Doctors reveal that overusing hand sanitizer can negatively affect the bacteria in your gut by limiting exposures to environmental microbes."That might sound like a good thing, but some of that exposure helps build and support your immune system and microbiome diversity," shares Dr. Raj Dasgupta, MD, an ABIM quadruple board-certified physician and the chief medical advisor for Garage Gym Reviews.
"Alcohol strips away the natural oils on our skin, leading to dryness and cracks," points out Dr. Kara Wada, MD, FAAAAI, the founder & chief executive officer of IMMUNE CONFIDENT INSTITUTE. "A compromised skin barrier alters the skin microbiome, including diversity, types and behavior."
"If you overuse hand sanitizers, it may kill both harmful and beneficial microbes on your skin, potentially lowering your exposure to helpful bacteria," Dr. Quinones notes. "This can also lower your gut microbiome’s diversity and resilience, lowering your immune system and causing digestive issues."
Again, these chemicals have a purpose—to kill microbes. However, Dr. Wada warns that they don't discriminate between the "good" and "bad" bacteria. "When beneficial bacteria are reduced, less desirable ones might flourish, leading to imbalances linked to downstream effects, including increased risk of allergies, autoimmune diseases and metabolism issues," she shares.
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How Often Should You Use Hand Sanitizer for Gut Health?
Then again, who's counting? If your answer is "not me," Dr. Dasgupta recommends conducting a personal gut check about your hand hygiene habits. "If you’re using it constantly throughout the day, even when you’re just at home or have access to soap and water, that’s probably too much," Dr. Dasgupta notes. "A few times a day when you're out and about is fine, but if it’s becoming a reflex every time you touch something, you might be overdoing it."
"Use hand sanitizer when you can’t wash with soap and water, especially after touching public surfaces, before eating and in healthcare or high-risk settings," Dr. Quinones notes.Specifically, Dr. Wada suggests applying hand sanitizer:
After touching public door handles, shopping carts and gas pumpsBefore eating, if no sink is available.After coughing or sneezing (to avoid spreading germs)After touching animals or pets, if soap and water aren’t an option.Related: Do You Use This Common Shower Item? Doctors Say It Could Be Making You Sick
Soap and Water vs. Hand Sanitizer: Which Is Better For Gut Health?
"I think the pandemic has made us forget that the best strategy to minimize the spread of anything is to wash our hands with soap and water," Dr. Lizarzaburu says. "When that is not available, that is the time to use hand sanitizer, so long as our hands are not visibly soiled."Dr. Wada always picks soap and water when she has a choice.
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Sources:
Dr. Yoshua Quinones, MD, a board-certified internist with Medical Offices of Manhattan and labfinder.com contributorDr. Raj Dasgupta, MD, an ABIM quadruple board-certified physician and the chief medical advisor for Garage Gym ReviewsDr. Kara Wada, MD, FAAAAI, the founder & chief executive officer of IMMUNE CONFIDENT INSTITUTEDr. Jesus L. Lizarzaburu, MD, a family physician Hand Sanitizer: Stopping the Spread of Infection at a Cost. Cureus.Hence then, the article about the common habit that s quietly wiping out your gut bacteria was published today ( ) and is available on Parade ( Saudi Arabia ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
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