Poll | 08/29/2008 12:00 am

Do you use antibacterial hand soap?

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Sometimes —when I am in public I keep it in my handbag. I am more of a hand washer being a nurse….

By Lynn Marie on 08/29/2008 12:31 am

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There are natural beneficial bacteria on your skin that take care of the negative bacteria. Anything that is antibacterial results in more chemicals going down the drain into the water system. Gotta wash your hands, but don’t necessarily have to use antibacterial.

By Frannie Em on 08/29/2008 1:00 am

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In an ideal world maybe but when moving about on public transportation and stores there are a host of germs you rather not take home with you. I commute on city buses that are crowded with homeless people, and sick folks who are sneezing into their hands and grabbing hold of the safety rails…a little squirt of gel will reduce the germs you carry around with you. I have actually watch riders wipe snot on the back of a seat. There’s a homeless man that I see nearly every day during my work week who carries a brown paper bag of ointments that he applies to his open wounds as he sit the bus shelter, or when riding the bus. MRSA and staph infections are pervasive in the public domain. Good handwashing is absolutely the best…but before putting that stick of gum in your mouth or snacking on that cookie during your commute, I would use a hand sanitizer for good measure.

By lois mackey on 09/01/2008 12:33 am

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Yes, and the waterless kind in my purse. I used to see patients who were not only very sick, but immuno-suppressed from their treatment.

By C A Rose on 08/29/2008 12:46 am

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I only use antibacterial when I’m in a public restroom. That’s where things get scary. Otherwise I use gentle soaps like Dove or Cetaphil (I gots the severe ezcema (*sigh*); they say a good wash with regular soap is really all you need, especially with the increasing evidence that constant use of antibacterial soaps actually does more bad than good for your health…

By Kryssi K on 08/29/2008 12:48 am

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Ever try goat milk soap? Many dermatologists recommend it for sensitive skin or conditions like psoriasis and eczema. Maybe it can help.

By Re Ject on 08/29/2008 11:30 pm

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Re Ject, Goat milk soap is great, very gentle on the skin. I picked up a bunch at the dollar store.

By HA BIBI on 08/30/2008 11:07 am

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On using antibacterial hand sanitizers, I didn’t like them. I tried several different brands and they all left a sticky film on my hands and never felt clean. To me it’s as just smearing dirt and germs around without the removal of it. I just use good ole soap and water.

By HA BIBI on 08/30/2008 11:11 am

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There is good bacteria and bad bacteria - if they come out with a bad bacteria soap I might use it, but ANTIbacteria sounds like it kills it all. Like throwing the baby out with the wash. (By the way - where did that saying every come from?)

By Maggi D on 08/29/2008 2:36 am

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Maggi, “Like throwing the baby out with the wash” I read an article some time ago that explained odd sayings Years ago, before bathrooms……………..a family used old metal tubs to bath. The man used the water first, them the mother then the oldest child on down to the baby……………by then the water was so dirty it became obvious. Dont throw the baby out with the wash

By Dona Howlett on 08/29/2008 4:09 am

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I use the soaps when I visit a hospital. Germs are everywhere in Hospitals. I’ve noticed that hospitals now have stands with the bottles of soap outside elevators and outside bathrooms for the public to use.

By Dona Howlett on 08/29/2008 4:11 am

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Dona, I was in the hospital in 2004 and had an aid that came in to do my vitals and empty my “things”. He proceeded to do the emptying, was not wearing gloves and then came over to do my vitals. He had not washed his hands upon entering my room or following emptying things. I said I did not want him doing my vitals and told him why and I reported him. It so happens I did contact staph during that stay and was in there an extra week. Scary! We also have disinfecting wipes in our grocery stores here which is good.

By Hazel Lewis on 08/30/2008 11:42 am

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Let’s get this straight. Antibacterial handsoap is not the same as the clear gel, which is mainly alcohol, that you carry in your pocket and see in dispensers in hospitals etc. Soap is adequate for hand washing provided that you lather your hands for the length of time that it takes to sing “Happy Birthday to you.” The detergent activity of soap breaks down the walls of bacterial cells. You don’t need added antibacterial agents in your soap. Alcohol-based gels are useful when you don’t have access to soap and water. Alcohol has a similar effect to soap but works differently on bacterial cell walls. The worst places for germs in public bathrooms are faucet handles and door handles so use your paper towel to turn off the faucet and open the door. Then toss your towel in the trash. Other places that are covered with germs are public computer keyboards and phones. If you have to use them, clean your hands with alcohol gel. I like Purell with aloe; it doesn’t dry my hands.

By Sam Mirando on 08/29/2008 6:54 am

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Thanks Dr. Sam for the skinny on soaps. I get quite a kick out of a particular T.V. ad for a brand of toothbrush that “cleans your whole mouth and tongue” and it shows animated bubbles of bacteria floating around in your mouth. Their message is: if you use our toothbrush all that bacteria will magically disappear. Your mouth is ALWAYS swimming with bacteria!

By phyllis Doyle Pepe on 08/29/2008 8:45 am