While taking a regular bath may help you stay on top of your hygiene game, you may still be missing some blind spots.
Earlier this year, Dr Jen Caudle, a family physician and medical school professor, took to TikTok to share the top 5 body parts that people don't wash enough, and mind you, it keeps getting more 'gross.'
Here's all you need to know...
Also Read: Side Effects Of Skipping Daily Bath: Here Is Why You Should Shower Everyday
Belly Button
The first body part the doctor mentioned is the belly button. “That’s right, a lot of guys don’t wash their belly button at all,” she said in the video. According to Medical News Today, the belly button hosts several bacteria that can lead to infections and a bad smell. Therefore, washing it regularly can help eliminate the buildup of sweat, dead skin, and certain oils, which can lead to germ growth.
Behind Your Ears
The next body parts are your ears—no, not the insides, but the back area, at the top of your ears, the ear lobe, and the ear creases. According to the doctor, these areas get dirty quickly and need regular cleaning. “I want you to specifically wash that area. If you rub your ear, you smell it, and it’s gross; you haven’t washed it recently,” she said.
Fingernails
We regularly wash our hands but hardly pay attention to our nails. Hand hygiene not only includes washing your hands with soap or using sanitizers, but it also involves "diligently cleaning and trimming fingernails," which could be home to dirt and germs, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Butt
Unfortunately, the list keeps getting more gross. The doctor actually started off the video by saying, "I need you to wash your bottom properly. I need you to get a wash towel or wash rag and some soap, and I need you to wash your bottom."
"It's not enough, in my opinion, to shampoo your hair in the shower and just let that shampoo or soap run all over your body and call it a day," she added.
She also urged people to do the same for hidden areas in the body, including the "folds," armpits, "extra skin," or "big boobs."
Legs
Now you would argue that while bathing, the legs are one of the most exposed areas of the body. But the question is: do you wash it specifically? Dr Claude said, "I’m not talking about letting that soap run down your legs in the shower; I’m talking about washing!” “Get in between those toes,” she emphasises, adding, "You want to make sure you’re preventing infections of many sorts. Make sure you’re deliberately washing your toes!”
Also Read: Ear Hygiene: How To Safely Remove Earwax At Home
Conclusion
Surely, the information provided by the doctor resonated with a lot of people as the video gained millions of views. But an important lesson many can take away from this is that it is not merely enough to take a bath; you need to really clean every part of the body. We’re continuously exposed to viruses and bacteria, which can only be eliminated if we take our hygiene seriously.