A doctor warned against using a cotton bud in the ear (Image: Getty Images)
Washing, showering and other bathroom activities are a key part of everyday life.
Without them not only would we be less clean, but vulnerable to certain associated health risks such as athlete’s foot and lice.
However, there is a right and a wrong way to stay on top of your hygiene routine.
A doctor shared his dos and don’ts for bathroom habits. Speaking on YouTube, Doctor Mikhail Varshavski – better known as Dr Mike – said: “The most dangerous room in the house is the bathroom.
“A report released by the CDC in 2008 stated that 22 million Americans every year get injured right here in the bathroom. So, here’s my scientific evidence-based grooming routine to keep you safe and happy and healthy.”
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Showering
He stated that not everyone needs to shower every single day, and that you should avoid using extremely hot water.
“Showering with extremely hot water is not great for your skin,” he said.
“It predisposes you to all sorts of rashes, irritations. It dries out your skin.
“So, when we’re talking showers, we’re talking quick, less than five minutes, not incredibly hot, and not necessarily every day.”
To prevent slipping in the bathroom he added: “It’s so important that there’s something for you to grab onto in your shower and that you have a good grip on the floor.
“That could mean putting in a shower mat or just installing grip tape so that you have good traction.”
He also warned that bacteria lives on soap and advised running water over it to wash it off before use.
Shaving
According to Dr Mike “most people” shave incorrectly.
Dr Mike warned against taking showers that are too hot (Image: Getty)
He explained: “When you do so, you can create nicks in your skin, irritation, acne, folliculitis, which is an infected hair follicle.
“Literally, just learning proper shaving technique by following these simple steps will go a long way in decreasing shaving irritation.”
For nose hair and pubic hair he advised trimming rather than shaving, plucking or waxing.
He added: “And when you are gonna be trimming your hair, use different trimmers for the right task.
“For example, for my face, I have this Wahl facial hair trimmer. So it has sharper edges, it’s a little bit cleaner, and can get closer to the skin.
“But then when you’re doing your pubic area, you’re doing your chest hair, use one that has a skin safety blade like this.
“Otherwise you could get really bad cuts and that will make it a lot more tolerable and safe.”
Hair drying
Doing this incorrectly could cause damage to your locks.
He advised using a moderate setting on the hair dryer to prevent damage (Image: Getty)
“For me, something I do before styling my hair is putting in a light moisturising cream and thickening spray,” he said.
Wet hair is more susceptible to damage and keeping your scalp damp for a long time can increase the growth of fungus or bacteria, he said.
Dr Mike said: “I really recommend towel drying first and then using a moderate heat setting on a blow dryer in order to get it dry, but making sure you’re doing it the right way, at least six inches apart away from your hair, not direct heat.”
Nails
“Nails are the window to your health,” Dr Mike said.
“Part of my grooming routine is making sure my nails are cut short.
“It’s ideal to do this after the shower, because your nails are softer then it’s easier to cut them.”
Dental health
You should be brushing your teeth twice a day to remove plaque.
“Plaque build up leads to gingivitis, gum disease, cavities, oral health problems that you simply do not want,” Dr Mike said.
He also recommended flossing every day. However, he warned: “I usually tell most people to avoid mouthwash, because they usually use one that has a lot of alcohol in it that aims to kill all bacteria in the mouth.
“But remember, part of your microbiome is probiotic, meaning it’s good bacteria and you don’t wanna kill it.
“If you brush your teeth and you floss, you should have a healthy smelling mouth.
“If you don’t, then you should be speaking to your doctor about other causes that can cause bad breath or halitosis like acid reflux.”
Earwax
He also advised against using cotton buds – or Q-tips – inside the ear.
“The place where I would tell you not to put these is inside your ear,” Dr Mike said.
“If you wanna use a Q-tip to clean the ear, clean the outside of the ear only.
“By scratching inside the ear, you make it more prone to bacterial infections, fungal infections, and if you go far enough with a Q-tip, you could actually damage your eardrum or tympanic membrane.”