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Proper Body Washing Technique – Are You Doing It Right?

Proper Body Washing Technique – Are You Doing It Right?

Buzz Feed24-06-2025
For many of us, showering is not just part of our personal hygiene routine — it might be the only few minutes of peace, tranquility and reflection we get to ourselves in the day. And while the particulars of our showers might vary in terms of nature, duration and temperature, one thing remains constant: the quest to get squeaky clean.
Our shower habits are usually based on how we were raised and our cultural backgrounds. That means some of us are all about the loofahs, others are team washcloth, and some rely on a sponge. But is all that exfoliating actually good for our skin?
As we age, after all, so does the largest organ of our body: our glorious, sexy skinbag. Keeping our skin as healthy and supple as possible is paramount. So we — Raj Punjabi and Noah Michelson, hosts of HuffPost's 'Am I Doing It Wrong?' podcast — wanted to find out the optimal approach (from a clinical perspective) when we're soaping up in the shower.
'So 100%, it's your hands,' Dr. Divya Shokeen, the founder of Ocean Skin & Vein Institute in Manhattan Beach, California, recently told us when she dropped by our studio to chat about her showering secrets. 'There's no negotiation on that in terms of the medical studies.'
Shokeen explained that when we use loofahs, sponges or any other implement to soap up, we are disrupting our skin's mantle, the natural film of oils and acids that protect it. We want to keep that mantle intact, she told us, because it shields us against barrier disruption and transepidermal water loss — and it keeps the bad bacteria out.
'Rubbing a washcloth on yourself repeatedly sloughs off a lot of dead skin cells or cells in general that are not ready to slough off,' Shokeen said. 'When that happens, you actually disrupt the top layer, which allows for more dehydration, water loss, and now you're going to have to use more lotion to minimize that.'
And while we love a good post-shower lube job, we won't need all that extra lotion if we don't dry out and stress our skin while we're in the tub.
Shokeen gave us another good reason to ditch the loofahs, washcloths and sponges. 'Anything that stays in the shower is apt to build mold and yeast and fungus,' she said. 'And then you're putting that on yourself.'
We discovered a ton of other showering tips and tricks, including how long a shower should really last, what we should be doing (and not doing) when we wash our hair, and the skin-changing secret that only takes 30 seconds at the end of your cleansing session.
For more from Dr. Shokeen, visit the websites for her dermatology practice and her skincare line.
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Dentists Are Sharing All The Things They Can Tell About A Patient Just By Looking Inside Their Mouth And The Responses Are Surprising
Dentists Are Sharing All The Things They Can Tell About A Patient Just By Looking Inside Their Mouth And The Responses Are Surprising

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timea day ago

  • Buzz Feed

Dentists Are Sharing All The Things They Can Tell About A Patient Just By Looking Inside Their Mouth And The Responses Are Surprising

