Antibacterial handwash for delicate skin?

tawnyowls

astonsmummy wrote:

I agree, wouldnt bother with anti bacterial soap, i have eczema and housewife dermititis, and i simply use aqueous cream when washing my hands as i need the moisture, the more we use the anibacterial suff the stronger all these diieases such as mrsa will get.

Aqueous cream is the best for people with eczema. However, a word of warning - aqueous cream from many manufacturers contains the foaming agent sodium lauryl (or laureth, or dodecyl) sulphate, which can break down the skin's natural barrier, thus making eczema worse; if you find you get a flare after using shower gel or shampoo, chances are it's that which is causing it. The only aqueous cream that I know of that doesn't contain it is Boots' own brand, which also contains the antibacterial agent creosol, so you win on both counts.

apardion

Hi,

I am trying to reduce my monthly supermarket shopping bill as much as possible in 2008 (we are starting a home business and money is tight) & as part of that I am looking at each thing I buy regularly to see if it is necessary first and then if it is to reduce the price as much as possible.

I read on another thread about using bulk bath foam decanted into a bottle to use as handwash. I like this idea as it would reduce the amount of packaging required and it would also be cheaper. :T

At the moment I use antibacterial handwash and I am wondering why really. Are they really necessary? Do they make things better or increase the likelihood of superbugs like in hospitals. Is good old fashioned cleanliness always better.

I would love to know your thoughts on this.

Apardion

newleaf

I have never used antibacterial products, and I seem to be alive to tell the tale! I think it's a racket - manufacturers preying on our insecurities to make money. Soap and water is cheap and fine as long as you use it often enough.

jennet1

good old soap and water kills most bugs providing you wash your hands properly, taking care to clean around each finger, backs of hands in between fingers. this more important than antibacterial soap, hospitals only use "normal" soap ,hth

chalky_75

I couldnt agree more. It is really important to have good hygiene but also really important not to waste hard earned cash on gimmicks

perfectlypoor

I don't think using them in the home would make much of a difference to be honest and a lot of bugs are airborn, I often use foam bath as handwash and just put in into the decanter personally I use baby bath as our son has really sensitive skin so he can't use normal handwash anyway.

ravylesley

If there is someone in the household whos immune system is weak then I could understand the handwash.Otherwise I wouldnt be bothering as I'm a firm believer that these sort of products used in a household situation can lead to a weakening of our bodies own natural defences IYSWIM

Lesleyxx

lindseykim13

Hi there i also use carex (antibac) and my way of cutting the cost and the amount the kids use! was to buy one bottle of carex at 99p and 1 tesco value hand wash at something like 19p , they are both blue and having 2 bathrooms, i used half carex in each and half the value stuff which is in a bigger bottle so still have some saved for later.

Which means i've saved about 80p on the stuff but every penny counts and like to think that there is some germ killing power in them that way.

cotsvale

I buy a big bottle of Tesco bubble bath about 98p this fills 2 + 1/2 of my handwash bottles. It smells nice and feels nice on my hands too. I tried the really cheap blue stuff but it smelt horrid.

beemuzed

A previous caretaker at one school I was at used to keep topping up the antibacterial handwash in the loos with water!
I think soap is soap, and the important thing is to wash your hands properly - too often folks just skim the surface. Saw a poster on handwashing once at a hospital and realised that I often missed a bit myself.