Hygiene And Personal Care.Nail Care.

By Sharon Leverton

Definition

Personal hygiene is the physical act of cleaning the body to ensure that the skin, hair and nails are maintained in

an optimum condition

Areas Of Care To Consider

• Skin• Perineal/Perianal • Hair• Eyes• Mouth• Ears and nose• Nails and feet

Skin

• This is the largest organ of the body. Maintaining its integrity is essential to the prevention of infection

• Its made up of three layers: Epidermis, Dermis and Deep subcutaneous

Considerations

• Nutritional state• Incontinence• Age, health and mobility status• Treatment therapies• Any current conditions

Pressure Sores

• A pressure ulcer is localised injury to the skin and/or underlying tissue usually over a bony prominence, as a result of pressure, or pressure in combination with shear/friction.

Common Areas Of Pressure Sores

BEST SHOTB- ButtocksE- Ears and elbowsS- SacrumT- TrochanterS- SpineH- HeelsO- Occipital areaT- Toes

Stage 1 Pressure Sore

Intact skin with non-blanchable redness of a localised area usually over a bony prominence. Darkly pigmented skin may not have visible blanching; its colour may differ from the surrounding area. The area may be painful, firm, soft, warmer, bluish tinge.

Stage 2 Pressure Sore

Partial thickness loss of dermis presenting as a shallow open ulcer with a red pink wound bed. May also present as an intact or open/ruptured serum-filled blister. Presents as a shiny or dry shallow ulcer without slough or bruising- Bruising indicates deep tissue injury.

Stage Three Pressure Sore

Full thickness tissue loss. Subcutaneous fat may be visible but bone, tendon or muscle are not exposed. Slough may be present but does not obscure the depth of tissue loss. May include undermining and tunnelling.

Preventative Measures

SSKINS- Surface. Get the right supportS- Skin inspectionK- Keep movingI- Incontinence/moistureN- Nutrition and fluid

Cleansing An Area And Things To Consider

• Soap/water• Emollient creams• Moisturisers• Level of independence• Consent• Respect, culture, religion• Privacy

Perineal/perianal area- problems arising from treatment therapy i.e radiotherapy, fistula, diarrhoea, constipation and UTI’s Patients should be encouraged to perform this task for themselves if at all possible.

Hair- Grooming hair is an ideal opportunity to observe, dandruff, psoriasis, flaky skin and head lice. The way we look has an impact on our general wellbeing.

Eye care- with age and some conditions eyes can suffer from dryness. Prescribed eye drops and gentle cleaning can prevent infection and help keep the eyes moist.Consider-glasses and contact lenses

Mouth- common problems with this area are dry mouth, chewing and swallowing difficulties, infection, halitosisConsider- illness/medication, dental/denture problems, nutrition and fluid intake, smoking cessation. Oral Hygiene and mouth washes.

Ears and nose- lack of attention to cleaning the ears and the nose can lead to impairment of senses. Gentle cleaning with wool or gauze should be sufficient to keep the areas clean and free from wax and deposits. DO NOT PUSH COTTON BUDS INTO THE EAR CANAL.Consider- hearing aids, piercings, infections and other illnesses i.e vertigo

Nails and feet- these areas need special care to avoid pain and infection. Nails should be clean and trimmed with appropriate equipment. Get advice from a chiropodist if appropriate. Always wash between toes and ensure area is completely dry to avoid fungal infection.Consider- Diabetes, skin integrity, ulcers, corns and bunions, hardening of the nails and body image.

Final word

There is a risk that personal hygiene of patients may become devalued or just another routine, however personal hygiene is an integral part of

the holistic approach to treatment care.

How would you feel if you were unable to wash, dress and cleanse yourself to the standard that

you were used to?

Any Questions?