While the words "gut bacteria" might raise red flags—bacteria is bad, right?—in recent years, we've evolved and become more aware of the benefits of having healthy bacteria in our guts.For the uninitiated: "Gut bacteria are millions and millions of microbes living inside your intestines," explains Dr. Yoshua Quinones, MD, a board-certified internist with Medical Offices of Manhattan and labfinder.com contributor. "They help digest food, produce vitamins, support your immune system and protect against harmful germs."Ironically, you may be trying to protect yourself against harmful germs by maintaining this one common habit that can "wipe out" gut bacteria. Doctors share what it is, why it's not the best idea and the super-simple thing to do instead.? SIGN UP for tips to stay healthy & fit with the top moves, clean eats, health trends & more delivered right to your inbox twice a week ?
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.
The gut health issues can often start with the skin, the body's largest organ and a barrier. Hand sanitizers generally contain a ton of alcohol, and while this alcohol kills germs, you can have too much of a good thing.
"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."
OK, but what does the skin microbiome have to do with gut bacteria? A good bit, actually—doctors stress there's an important interplay between your skin and digestive system. Remember, no single body part exists in a vacuum.
"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."
Also, listen up, parents, grandparents, teachers and childcare providers: "As a mom of three, my kids put their hands in their mouths constantly," she says. "While small amounts aren't generally toxic, regular ingestion of alcohol or other antimicrobial ingredients found in some sanitizers...can directly influence the gut microbiome."
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.
A 2024 review of research suggested that overuse of hand sanitizer could affect the gut microbiome and skin, leading to gastrointestinal conditions like IBD that can manifest externally in the forms of issues like psoriasis and acne—yikes!
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How Often Should You Use Hand Sanitizer for Gut Health?
You want to avoid using hand sanitizer too often to protect your gut health because your body needs exposure to beneficial microbes. Plus, it can irritate and affect the skin barrier. Dr. Jesus L. Lizarzaburu, MD, a family physician, doesn't recommend using hand sanitizer more than 10 to 15 times daily.
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."
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"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."Alcohol-based sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol is best for effectiveness," Dr. Wada says.
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Soap and Water vs. Hand Sanitizer: Which Is Better For Gut Health?
According to the four doctors Parade spoke with, soap and water are the better option 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.
"Soap and water do not have the same negative impact on the gut microbiome as excessive hand sanitizer use," Dr. Wada says. "Soap works primarily by removing dirt, grease and germs from your hands by physically lifting them off and rinsing away with water down the drain. Hand sanitizers, on the other hand, kill microbes through alcohol or other antimicrobials on contact."Additionally, because you rinse the soap away, Dr. Wada says there's less chance for the skin to absorb the active ingredients into the body and affect the gut. You and any little ones in your life are also less likely to ingest soap's ingredients.
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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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