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Too Often Use Hand Sanitizer Can Disrupt Immunity

Harianjogja.com, JAKARTAHand sanitizer or hand sanitizer has become a must-have item for the majority of people during the Covid-19 pandemic. However, health experts warn of possible bad effects due to too frequent use of hand sanitizers.

FirstThese fluids may make you more prone to diarrhea.

The microbiome is an ecosystem of microorganisms including bacteria, fungi, and viruses that live in the intestines, mouth, nose, and skin, which play a role in keeping you healthy, preventing infection, warding off harmful bacteria, which can be dispelled by hand sanitizer.

“When you kill the good bacteria colonies on your hands, it also destroys your gut microbiome, which feeds on the bacteria on your skin,” Mahboobeh Mahdavinia, professor of allergy and immunology at Rush University, said. Livestrong, Friday (22/8/2020).

“Changing the microbiome in this way weakens your immune system,” he added.

Over time, this can leave you susceptible to bacteria that can irritate the digestive tract and cause stomach problems.

On the other hand, hand sanitizer fails to eradicate the diarrhea-causing pathogen Clostridium difficile (C. diff), norovirus and Cryptosporidian, according to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

It also doesn’t do much when your hands are very dirty or oily, nor can it remove harmful chemicals, such as pesticides.

“I recommend using hand sanitizer only in hospital or clinical settings, or trying to maintain cleanliness between hand washes,” says Soma Mandal, intern at Summit Medical Group in Berkeley Heights, New Jersey.

Hand Drying

Another thing you need to consider is to use a hand sanitizer all the time, the risk of dry hands.

“Alcohol removes moisture from your skin, and with consistent use it can cause dry, cracked skin and even eczema especially in children, because their skin is very sensitive,” says Mahdavinia.

Alcohol can cause irritation, and make you more susceptible to infection.

To fix this, apply a moisturizer after using hand sanitizer to keep hydration in your skin.

Mahdavinia recommends hypoallergenic products to create a firm protective layer on the skin, such as Cetaphil, Eucerin, or Vaseline.

Then, especially for babies, there is a risk that hand sanitizers can interfere with the development of their immune system.

A popular scientific theory called the “hygiene hypothesis” states that exposure to pathogens and bacteria is essential to helping babies build strong and functioning immunity.

In an environment that is too clean, babies will not be exposed to the germs necessary to educate the immune system so that it responds to infectious organisms.

However, this is only a disputed hypothesis, according to the Cleveland Clinic. You have to keep in the habit of maintaining cleanliness.

“You need to clean your hands before holding your baby, that is, wash your hands with water and soap instead of using hand sanitizer,” Mahdavinia said.

The baby’s microbiome is still forming, so touching it when there is alcohol or residue on your hands will kill the good germs on the baby’s skin.

Source: Antara

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