15 bad hygiene habits that can actually make you sick

Small mistakes can cause big problems

The world can be a very gross place. There is dirt, germs, viruses, bacteria, microscopic particles and much more. And let’s not forget the three years we spent battling Covid. The point is, we know proper hygiene to keep ourselves as safe and clean as possible, especially now. But life gets busy. We’ll probably go to sleep without brushing our teeth or washing our face. We may forget to throw the clothes in the dryer and have to use that old towel once again. We can’t wash the apples because we are hungry and in a hurry. We all do it sometimes—how bad can it be?

worst! These small hygiene violations may not seem like a big deal, but they can be more harmful to your health than you realize. And if you do these again and again, you may have to face huge losses. Here are the little things doctors and other experts say you shouldn’t skip.

irregular brushing or flossing of your teeth

What happens if you leave out your toothbrush and dental floss? “You’ll first experience swelling, bleeding gums, and bad breath, and [you] may develop cavities,” says Natasha Lee, DDS, president of the California Dental Association. Untreated cavities will reach the nerve, requiring a root canal, and the debris in your mouth will lead to gum disease, a painless condition that eventually causes your teeth to fall out.

And it gets worse. “There is growing research that indicates a connection between gum disease and other health problems such as heart disease and diabetes,” says Dr. Lee. For best results when brushing, here’s how often you should change your toothbrush.

rarely shower or bathe

“Personal hygiene serves a more important purpose than just keeping body odor at bay,” says skin care expert Janine Francis. In other words, it’s not just gross: Soap and water can prevent acne, rashes, and life-threatening infections. “Bacteria multiply rapidly on the body, and when there are a lot of dead skin cells to eat, the bacteria on your skin can cause itching, irritation, and inflammation,” says Francis. “If you already have a skin problem like eczema, not bathing regularly can make it worse.”

Francis says that eventually, if you stop bathing altogether, a condition called dermatitis neglecta will develop. You will notice thick patches of brown plaque on the skin, and they can cause secondary infection. Fortunately, dermatitis neglecta can usually be treated with regular washing. In severe cases, topical medication may be needed to break up the plaque.

go to bed with makeup

At the end of a long day, it can be tempting to head off without washing off your makeup. But any makeup artist or skin care professional will tell you that this is one of the most serious hygiene mistakes you can make. “Not washing your face daily can lead to clogged pores, which can not only lead to blackheads and pimples, but also uneven skin tone due to overgrowth of skin cells,” says Francis.

And that’s not all: Neglecting to wash off your mascara, eyeliner, and other eye makeup can cause serious damage to your eyes. Makeup contains bacteria, which can migrate under your eyelashes and cause styes, inflamed follicles on the lash line, and serious skin infections. Untreated, these infections can eventually lead to blindness.

Infrequently washing your bedding

Doing laundry is a chore that some people try to avoid like the plague – but if you really do, you’re asking for trouble. And this does not apply only to clothes. Sheets that haven’t been washed in months (or longer) become a petri dish of bacteria, fungus, dust mites, and more, says Francis, and it’s going to get worse faster, because “bacteria multiply rapidly.” grow from”. In the worst case, unwashed sheets — and pajamas and clothing — will lead to staph infections. If a staph infection makes its way into the bloodstream, it can progress to a more serious condition like septicemia or toxic shock syndrome, which can be fatal.

leaving your contact lenses in for several days

One of the worst hygiene habits that ophthalmologist and eye surgeon Alan Mendelsohn, MD, has ever seen is the excessive wear of contact lenses that are never cleaned properly or at all. “Wearing contact lenses for a week or more leads to a rapid increase in serious eye infections, including corneal ulcers,” says Dr. Mendelsohn, who equates this habit with wearing the same dirty underwear every day. Considered equal to.

If the term corneal ulcer bothers you, it’s with good reason. A corneal ulcer is actually an open sore on the cornea that causes pain, redness, discharge, and blurred vision. Most corneal ulcers can be treated with antibacterial, antifungal, or antiviral eye drops, but in some cases, a corneal transplant is necessary.

Not washing your bras or underwear regularly

If you don’t wash your underwear properly, you are risking yeast infections, thrush, and urinary tract infections. Untreated, urinary tract infections can reach the kidneys and cause sepsis, which can be life-threatening, and thrush and yeast infections can cause infertility and internal wounds.

And then there are bras, which most people don’t wash after every wear. Like any unwashed clothing, dirty bras trap oil and bacteria, which eventually causes acne, rashes, and worse.

