Have you ever had the experience that when you approach an elderly elder, you smell a peculiar smell that some people call "old man's smell". The smell may make you feel uncomfortable and even a little disgusted. You may be thinking, is this because the elderly do not pay attention to hygiene and cleaning?
Actually, this is not entirely true. The production of the smell of the elderly is related to many factors such as physical changes, living habits, and dietary structure of the elderly. So, how do we properly understand the taste of the elderly? And how to effectively improve and prevent the smell of the elderly? This article will analyze and introduce you from the following three aspects.
Why does it smell like an old man? Is it because of lack of hygiene?
"Old man's smell" is actually a smell produced by a substance secreted by the human body, which is called 2-nonenal. 2-Hypoenoic acid is an unsaturated fatty acid that is produced by the oxidation of oils and fats on the human body in the air. 2-Hypoenoic acid has a smell similar to greasy, and it can adhere to items such as clothing, bed sheets, furniture, etc., forming an "old man's smell" that is difficult to remove.
So, why do people secrete more 2-nonenoic acid as they get older? This is related to the body's metabolism, changes in **, eating habits, etc. With age, the blood circulation of the human body becomes poorer, the resistance of the human body decreases, and it is more susceptible to bacterial invasion. Bacteria will decompose the oil on the ** and produce some odorous substances, such as butyric acid, isovaleric acid, etc. These substances will mix with 2-nonenoic acid to form a stronger "old man's smell".
Secondly, as you age, the skinThe moisture of the skin will decrease, the elasticity will decrease, and the wrinkles will increase. These changes lead to an increase in the surface area and an increase in the secretion of sebum, which increases the production of 2-nonenoic acid. In addition, the stratum corneum will also thicken, hindering perspiration, making sweat and oil stay on it, providing more food for bacteria, and also increasing the intensity of "old man's taste".
Again, as people age, their eating habits also change. In general, older people will prefer to eat some greasy, spicy, fried foods, these foods will increase the body's oil production, tooIncreases the production of 2-nonenoic acid。In addition, the elderly are also more likely to lack some vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin C, vitamin E, zinc, etc., which can inhibit the oxidation of 2-nonenoic acid and reduce the production of "old man's taste".
Is too much cleaning harmful? Don't wash these 4 areas too often
While hygiene is important, don't overdo it or it will backfire. Some people believe that the cleaner the body, the better, to take a bath several times a day, each part to be cleaned with a variety of cleaning products, and even to use drugs or instruments to clean some special parts, such as the ear canal, nasal cavity, **, etc.
Actually, these practices are very wrong, because these parts have their own self-cleaning mechanismIf it is washed excessively, it will disrupt their normal functioning and lead to some undesirable consequences. Let's take a look at which parts of the body don't need to be over-washed, or even don't need to be washed.
Ears:Inside the ear is a substance called earwax, which is an oil secreted by the earlobe glands and sebaceous glands. Cerumen works to protect the ears from dust, bacteria, insects, etc., and also lubricates the ear canal to prevent dryness and inflammation. Cerumen usually slowly drains from the ear canal with natural movements of the ear, such as chewing, talking, yawning, etc.
Therefore, we do not need to clean the ears too much, otherwise it will disrupt the balance of cerumen and cause the ear canal to be too dry or too moist, causing problems such as otitis, tinnitus, hearing loss, etc. We only need to wash the outside of the ear with warm water and soap, and do not dig into the inside of the ear with hard objects such as cotton swabs, hairpins, toothpicks, etc., so as not to injure the ear canal or eardrum.
Nasal:The nasal passages contain a layer of tiny capillaries that remove foreign matter and dust build-up in the nasal passages and also excrete secretions to the back of the throat to maintain normal breathing and cleanliness.
At the same time, the mucous membrane in the nasal cavity has a thin layer of protective secretions, which can prevent over-drying, reduce the presence of foreign bodies, bacteria and viruses in the air, and so on。If you often use fingers, cotton swabs or nasal irrigators and other tools to clean the nasal cavity, it will destroy the self-cleaning function of the nasal cavity, irritate the nasal mucosa, and cause problems such as nosebleeds, rhinitis, and sinusitis.
Umbilicus:Inside the umbilical cord is a depression called the n**el, which is a scar left by the umbilical cord falling off. The function of the umbilical fossa is to protect the umbilicus from external irritants, and it can also store some oil and sweat to provide a certain temperature and humidity for the umbilicus. The umbilical fossa usually has some bacteria and dust, which is normal.
Therefore, we do not need to clean the umbilical fossa too much, otherwise it will destroy the natural environment of the umbilical fossa, resulting in the umbilical fossa being too dry or too wet, causing problems such as umbilical cord infection, umbilical pain, and umbilical bleeding. We only need to gently clean the surface of the umbilical fossa with warm water and cotton swabs, and do not use disinfectant items such as alcohol, iodine wine, bleach, etc., so as not to irritate the umbilical fossa.
Hair:Hair is made up of a protein called keratin, which is a fiber secreted by hair follicles on the scalp. The role of hair is to protect the scalp from external damage, and it can also absorb some oil and sweat to provide certain nutrients and moisture to the scalp. It's normal for hair to usually have some dust, dandruff, head lice, etc.
Therefore, we don't need to wash our hair too much, otherwise it will destroy the natural oil of the hair, causing the hair to be too dry or too oily, causing problems such as dermatitis, dandruff, hair loss, etc. We only need to wash our hair with warm water and a shampoo that suits us, and do not use damaging items such as hot water, alkaline shampoo, hair bleach, etc., so as not to harm the quality of the hair.
Old man smell is a normal physiological phenomenon, it is not a disease, nor is it a stigma. The elderly do not have to feel inferior or blame themselves because of the smell of the elderly, nor do they have to avoid socializing or loneliness because of the smell of the elderly.
The elderly only need to pay attention to hygiene, moderate cleanliness, drink more water, eat more fruits and vegetables, and exercise more, which can effectively improve and prevent the occurrence of elderly odor and make themselves healthier and more confident. At the same time, young people should also have a correct understanding and attitude towards the elderly, do not discriminate against or dislike the elderly because of the elderly, but respect and care for the elderly, so that they can feel warmth and happiness.
The smell of the elderly is not terrible, as long as we all understand and accept it with our hearts, we can eliminate the troubles caused by the smell of the elderly, so that the elderly and the young can live in harmony and share a better life.
February** Dynamic Incentive Program