We’ve all seen that mom on the playground. The one who whips out the hand sanitizer as soon as her child slides down the slide, coating her child before he has a chance to touch anything else. Then there’s the person who methodically wipes down all the doorknobs in her house each day with Lysol. Smart thinking…or overkill? Is being a germophobe a good thing?
Although some people might go a little overboard with cleaning, it’s not necessarily bad, health experts say.
But you need to know what ingredients are in the products you’re using and make sure you’re using them the proper way.
Best thing for washing hands? Good old soap and water. It doesn’t have to be the antibacterial kind, either.
“Soap is soap,” says Nancy Lemis, the Hampton district epidemiologist for the Virginia Department of Health. “You need to use what works for you. It’s the friction that gets the germs off.”
That means soaping up in running water, scrubbing for 15 to 20 seconds, and then drying your hands completely with a paper towel. But don’t touch the faucet afterward—use a towel, or you might as well not have washed your hands at all. Use the paper towel again if you have to open a door handle to leave a public restroom.
The next best thing to soap and water for cleaning hands is hand sanitizer. But unless it contains at least 60 percent alcohol (70 percent is even better), it’s not effective enough. Hand sanitizers with 60 percent alcohol will kill common germs, says Lemis, but some germs are hardier than others. They also might not remove harmful chemicals, such as pesticides and heavy metals, from hands, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
And Antibacterial Soap? Skip It.
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, there isn’t enough science to show that over-the-counter antibacterial soaps are better at preventing illness than washing with plain soap and water. Using the products over a long time has even raised questions about potential negative effects on health.
About five years ago, when the FDA asked for safety data, manufacturers weren’t able to prove that certain active ingredients used in antibacterial products (including liquid, foam, gel, bar soaps and body washes) were safe for long-term use. So the FDA last year ruled that over-the-counter products containing the antibacterial ingredients triclosan and triclocarban could no longer be marketed.
Triclosan, a synthetic antimicrobial agent, is used in more than just antibiotic soaps and wipes. Other items it’s used in include toothpaste, deodorant, cosmetics, lotions, plastics (such as cutting boards and lunchboxes), mattresses, clothing and even toys. The ingredient is added to products with the intent of reducing or preventing bacterial infection.
However, animal studies have shown that both triclosan and triclocarban can interfere with hormones critical for normal development and function of the brain and reproductive system, which could result in altered behavior, learning disabilities or infertility, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council.
One study that looked at the effects of triclosan in female rats was found to advance the age at which the rats hit puberty. Triclocarban, which resists water treatments meant to break it down before reaching surface water, has been shown to artificially amplify the effects of hormones such as estrogen and testosterone, which could promote the growth of certain cancers.
There’s no data demonstrating that these drugs provide additional protection from diseases and infections,”
says Theresa M. Michele, of the FDA’s Division of Nonprescription Drug Products. “Using these products might give people a false sense of security. If you use these products because you think they protect you more than soap and water, that’s not correct.”
In addition, some studies have raised the possibility that triclosan contributes to making bacteria resistant to antibiotics, according to the FDA. Since the FDA’s ruling that triclosan and triclocarban can no longer be marketed, manufacturers have been removing the ingredients from their products. Still, it’s a good idea to check labels.
You should also check the labels of the household cleaners you use, Lemis says. The label should tell you what the “kill time” is, or how long it needs to be left on a surface to kill germs. Follow it. And household cleaning products labeled antibacterial aren’t necessarily better. Studies have shown ingredients in the products can cause respiratory symptoms, yet do nothing to reduce the risk for infectious diseases.
While the FDA ruling on triclosan and triclocarban covers consumer antibacterial soaps and washes sold over the counter, it doesn’t apply to hand sanitizers, hand wipes or the antibacterial soaps used in health care settings. The FDA has, however, begun requesting scientific data on the safety of the active ingredients in hand sanitizers.
Sentara, the largest health care organization in Hampton Roads, does not use products containing triclosan at its hospital, says Linda Estep, Sentara’s manager of infection prevention.
Health care professionals use antibacterial hand sanitizer containing 70 percent or more alcohol, Estep says. In a health care setting, that sanitizer works better and faster than washing with soap and water, and cuts down the time nurses and other caregivers have to spend washing their hands. Caregivers are required to clean their hands as they go in and out of patient rooms.
“Bacteria are everywhere,” Estep says. “It’s on our skin. It’s on most surfaces you touch in your environment.”
In a hospital, sure, it’s important for vigilant cleaning to avoid spreading bad bugs such as MRSA and C.Diff. Hospitals have taken additional steps in recent years, gradually switching out textiles and some surfaces (such as bedside tables) with those made of copper, which has natural antimicrobial properties. Sentara has begun installing antibacterial curtains.
But what about outside of hospitals? Is there such a thing as too much cleanliness? After all, the immune system is strengthened by exposure to everyday germs. Can being too clean be detrimental to our immune systems? Not really, Lemis says, because people are going to be exposed to germs no matter what.
“All of us are going to be exposed to germs at some point,” she says. “That’s what we have immune systems for.”
While dousing yourself or your child with hand sanitizer every five minutes can be a little much, there are times when it’s especially important to clean your hands—before eating or preparing food, after using the restroom, after handling animals and when hands are visibly dirty, Lemis says. If someone uses hand sanitizer too much, the emollients can build on hands, so a good soap washing every now and then is suggested.
For Poquoson, Virginia, mom Amanda Crockett, keeping germs away from her kids is very important. She carries hand sanitizer with her pretty much everywhere she goes, and there are certain places where she always pulls it out—playgrounds and amusement parks top the list. After her girls, ages 5 and 6, came down with hand, foot and mouth disease a few times after being at an amusement park, she now makes them use sanitizer after every ride.
Crockett also makes sure they wash their hands when they get home from school.
“People might say, ‘But you can pick up germs anywhere,’” Crockett says. “Sure, you’re not going to always prevent kids from getting sick from everything, but if I can prevent unnecessary sickness, I will.”
What’s the best way to wash your hands?
- Wet your hands with clean, running water (warm or cold).
- Lather your hands with soap. Be sure to include the backs of your hands, between your fingers and under your fingernails.
- Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds. (Schoolchildren are often encouraged to sing “Happy Birthday” twice.)
- Rinse your hands thoroughly under clean, running water.
- Dry your hands using a clean towel, or air dry them.
- If soap and water aren’t available, use a hand sanitizer containing at least 60 percent alcohol.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
