Good Lifestyle

The Germaphobes rarely leave the house without a bottle of hand disinfectant in towing - and it is easy to see why: virtually everything we touch on a daily basis is to grime with bacteria. In fact, a 2017 study published in the journalGerms Rated 27 cell phones and found a median of 17,000 bacterial genes copiesby telephone. In 2020 in particular, there is also the active threat of contracting theCoronavirus (COVID-19 This has people reaching these powerful gels and sprayers. And whilehand disinfectant May seem an effective solution on the Go to get rid of germs, use it too often can do more harm than good. In fact, it'sbecause The handsset is so effective to kill bacteria that it is not ideal for everyday use.

Triclosan, or TCS, is the active ingredient in some disinfectants of the hand. And while this ingredient effectively eliminates a myriad of microbes, a 2018 study published in the newspaperInternational environmentfound that it is equally effective in providing the development of antibiotic resistant bacteria. Only 30 days of exposure to 0.2 mg / l Tc can cause multi-drug resistance toE. coli.

"The Triclosan found in the personal care products we use daily accelerates the propagation ofantibiotic resistance"Study authorJianhua Guo explained in a press release.

So, what about hand disinfectants who count ethyl alcohol rather than Triclosan, like its active ingredient (which is most hand disinfectants)? Although it is the most powerful disinfectants of the market and are recommended by theDisease and Prevention Control Centers (CDC)Alcohol-based hand disinfectants also have serious criminals.

"Repeated use of everything, including hand disinfecting, can cause chronic irritation, skin failure and damage," saysTrevan Fischer, MD, surgical oncologist and surgical oncology assistant professor atJohn Wayne Cancer Institute of the Saint John Providence Health Center In Santa Monica, California.

"If you use very strong alcohol concentrations, it can cause drought andCracks in the skin. Not only does it feel good when alcohol strikes the skin, but the skin will not heal as well, "says Fischer. This is why it is particularly important not to use alcohol-based disinfectants on injured skin.

In addition, Fischer points the ability of alcohol to kill beneficial bacteria on the surface of the skin as a source of potential prejudice. "If you fight a natural defense, the body may have caused a chronic risk over time," he says.

This is not the only problem of exceeding disinfectants based on alcohol, however: by a 2008 meta-analysis published in theJournal of professional medicine and toxicology, topicalApplication of ethyl alcohol Can "reduce the function of the skin barrier and make the membrane more permeable" to harmful chemicals like cosmetic nitrosamines.

Although there are many disadvantages for using triclosan and alcohol disinfectants, nothing is to say that you can not use these products from time to time. Yes,Wash hands with soap and water Deletes the debris that hand disinfecting leaves leaves (including allergens such as peanut proteins) with the least secondary side effects. But if you are in a pinch and if you need to get rid of germs as soon as possible, it's an emergency bottle of hand disinfecting. The official directives of the CDC forProtect yourself from coronavirus Diagorize yourself with a complete hand wash, but stipulate that alcohol-based hand disinfectant may be enough for some cases when soap and water is not readily available.

According to a 2004 study published inClinical microbiology ReviewsThe disinfectant capable of killing the widest range of pathogens contains 60 to 85% ethanol or 60 to 80% isopropanol or N-propanol. However, if you want to avoid the harmful effects of the skin of alcohol-based disinfectants, you can still use an alcohol without alcohol option, such asFoaming sanitizer without alcohol germ-x. Be warned, however: while alcohol-free hand disinfectants are largely effective, they are slightly less powerful that their alcohol-based counterparts and (still) not recommended by the CDC.

Additional reporting by Sage Young.