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Get The Dirt On Hand Soaps

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Washing hands with soap and water

Washing hands with soap and waterWashing your hands with soap and warm water still remains one of your best defenses against the unnecessary spreading of germs, but can soaps be bad for the immune system? Is the continual desire to sanitize a reasonable ritual or have we become a nation of germaphobes? What if our overuse of chemical disinfectants was actually contributing to the spread of dangerous bacteria? It may seem counter-intuitive, but science is showing that as we develop new weapons against bacteria, fungi, and viruses, our microscopic nemeses are evolving rapidly to evade even our most aggressive tactics.

Harmful Ingredients In Soaps

Conventional personal care products are known for using the cheapest ingredients they can get their hands on. We all know it's all about the money, right? But nowadays you can easily and affordably shop for organic and natural products using only pure, simple, sustainable ingredients. Avoid the list below of common soap ingredients, many of which are carcinogens:
  • Artificial Colors
  • Parabens (methylparaben, polyparaben, ethylparaben)
  • Propylene glycol
  • Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (or anything containing “lauryl” or “laureth”)
  • BHA (butylated hydroxyanisole) and BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene)
  • Cocamidopropyl
  • DEA/TEA
  • Dimethecone
  • PEG (followed by a number)
  • Petrolatum and mineral oil
  • Talc

Triclosan

Triclosan is processed as an ingredient in everything ranging from toothpaste to toys, but most notably in antibacterial hand soaps. Initially used only in hospitals after its 1972 introduction to the market, triclosan's popularity grew as the false notion spread that antibacterials are the best way to thwart off potentially harmful bacteria. In the past few years it has been repeatedly found that antibacterial soaps show no benefit over regular soap. This dangerous antifungal/antibacterial has been shown to:
  • Alter hormone regulation in animal testing
  • Is an excitotoxin – causing brain cells to overexcite and die
  • May have negative effects on the thyroid
  • Cause Skin irritation
  • Disruption of the endocrine system
  • Contribute to antibiotic resistant germs (a major growing problem)
  • May be harmful to the immune system overall

 Where do these chemicals end up?

We must remember that a large percentage of what we put on our skin absorbs into our bodies. In fact, triclosan has been showing up in breast milk and studies “found triclosan in the urine of nearly 75 percent of those tested”.  Further down the chain, everything washed down our sinks, showers and toilet drains is further contaminating the water supply. The filtering technology leading up to your public tap water is simply not advance enough to filter out a lot of chemicals currently being rinsed or flushed away.

Hand Sanitizers

The claim is that 99.9% of germs will be killed. What about that other 0.1%? These may be the most aggressive bacteria or even superbugs that now have free reign to infect the rest of your hands, unchallenged by competing microbes. Hand sanitizers with low alcohol levels may even increase bacteria counts within 24 hours.

Air Hand Dryers Vs. Paper Towels

There is currently no consensus over whether the electric hand dryer uses more energy than is needed to create a paper towel, or if the opposite is true. Overall replacement and clean up costs will be lower for a business with an air dryer, but the electricity used for this machine may proportionally outweigh the energy need to produce 1-2 paper towels. Contrary to what air dryer manufacturers suggest, studies show air blowers actually spread bacteria 3 – 6 feet around the area of the machine. Plus, most people are simply not patient enough to wait until their hands are totally dry, creating a moist magnet for bacteria, and this very same hand touches the doorknob on the way out. It seems paper towels may win on the sanitary front because dryness is the biggest factor is reducing the spread of germs.

Extra Tips

Remember that most people don't completely wash their hands at the bathroom sink, so that faucet handle may be one of the dirtiest places in a public restroom. This is why automatic sinks win major sanitary points. Either use the papertowel to shut off the sink or be creative by using the back of your pinky. Limit the expsosure as best you can. Lastly, on your way out of the bathroom, remember that door handle is the other hot spot for bacterial breeding. If someone holds the door for you, now you've got a better reason than just good manners to say a nice big “Thank you!”  

Do you use hand sanitizers? Does your hand soap brand use triclosan?

  Rob Herring is an AADP Certified Holistic Health Counselor and a musical activist - combining his passions to raise awareness of health information through the power of music. Learn more about this health conscious tunes at www.TheRobHerring.com or on Facebook.

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