Even before the COVID-19 pandemic our germophobic society was dousing everything in sight with antimicrobial this and antiviral that. Considering the ongoing uncertainty of the Coronavirus and the spread of this pandemic it makes perfect sense to utilize these substances to keep ourselves, loved ones and society safe. But, how much is too much? Our biome is made up of much more than our internal microbiome that lives inside our bodies and is responsible for digestion, hormone regulation, immune system function and, as we are learning, so many critical life functions. We have an enormous external microbiome, or skin flora, as well. We have billions of little critters that live on and around us that are not only beneficial but critical to our health and healthful life span. The microbes (bacteria, fungi, viruses and other) that live on our skin are an imperative microcosm of organisms that fight off infection and kill undesired invaders as well as communicate with our biology to provide protection from the sun, bring nutrients into the skin, assist with the elasticity of the skins cells and protect from environmental toxins, just to name a few. So as we cautiously emerge from quarantine and venture back into the world, be safe, use sanitizing products prudently to kill the virus that you may have been exposed to through touch but be aware that these products also kill the good guys on your skin. When using hand sanitizer prudently you will help prevent your exposure which is logical. What isn’t logical is using whole body antibiotic substances like hand or body soaps. These products will ultimately do more harm than good. A hot shower with a clean soap, free of phthalates, parabens, petrochemicals and synthetic chemicals will eliminate bad guys and spare the good ones. The products I just mentioned wreak havoc on your hormones (especially in children), are (likely*) to cause cancer, induce inflammation and irritate/exacerbate skin conditions such as eczema and dermatitis. A personal favorite of mine that is readily available is JASON brand products. These products are a bit more expensive, but in reality how quickly do you go through a bottle of body wash? If it lasts a month and costs a bit more but does more good than harm, it’s worth the investment - YOU are worth the investment!
Great article on this subject:
https://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-23996/your-skin-microbiome-why-its-essential-for-a-healthy-glow.html
The bad stuff:
*Note - Don’t trust anything that is labeled “relatively safe” by the FDA. Most products labeled as such are banned in other countries. See the Health Considerations in this link. NO THANKS!
Because I appreciate their products but have no affiliation:
#mindbodygreen #jason-personalcare #thehealthfulguide #mbg