4 of the Most Dangerous Myths About Washing Your Hands

Several years ago, I had a friend read the OSHA sheet about Dial pump soap – haven’t wanted to use any of those harsh chemical pump soaps to wash my hands with since.

1.  Hot water is better than cold water for effective handwashing

Scientists have found that various temperatures had “no effect on transient or resident bacterial reduction.” Not only does hot water not show any benefit, but it might increase the “irritant capacity” of some soaps, causing dermatitis.

2. Hand sanitizers kill germs more effectively than soap

Using alcohol-based hand-hygiene products is in general not more effective than washing your hands with plain soap and water.

3.  Frequent handwashing or use of hand sanitizers promotes healthy skin

In fact, contact dermatitis can develop from frequent and repeated use of hand hygiene products, exposure to chemicals and glove use.

4.  Soap with triclosan is an effective antimicrobial for handwashing

A recent study compared an antibacterial soap containing triclosan with a non-antibacterial soap. The results showed that the antibacterial soap did not provide any additional benefit. In addition, concerns have been raised about the use of triclosan because of the potential development of bacterial resistance.

You can see the sources and Dr Mercola’s comments at: http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/02/25/myths-about-hand-hygiene.aspx