Rethinking Hygiene: Beyond Hands and Surfaces

We’ve been taught since childhood: wash your hands. Clean the counter. Disinfect your phone. And for good reason—hands and surfaces are major culprits when it comes to spreading germs. But there’s more to staying clean than soap and sanitizer. True personal hygiene is about paying attention to all the places where exposure happens—including the ones we tend to overlook.

Where Exposure Really Starts

Think about your daily routine. You step outside, take the train, and breathe in the air at your office or gym. From the moment you wake up, your body is exposed to the environment—especially through the nose, mouth, and skin. We often focus on what we touch, but what we inhale is just as important.

The nasal passages, in particular, are a primary entry point for airborne microbes. They’re the first place most viruses and allergens make contact. Yet while we’re diligent about washing our hands, we rarely think about what our nose goes through.

Why Traditional Hygiene Isn’t Always Enough

Surface cleaning and handwashing are essential—but they only address part of the picture. The air we breathe, the dry environments we work in, and the recycled air in public transport all affect how our bodies manage exposure. And when the air is dry or polluted, our natural barriers (like the mucus and cilia in the nose) can become less effective.

Ignoring these factors can leave gaps in our hygiene routine—especially during seasonal spikes in illness or in urban environments.

A More Complete Hygiene Mindset

To truly support your health, it’s time to think more holistically about hygiene. That means:

• Prioritizing air quality at home and work

• Staying hydrated to support the moisture in your skin and mucous membranes

• Being mindful of indoor ventilation and avoiding overly dry environments

• Considering hygiene routines for your face, nose, and lips, not just your hands

These aren’t extreme steps. They’re simple habits that reflect a modern understanding of how exposure works—and how the body defends itself.

Final Thought

Clean doesn’t stop at the sink. As we continue to learn more about how illnesses spread and how our bodies respond, it’s clear that a more complete hygiene routine goes beyond what we touch. It includes what we breathe, how we care for our skin, and how we support the body’s natural defenses. Rethinking hygiene means being proactive—not just with our hands, but with our entire approach to staying well.