Hygiene problems

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In the last year, my general hygiene has declined significantly. I've been taking less showers lately, though I'll wash my hair in the sink somewhat frequently. This probably has to do with the fact that for the past year, I have been single, and had been working a job where I delivered papers at night. Barring bad weather, it was great to work a job where I didn't have to interact with many people, and drove around deserted streets listening to whatever music I wanted in my car, where I'd be warm and safe. Sadly, I was fired from it, and have now been trying to find employment, with only mild success with temp jobs and a paying musical gig.
I started showering less, and strangely, would find myself opting to wash my hear in the sink instead of going in the shower. I really don't like showers much. I like being in the shower where it's warm, but getting out when it's all cold is a sensory nightmare. I don't melt down, but I am SOOOOOO reluctant to end the shower where I know I'll be cold until I finally dry myself off, doing which feels like it takes forever.
And now here's where the problem is: for the past nine months or so, I've occasionally developed these strange rashes consisting of small red bumps erupting all over my body, save for my face and hands. I thought it was pityriasis rosea, but I had read that it only happens once and then never again, but I've had this on and off since it all started.
Has anybody has this problem, or something like this? Sorry if this seems so long-winded. Sometimes I get stuck when trying to articulate myself.

Triple antibiotic ointment might help the rash. Don't put it on large areas of your body, though, because the manufacturer warns of that in the instructions.
What I like least about showers is the drying off process. My body feels itchy and uncomfortable. I don't like the feeling of moisture on my skin.

Could it be an alergy?

I had always had a sensitivity to peanuts, but never so much that it caused a problem, but sometime in my early 40's I suddenly started getting hives and some disturbing jaw pains that I finally narrowed down to peanut allergies.

Is it possible that you have an allergy that is getting worse with time? Is there a food you eat that might trigger the reaction or something you come in contact with?

I suppose if you are not washing much, it could be something related to that. Narrowing down the cause would be just a matter of washing frequently and seeing if that changes the reaction.

You might want to get some antihistamines to take when you get the reaction. If the rash goes away when you take the antihistamine, it is quite likely that it is an allergy.

To the best of my knowledge, bathing is not necessary for health. I would recommend washing your hands before eating or after using the toilet. However, I doubt that it will reduce rashes or otherwise improve your health. Nevertheless, a daily bath or shower will help you look and smell good.

German and Russians soldiers suffered durring the seige of Stalingrad from rashes and boils from not bathing.

Thank you for the information about the soldiers!

1. See a dermatologist for the rash.

2.Buy a space heater and heat the bathroom before you shower (unplug it during the shower) or dry off with the hair dryer.

3. Shower regularly.

I don't see how people can forget to wash themselves or have the confidence to go out feeling dirty and unwashed.

Because of my lack of self-esteem, the least I can do is go about looking clean and feeling nice. It helps an awful lot with my confidence.

I change my T-shirt every day, my jumper every 3 days, my trousers maybe every 4-5 days, and my underwear every day. I know it mounts up the washing, but I'd rather that than go out feeling unwashed.

I wash my hair twice a week, and have a bath 3 times a week, but have a quick wash in the sink every morning. I put deoderant on every morning and every night.

Some autistic people (I'll go ahead and include myself in this although it is inconsistent) have trouble remembering to eat. I understand to someone who remembers to handle basic self-care that it seems almost inconceivable that someone else could forget, but forgetting is not voluntary. It may not always be an explicit forgetting: I can remind myself every five minutes to get lunch, but if I fail to transition from whatever I am doing, I won't be able to make that lunch.

And the OP has another thing going on with the sensory issues of going from warm to cold - which I can relate to, although since cold doesn't bother me this particular issue isn't an issue for me. Other issues can interfere with me getting things done - say having additional people in the house (especially people I didn't expect or don't know) and not wanting to end up socializing with them. Or even the rest of the house is too warm.

I'm a hygiene freak... Need to be 100% clean at all times, which is a BARE MINIMUM of a thorough shower and shampoo (30 mins) every morning, and in some cases can mean 3 or 4 showers on a hot day if I'm doing physical work. I even shower before doing a known-dirty job, or going dirt bike riding. It's just me... I need it that way. When I was in the middle of the 1994 Northridge Earthquake, and we lost all water for a few days, I got so upset about not having a shower that I searched for a motel out of town, to get hot water. That was more important to me than food, shelter, or almost as important as personal safety.

But I do know what you mean about the shock of getting out of the shower into the air; no matter if the air is quite warm. My wife and I were just talking last night about our hot tub (outdoors; very nice), which I never seem to want to go in. It's because the hell of getting out is stopping me. It's literally a pain, worse than getting an injection in the arse, or getting punched in the chest. It's different of course, but no less unpleasant. Luckily I don't feel that way about showers, or I'd have to get someone to shoot me dead. Getting out of the shower is so routine, that I can overlook the couple of seconds of coldshock.

Charles

Last edited by kx250rider on 02 Mar 2011, 1:32 pm, edited 2 times in total.

Being hungry reminds me that it's time to eat.

Exactly. I always wash before going out, because it's part of my routine for going out. But when I'm working from home and don't leave the house at all, I often forget.

Exactly, Joe90. Lots of autistic people are unable to tell when we're hungry, or we feel hungry but the sensation doesn't register as important. My body feels like just more external sensory input to me, trying to sort out the sensations is nearly impossible. Even when I was a baby I literally had to be taught how to nurse, I couldn't do it on my own, and that's supposed to be a reflex. Often the only way I know I'm hungry is if I remember I haven't eaten in a really long time or something. And even when I can feel the hunger, I can't tell it apart from several other stomach-related sensations, such as gas, reflux, gastritis, nausea, etc. Many autistic people have to start from a level that is more basic than what most people call "basic", if you know what I mean, and that causes us all kinds of problems.

As far as the rash goes, my first guess would have been a reaction to a new brand of soap or laundry detergent. Since you basically use neither, I am scrapping that theory.

I get a similar reaction to certain medications. You should take that into consideration as well.

As far as the actual topic, I'm both unable to remember to bathe and unable to bathe. Someone comes to my house to bathe me. It's not that I enjoy being smelly, I just can't do the things it takes to not be smelly. And I have trouble with hygiene in other, literally more "basic" areas, if you know what I mean. I'm getting some adaptive equipment installed for that today, that should allow me to do the toilet-hygiene stuff by pushing a few buttons rather than waiting for the bath person to come (which is utterly disgusting as well as outright dangerous to skin integrity -- if you've never been unable to fully do that stuff for yourself, you have no idea how much more disgusting it is than armpit odor, and being aware how disgusting it is and unable to do anything is just nasty). There's pretty much nothing about hygiene that I can really do for myself, in other words. The little bits I can do aren't complete or consistent enough to matter much.

I have to second the suggestion to put a space heater in the bathroom. I absolutely will NOT take a shower without the room being 90 degrees or warmer when I get out.