We’ve all come across a person with poor personal hygiene. Be it in the form of bad breath, serious body odour or plain old smelly feet, chances are you’ve met someone smelly at work, school, in a queue or on public transport.
Medical author, Melissa Conrad Stoppler tells MedicineNet that self-neglect and certain mental or emotional disorders can be the cause of poor personal hygiene. “Other people may develop poor hygiene habits due to social factors such as poverty or inadequacy of social support. Physical disabilities can also interfere with one's ability to care for oneself and may result in an individual being unable to attend to personal hygiene.”
Personal hygiene is a topic that is normally brought up during the time when a youngster’s body is developing says LiveStrong, but when subtle hints about showering or using deodorant have no effect a conversation with an adult is the next step.
So how do you go about in confronting a friend who has poor personal hygiene?
Here are five tactful ways break the news:
1. Don’t jump the gun
Before deciding to confront your friend, make sure that they really have one in the first place. Author Donna Flag tells Jezebel that it’s a good idea to hold off until you are sure hygiene is the problem. “Wait for a pattern to emerge. Definitely don't say anything the first, second or even third time you notice it.
2. Keep the scope of the problem small and the tone relaxed
Begin the conversation with a compliment to make the person feel at ease. Continue by bringing up the issue but do not mention how everyone has commented on the person’s hygiene problem! Psychology Today regards this as an important reason for why you should say something, but it would be far too insulting to actually tell your friend that everyone has been talking about it behind their back.
3. Address your friend privately
Speakstrong recommends that you should find a private environment before confronting your friend. Do not involve others. Again, your friend does not need to feel like everyone has been discussing their poor hygiene.
4. Be empathetic
The last thing you want to do is make someone feel like you’re attacking or blaming them. Do not use words that would be offensive to you if you were in your friend’s situation. Try to avoid words like “stink” when speaking to your friend. Phrases such as “I know if it was me, I’d want to know” and “I’m telling you because it’s important for you to know.”
5. Help your friend out
Sometimes your friend may not know what products to use or which ones actually work. Buying your friend some products that work may help them. Healthfully suggests giving your friend a gift basket full of personal care items.