When you go to the dentist, you're likely focused on matters like cavities and gum health. But dental experts can detect a lot more from your exam. 'A lot about someone's overall health can be observed just by looking in their mouth,' Dr. Kami Hoss, a dentist and author of If Your Mouth Could Talk, told HuffPost. 'In fact, over 100 systemic conditions and many medications can have oral manifestations. This means that what happens in the mouth can often be a window into broader health issues, helping to identify problems before they escalate.' Because the mouth is considered the 'gateway' to the body, it can also be the origin of problems in many different bodily systems. The mouth's microbes 'can enter the bloodstream through bleeding gums or open root canals and travel to other parts of the body, causing infections or inflammation,' Hoss noted. That's why routine dental checkups are so important. 'A comprehensive oral examination can provide valuable insights into a person's overall health and lifestyle habits, helping dental professionals identify potential issues and provide appropriate care and recommendations,' said cosmetic dentist Dr. Michael J. Wei. So what exactly can a dentist infer about you from the state of your mouth? We asked some professionals to share what they've seen. If You Floss Regularly... Or Rarely 'Unfortunately, dentists can't be fooled into thinking you floss regularly if you floss just right before your visit,' said Dr. Erin Fraundorf, an orthodontist and founder of BOCA Orthodontic + Whitening Studio. 'Gum tissue that is not flossed regularly looks red, inflamed and may bleed.' She noted that healthy gums are pink and smooth with a 'knife-edge' instead of puffy. 'As soon as your dentist sees your mouth and the color and texture of your gums, they can tell you have gum disease,' Fraundorf said. 'Erosion and decay on teeth can reveal a lot about someone's diet, with high consumption of sugary foods and beverages typically leading to cavities, while acidic foods and drinks, like citrus and soda, can cause enamel erosion,' said cosmetic dentist Dr. Kevin Sands. Highly acidic and sugary foods and drinks can also contribute to gum disease. 'If you are a big tea or coffee drinker, you will more likely have dark stains,' Fraundorf added. People with diabetes often have inflamed gums. 'Imbalances in sugar may also result in a rapid change in the health of your gums, showing up as increased swelling, bleeding and sensitivity,' Fraundorf said. 'Diabetic patients have a higher prevalence of gum disease.' Additionally, 'fruity' breath can be a sign of uncontrolled diabetes, so patients should seek medical attention if they experience this phenomenon. 'Without glancing at your nails, a dentist may be able to detect if you bite your nails ― or bite on other items, like pen caps or bottle caps,' Fraundorf said, noting that the stress on your teeth can cause chipping and other wear and tear. Dentists can also tell if you suck your thumb or did a lot in the past (beyond early childhood). 'Thumb-sucking may significantly alter not only a patient's teeth but their jaws,' Fraundorf explained. 'These signs include protruding upper front teeth with spacing, tucked back lower front teeth with crowding, a narrow upper jaw and an anterior open bite ― a lack of vertical overlap between the upper and lower front teeth.' Similarly, tongue thrust can result in an anterior open bite, but generally both the upper and lower teeth will have protrusion and spacing, she added. 'Deficiencies in essential nutrients can impact the health of the teeth and gums,' Wei said. Dry mouth, sores and bleeding gums are common manifestations, as well as changes in the tongue. 'Being deficient in vitamins and minerals may result in many oral conditions, like increased infections, burning tongue syndrome, sore tongue, cracked lips, tissue sloughing, delayed healing, bone infections, and gums that bleed easily,' Fraundorf said. 'When patients are deficient in iron, their gum tissues can lose some of the red hues and turn pale pink or even white. Light pink, pale gums can be a sign of anemia.' If You're Right- Or Left-Handed 'It's pretty wild, but we can often tell if you're left- or right-handed ― or at least we can tell if you brush with your right or left hand,' Fraundorf said. Right-handed patients typically don't brush their upper right teeth as well as they do their left side. The reverse is true for lefties. 'This leaves the gums slightly more puffy and red in addition to more plaque retention on these teeth,' Fraundorf explained. Dentists can also see the effects of disordered eating in their patients. 'Patients with eating disorders, specifically bulimia, will typically show enamel erosion or breakdown of enamel,' Fraundorf said. 'Specifically, we see erosion almost exclusively on the tongue side of your teeth from the stomach acid that comes up into the oral cavity.' If You Have A Gastrointestinal Issue Instead of disordered eating, this kind of erosion might also indicate a GI problem. 