they could wear the same shirt, socks or underwear for several days in a row (or longer). You might not even have noticed! Well, now you notice. Tell your children that they should not only cleanse their bodies every day, but also choose fresh clothes every day.
Nails
Ignore these fingernails and toenails. Show them how to trim them straight across (and then round off the edges slightly with a nail clipper or nail file) to prevent ingrown nails. This should be done once a week or two.
Makeup, put up
If your child starts using makeup, be sure to warn them not to share makeup with friends. Bacteria from the eyes and mouth can be transmitted through all of these little brushes. (You can also point out that excessive makeup can clog your pores.)
Let them choose their own products
Look, your adult soaps and deodorants aren’t cool. Their colors and packaging are boring, they target you , an equally boring adult. If your teens or teens are struggling with you following basic, regular hygiene practices, let them make their own food choices. Hygienic products that they sell or have fun odor can be more attractive than jug Dove Shower gel for sensitive skin.
However, if they don’t want to do a demo of going to the store to pick something, do it for them. Ask them if they have a brand or scent preference, and if not, ask a store clerk what products young people tend to like. Or, you can ask their pediatrician for specific advice, especially if they have acne, oily skin, or dry skin.
When you get home, do not post your purchases to the public. Be careful – place their products in a place that’s easy to access (and hard to miss) to give them a visual reminder to use them.
Finally, try to avoid a battle of will over this; the more you push them to clean, the more they can resist. Continue to support them and model your own hygiene practices and eventually they will learn to do it.