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Excessively Washing Hands
Name: Jimmy H
Status: other
Age: 30s
Location: N/A
Country: N/A
Date: Sunday, October 27, 2002
Question:
I have a habit of washing my hands with soap and water
vigorously and often (sometimes two times in a row if I don't think I
got them clean enough the first time). I realize that too much hand
washing can aggravate some skin conditions such as eczema, but can it
lead to skin infections of the hand (caused by overexposure to soaps
that may remove the skins natural defenses, changes in pH, etc.)?
Replies:
I just did this lab with my students. I had them culture their hands
before and washing their hands. They found that the total number of
organisms doesn't really change. The purpose of washing your hands is
to remove pathogens (disease causing organisms). You don't want to
completely remove bacteria. "Good" organisms provide a barrier that
makes it difficult for "bad" organisms to break through. If you take
normal precautions, washing hands after using the bathroom and while
cooking and handling food, cook your food thoroughly when necessary,
etc. you should be fine. And yes, when you constantly wash and scrub
your hands you could create overdrying which could crack them and make a
portal for normal skin bacteria to gain entrance under the skin where
they can cause infection.
Van Hoeck
A lot depends upon the soap you use. Soaps can certainly remove skin
oils and result in cracking which can lead to infection. This can be
made worse by scrubbing the skin with abrasive soaps or brushes. It all
depends upon why you are washing so frequently. An auto mechanic may
need to wash hands frequently. A surgeon, too, may need to wash hands
more frequently and thoroughly (including under the nails). Food
handlers have to take extra care to wash thoroughly -- the same for
persons who may come into contact with human or animal feces and/or
urine. Some soap is more aggressive than others. The skin does have
natural defenses against pathogens that are better left on the skin. For
example, the natural oils repel water that may contain infecting agents.
For most people in most circumstances a single washing, I believe, is
quite adequate.
Vince Calder
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Update: June 2012
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