'Persistent bad breath might indicate gastrointestinal issues such as GERD, where stomach acid damages teeth and soft tissues,' Hoss said. 'The mouth can also reveal early signs of certain gastrointestinal diseases. Crohn's disease can cause swelling of the gums and mouth ulcers before any intestinal symptoms appear. Oral manifestations like these can be critical for early diagnosis and treatment of serious conditions.' If You're Exhibiting Signs Of Certain Cancers 'The mouth can also reveal early signs of certain cancers,' Hoss said. 'For instance, signs of leukemia may present as gum overgrowth and bleeding. Oral manifestations like these can be critical for early diagnosis and treatment of serious conditions.' Oral cancer can also manifest in the mouth with visible oral lesions or growths. 'Signs of oral cancer include unexplained bleeding in the mouth, patches (red, white or spotted), changes in your bite, or areas in the mouth that are eroded, lumpy or swollen,' Fraundorf said. 'The patient should then visit an oral surgeon for a consultation and biopsy of any suspicious tissue.' If You're Pregnant 'Some women may develop a deep red lump on their gums called a pregnancy tumor or pyogenic granuloma ― a totally benign tumor that will resolve once pregnancy is over,' Fraundorf said. She noted that pregnancy also commonly leads to the development of gingivitis due to increased progesterone, which facilitates the growth of bacteria. If You Have An Autoimmune Disease 'Dentists are the first line of defense in detecting system diseases and nutrition deficiencies because some of these diseases and deficiencies have oral manifestations,' said Dr. Jarrett L. Manning, founder of JLM Dental Studio. 'This means the disease process may present as abnormal mouth lesions that dentists are trained to detect.' While dentists check for gum health, tooth conditions and overall mouth hygiene, Manning emphasized that any dental checkups are also important because 'any lesion, sore, or patch in the mouth can tell another story and give us insight to a deeper issue.' The list of potential deeper issues includes various autoimmune diseases and other inflammatory conditions. 'Red spots and sores may be signs of lupus and Crohn's disease, and white spots in the mouth may be linked to lichen planus,' Fraundorf said. 'These spots may be tender or painful and may lead to mouth ulcers.' 'Bad 'fishy' breath and chronic dry mouth may be signs of kidney problems,' Fraundorf said. She noted that fishy breath may also indicate liver failure. Your dental appointment might also lead to the discovery of bone issues. 'A dental examination with X-rays can reveal bone loss and may lead to an early diagnosis of osteoporosis ― a disease of the bones which results in bone loss and an increase in brittleness,' Fraundorf said. 'Clenching or grinding of teeth, also known as bruxism, can be a sign of stress or anxiety, which can have detrimental effects on oral health,' Fraundorf said. Dentists can spot this sort of excess wear on the biting surfaces of teeth. 'Teeth grinding and redness of gum tissue and the throat may also be signs of sleep apnea ― a serious condition which limits the amount of oxygen a person gets during sleep,' Fraundorf added. If You Have HIV 'You can see if someone has HIV by identifying specific lesions called Kaposi's sarcoma that are common in uncontrolled HIV cases and have a distinct visual appearance,' said Dr. Ilona Casellini, founder of Swiss Quality Smile. People with HIV may also experience chronic dry mouth, canker sores and hairy leukoplakia, which presents as white patches on the tongue. 'Oral yeast infections can be a symptom of HIV in young patients who seem to otherwise present as healthy,' Fraundorf noted. 'Lifestyle choices leave distinct signs in the mouth too,' Sands said. 'Smoking or using tobacco products can cause stained teeth, gum disease, and a higher risk of oral cancers.' Drug use can also have a noticeable impact on the teeth and other parts of the mouth. Maria Korneeva / Getty Images 'Alcoholics often have inflamed gums and breath that smells of alcohol,' Casellini noted. Alcohol tends to dry out the mouth, making people with drinking issues more susceptible to cavities. 'The presence of plaque, tartar, and gum inflammation often indicates a person's oral hygiene routine, suggesting inconsistent or insufficient oral care if these issues are present,' Sands said. He emphasized that maintaining oral health is crucial not just for a beautiful smile but also for overall well-being. Awareness and proactive care can significantly impact someone's quality of life. Examining the mouth might also reveal signs of mental impairment or decline, particularly for older patients. 'Patients with cognitive disorders such as dementia or Alzheimer's often exhibit poor oral hygiene,' Casellini noted. 'They might forget to brush or have lost manual dexterity.' HuffPost.

