Aug 14, 2008 10:18 am US/Eastern
Shower May Not Be Best Place To Ward Off Germs
Bacterial May Still Lurk In Wash Cloths, Shower Curtains, Etc.
MIAMI (CBS) ―
-
-
Dermatologists consider the bathroom shower a place in the home where germs can spread quickly.
AP
It's something most people don't even consider when they step into the shower every day, but it could be a place where diseases spread, CBS station WFOR-TV in Miami reports.
Loofas, scrub brushes, and other products in a shower contain all the ingredients necessary for serious infection.
One can clean the whole area with bleach, but there are materials in the shower such as the wash cloth, the loofas that are porous, allowing little things to get into the crevices of these materials and then grow and multiply.
It's not just porous materials. Plastic shower curtains are one of the worst culprits for mold, mildew and organisms.
Even cleansing products like a body wash can cause a problem if one doesn't throw them away every six months.
On the other hand, dermatologist, Dr. Susan Obagi said, "Razors are fine, but the problem comes if you then develop an infection and then you start to shave over that. You can then spread that bacteria, or that yeast or fungus."
Even towels and bathmats can be breeding grounds for bacteria. When they come in contact with the skin, there can be the risk of developing a rash.
If you start to get itchy red bumps, that could be bacteria or yeast.
Some of these infections can take weeks, even months, to clear up, and may require prescription medications.
"My recommendation usually is not to use loofas," Dr. Obagi said. "Not to use washcloths more than once. Any kind of lotions body washes that we open, we should try to use within six months."
It's recommended to
clean the entire bathroom with an antibacterial product and don't leave anything wet lying around, and try to replace the shower curtain often.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
Comments