A recent synthesis argues that excessive handwashing and sanitizers can alter skin/gut microbiomes, which in turn influence immune signaling and cognition.
A recent synthesis argues that excessive handwashing and sanitizers can alter skin/gut microbiomes, which in turn influence immune signaling and cognition.
Recent synthesis? From 2018?
The study quoted doesn’t say anything of what the headline suggests. It’s a lab study on nitrate walls on a petri dish. Also quotes a study linking correlation (not causation) of higher anxiety with over sanitization of hands…during covid, when everyone had heightened anxiety. And the difference is not statistically significant.
Sorry, but this one is a dud. None of the sources support the thesis of the essay. Just wash your gross hands.
Yeah this is mostly fud. People read how folks on farms have fewer infections and have better health outcomes and take things way too far.
People on farms have greater and more diverse gut microflora (commensals as they’re called sometimes). This is in part because of exposure to animals and nature, and also possibly in part due to lower levels of pro inflammatory things you might find in cities (think, air pollution, microplastics [they of course have them too now]).
Good bacteria is good for you. Bad bacteria is bad for you. Viruses will mess you up and the best protection is not infection but vaccines. People truly believe that infections make their immune system stronger. That’s almost surely not true. The only thing that really makes you stronger are vaccines and getting a huge amount and diversity of good microflora.
If we can solve the probiotic space really well (which is difficult, really fecal transfer seems to be the only reliable method at this point), then really there is zero concern about over sanitation. Even as it is. There shouldn’t be that much concern about it.
Absolutely, I also forgot to mention. Over sanitation, to the levels mentioned very— extremely, I cannot stress enough how brief of a mention it is—briefly on the quoted article are more of a concern for surgeons. Doing 25 surgeries on a day means scrubbing as many times. Sure, these doctors do develop skin issues due to over sanitation of hands. But your average Katie and Joe are not scrubbing to chirurgical sterile conditions when using some alcohol gel a couple times a day. They’ll be fine.
Gut microbiota? That’s zero percent to do with washing hands and 100% with what you eat. Just eat a healthy, balanced and mostly fresh ingredients based diet. Get a ton of yogurt in there if you want to support your gut team. Not washing your hands will not give you good bacteria, but it will give you parasites that will absolutely fuck up your gut microbiome.
People, just wash your damn hands.