Influencers Still Do This Disturbing Body-Negative Behavior. But It Helps To Recognize It.
Influencers Still Do This Disturbing Body-Negative Behavior. But It Helps To Recognize It.

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time4 days ago

  • Yahoo

Influencers Still Do This Disturbing Body-Negative Behavior. But It Helps To Recognize It.

Let's have a check-in about body checking. Even if you don't know this behavior by name, you've probably seen it modeled by influencers. In a looks-obsessed space like social media — and a cultural moment like the present, in which discourse surrounding weight loss drugs is unavoidable and #SkinnyTok content is so ubiquitous that TikTok banned the hashtag — repeatedly scrutinizing your appearance and documenting it online isn't a big stretch. In fact, on the fitness side of TikTok, explicit 'body checks' are super common, even normalized. But just because a behavior is common doesn't mean it's safe or healthy. Left unchecked, body checking can take a serious toll on your mental and even physical health. It's usually a result of negative thoughts about your body. Often, it's connected to eating disorders or body dysmorphia. Here's everything you need to know about this dangerous behavior, including what it is, how to spot it and what to do if you keep seeing it online or can't stop doing it IRL. What is body checking? Body checking is a repetitive, compulsive behavior 'used to gather feedback about one's body shape, weight, or size,' Keesha Amezcua, LMFT, CEDS-C, clinical director at the eating disorder treatment facility Alsana, tells HuffPost. It can look like many different things. However, it's usually centered around a body part or aspect of your physical appearance that's a source of insecurity. Common examples include obsessively looking at yourself in the mirror and scrutinizing your body, using your clothes or accessories to 'measure' parts of your body, or repeatedly capturing full-body videos or photos of yourself to check how you look in real-time. (Fitness influencers who constantly post body check videos under the guise of recording their progress, we're looking at you.) To be clear: Periodically catching a glimpse of your reflection isn't body checking. Taking a selfie to see how your outfit looks before you leave the house isn't body checking, either. Neither example is inherently repetitive, obsessive, or tinged by negative self-image — three key characteristics that differentiate body checking from simply looking at yourself or feeling self-conscious. According to Alyson Curtis, MA, LMHC, a therapist who specializes in eating disorders and body image, body checking becomes a genuine concern when it affects a person's ability to be present in their everyday life. So, if you went out to dinner with your friends, but your evening was ruined because you couldn't stop adjusting your dress or hyper-fixating on how your arms looked? 'That's a problem,' Curtis tells HuffPost. In some cases, body checking can be a sign of disordered eating or body dysmorphia. Anecdotally, body checking is frequently (but not always) linked to eating disorders, such as anorexia, bulimia, or binge-eating and body dysmorphic disorder (BDD). Academic researchers have also established a connection between this behavior and feelings of dissatisfaction with one's body, as well as disordered eating patterns consistent with eating disorder pathology. People who struggle with eating disorders or BDD typically have a highly negative, deeply skewed perception of what their body looks like. Consciously or not, body checking gives them a sense of control. It's a way to perpetually monitor their appearance and look out for any real or perceived fluctuations. However, since it stems from fears and insecurities, 'body checking only serves to intensify these negative feelings,' Amezcua said. In some cases, body checking can worsen an existing case of BDD or even lead to an eating disorder that wasn't present from the jump. 'It's a really slippery slope,' Curtis said, 'and some of us are more vulnerable than others.' For context, eating disorders will impact an estimated 9% of all Americans at some point in their life. They can be deadly, so it's important to seek help from a mental health professional if you think you're dealing with one. Curtis works with many clients who bring up body checking in sessions. Treatment modalities for this behavior run the gamut and depend on severity as well as an individual's level of anxiety or distress. For example, if a client can't stop body checking because they don't like how their clothes look, Curtis might first recommend shopping for new clothes that fit in a way they find comfortable or flattering. In general, though, 'the earlier the invention, the better,' she said. 'Body checking alone can be very distressing, but compulsive body checking is most likely connected to other disordered behaviors,' Amezcua adds. 'No one needs to suffer alone.' What to do if you see body checking in your Instagram feed (or do it yourself). 'Social media is definitely an agitator for those who already struggle with body image issues,' Curtis said. It's no surprise that body checks are so common on platforms like TikTok or Instagram. Since it seems relatively innocuous — at least compared to more overt examples of dangerous, disordered thinking, such as pro-ana content — this behavior may not raise concern immediately. That's why it's helpful to be aware of what it looks like. As for what you should do if you notice that an influencer you follow is body checking? Consider muting or unfollowing them. At the very least, take it as a sign to think more critically about who you follow and the kind of content you consume online. 'There is so much toxic information and imagery out there,' Amezcua adds, 'and we all know that mindless scrolling can lead to increased anxiety and decreased self-worth... If someone is dealing with body image issues or food struggles, it can be helpful to examine their relationship with social media and get curious about how their screen time impacts their overall well-being.' Curtis echoes the sentiment. The unfortunate truth is that conventional beauty standards (and the widespread pressure to abide by them) aren't going anywhere. 'Recurrent body checking can be one of the first indicators that the pressure to conform is getting its hooks in you,' Curtis said. 'Bring curiosity and care to it and when in doubt, seek out a therapist for further support.' To that end, if you catch yourself body checking and it's becoming repetitive or compulsive, then it's time to get help from a mental health professional. Consider working with a therapist who specializes in eating disorders or body image. Many online directories allow you to filter by specialty when you're searching for a provider. If you're struggling with an eating disorder, call or text 988 or chat for support. Related... Experts Say These 7 Subtle Behaviors Might Be 'Bigorexia' In Disguise 'Orthorexia' Is More And More Common. Here's What You Should Know About It. Inside The Body Image Movement That Doesn't Focus On Your Appearance