Sharing your toothbrush, razor or hairbrush

Sometimes it’s a good thing to be selfish, and personal beauty products are a perfect example of a situation in which sharing is not necessarily caring. For example, poor oral hygiene habits are bad enough — you certainly don’t need someone else’s mouth bacteria infecting yours. And the American Dental Association says if you use someone else’s toothbrush you can spread infection in exactly the same way. The consequences of oral infections can range from gum disease to potentially fatal conditions like heart disease and diabetes.

Sharing razors is not much better, as it can spread not only skin infections like staph but also viruses like hepatitis and HIV. And while we’re on the subject, sharing hairbrushes can put you at risk of getting lice and skin rashes, so you should skip that too

reusing towels

It’s common to reuse the same towel after a few baths before throwing it in the laundry. But towels that have been used more than several times – or have been used once at the gym – should be washed immediately. And they should definitely not be shared, as they can easily harbor bacteria and bodily secretions.

Sharing sweaty towels is a great way to spread dangerous skin diseases and infections like staph, which can be fatal. Need more reasons not to share towels? How about warts and scabies—or more serious conditions like sexually transmitted infections like meningitis, hepatitis and chlamydia? Chlamydia is a highly treatable condition, but if left untreated, it can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease and even infertility.

Walking barefoot in public showers

They make flip-flops and water shoes for a reason: When sweat, hair, and urine collect on the shower floor, they can breed bacteria, fungus, and mold. Going barefoot is a great way to get rid of ringworm, athlete’s foot, and nail fungus, some of the most difficult-to-treat conditions.

Ringworm, a fungal infection of the skin, responds well to topical antifungals; However, athlete’s foot may be much more persistent. In the worst case, athlete’s foot can cause a secondary infection leading to fever and lymphatic system complications. Having a toenail fungus infection means you’ll lose your nails regularly, and it’s hard to beat: even oral antifungal medications can’t reliably cure the condition, which ultimately leads to permanent deformity of the nails and nail beds. Will become the reason. In extreme cases, fungus-infected nails require permanent removal.

Reusing a water bottle without washing it

Staying hydrated is important, but refilling your disposable plastic water bottle frequently or refilling your reusable bottle without washing it thoroughly can be as unhealthy as your dog licking his toys. In one test, large amounts of bacteria – including the food-poisoning bug E. coli – were found in squeeze-top and screw-top water bottles. Plus, over time, the chemicals released from dirty plastic bottles can cause conditions like PCOS, endometriosis, and possibly breast cancer.

not washing your vegetables

How important is it to wash store-bought apples? This is very important, it turns out. You can get food poisoning from bacteria getting on unwashed fruits and vegetables, and ingesting pesticides on some of these foods can increase your risk of serious conditions. Pesticides have been linked to diarrhea and insomnia in mild cases; In severe cases, pesticides can be responsible for conditions such as increased heart rate, respiratory illness, loss of alertness, unconsciousness and even death. Needless to say, a good scrub is worth the effort. Plain old water will do, but washing the fruit with vinegar may work even better and keep your produce longer.

Not caring for eyelash extensions properly

He says the most common reason patients come to Dr. Mendelsohn’s office is for eyelash extensions. “There are varying degrees of toxicity when glue gets into the eye.” They confirmed that getting glue in the eyes can cause mild to moderate vision loss, but in the worst case, the glue can seep into the cornea and “can cause keratitis, or inflammation of the cornea, which is extremely painful and “It usually won’t resolve on its own.”

staying in the tampon too long

The most notorious consequence of not changing your tampons frequently is toxic shock syndrome – a potentially life-threatening infection. Symptoms begin with fever, vomiting, diarrhea and headache. If left untreated, it can eventually lead to kidney failure or death. Fortunately, this is very rare. However, if you accidentally forget to remove the tampon completely, the chances increase – in such a situation, surgical removal may be required.

never wash your hair

There are hair experts who believe that frequent washing and shampooing can damage your hair. What’s even more harmful? Neglecting to ever wash your hair – even with water. First of all, your head will start to stink. Eventually, bacteria will begin to collect and block your hair follicles, leading to infection. Accumulation of oils can lead to skin infections, dandruff and yeast growth. Eventually, without washing, your hair may stop growing.

Using your kitchen sponge for too long

Sponges are notorious germ magnets. It’s not easy to keep track of how long you’ve been reusing the same sponge, but you could be making yourself sick with the same thing that should help protect you. A dirty sponge can spread other harmful substances, including salmonella, E. coli and staphylococcus. In fact, the average dirty sponge may be more toxic than your toilet. Clean and replace them frequently to avoid food and sponge-borne illnesses.

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