This Is The One "Superfood" You Should Always Eat At Breakfast, According To An Expert
This Is The One "Superfood" You Should Always Eat At Breakfast, According To An Expert

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time4 days ago

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This Is The One "Superfood" You Should Always Eat At Breakfast, According To An Expert

From Apple Jacks to cheese omelettes, blueberry pancakes to leftover pizza, there are a zillion and one potential choices for breakfast these days. But some options are definitely more nutrient-rich than others. So what would a dietitian's No. 1 pick be? And how can we get more good stuff into our bodies first thing in the morning without sacrificing deliciousness? That's the question that we — Raj Punjabi and Noah Michelson, the hosts of HuffPost's Am I Doing It Wrong? podcast ― had for Lisa Moskovitz, a registered dietitian, certified dietitian-nutritionist and the CEO of NY Nutrition Group, when she dropped by our studio to offer her tips and tricks for doing breakfast better. Listen to the full episode here. Moskovitz's breakfast all-star is chia seeds, which are harvested from Salvia hispanica, a member of the mint family. Related: Related: 'It's a superfood because of all of the nutritional properties that it has, from fiber and magnesium to B vitamins and iron, and there's a little protein in there,' the author of The Core 3 Healthy Eating Plan told us. They also contain omega-3 fatty acids, which help keep our brains and hearts healthy and have been shown to reduce inflammation. 'It's great for regulating digestion,' Moskovitz added, 'so for people that struggle ... with constipation and regularities, chia seeds are a great source of insoluble and soluble fiber.' In fact, just one serving of chia seeds — typically two to three tablespoons — offers nearly 10 grams of fiber, which is one-third of the recommended daily intake for most people. Fiber not only helps with digestion by bulking and softening stools; it's been found to lower the risk for many dangerous health conditions, including heart disease, diabetes and some cancers. Chia seeds are also incredibly versatile and can be easily added to countless breakfast favorites to boost their nutritional benefits. 'You can sprinkle them in your yogurt, you can put them in your oatmeal, you can even sprinkle them on your avocado toast, in your eggs, in your coffee, and you can just take them in water,' Moskovitz suggested. 'You can soak them in your almond milk or dairy milk or any or oat milk and leave them in the fridge overnight, and that's a great grab-and-go.' By making tiny tweaks — including adding chia seeds or other nutrient-packed foods like nuts and fruit — to our tried and true breakfast go-tos, we can score more of what our bodies need without missing out on our morning favorites. 'Stop worrying about what to cut out and just think about what we can add in,' she advised. Moskovitz also chatted with us about the ideal time to eat breakfast, what to know before you eat another egg, the four things to add to every smoothie, and much more. Listen to the full episode wherever you get your podcasts. Make sure to subscribe to so you don't miss a single episode, including how to find love online or ; tips for , taking care of your teeth and ; secrets to ; how to ; shocking ; ; getting ; dealing with ; how to prevent ; boosting ; and much more. For more from Lisa Moskovitz, visit NY Nutrition Group and follow her on Instagram. Need some help with something you've been doing wrong? Email us at AmIDoingItWrong@ and we might investigate the topic in an upcoming article originally appeared on HuffPost. Also in Goodful: Also in Goodful: Also in Goodful: Solve the daily Crossword

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