You might want to take another look at how you’re washing your hands.
Dr. Myro Figura (@doctormyro) and Dr. Dana Brems (@footdocdana) posted a TikTok video reacting to a seemingly clean hand being put under a microscope.
“This hand looks clean to the naked eye but is it?” they both ask the camera.
The video then follows as the person zooms into their fingertip under the microscope.
As the tiny ridges of the person’s skin come into clear view, particles of dirt and what appears to be sand can be seen hiding in plain sight.
“Oh that is nasty,” Figura said.
“There can be over 3,000 different types of germs on this hand, so you’ve got to wash your hands,” Brems explained.
“Hand hygiene is super important. It can help reduce up to 50% of preventable infections.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises people to spend at least 20 seconds scrubbing their hands, especially after going to the bathroom and before eating.
Follow these steps every time:
- Wet your hands with running water and apply a copious amount of soap.
- Lather your hands, rub the back of your hands and interlock your fingers.
- Scrub and rotate your hands.
- Clean your thumbs, the top of your fingers and your wrists.
- Rinse off the soap and dry your hands with a clean towel.
Any soap will do a squeaky clean job.
There “isn’t enough science” to suggest that over-the-counter antibacterial soaps are any more effective at preventing illness than plain old soap and water, according to the Food and Drug Administration.
If soap and water aren’t available, opt for a hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol.
Some “natural” options are effective as well: for instance, Dr. Bronner’s organic hand sanitizer spray contains 62% ethyl alcohol, and Purell Naturals hand sanitizer, made with “plant-based alcohol” and “essential oils,” has 70% ethyl alcohol.
Instructions for hand sanitizer can vary by product, including the number of sprays or the amount to use on your hands.
In addition to following those instructions, ensure that all parts of your hands are covered—including between your fingers and under your nails — and rub until dry, as recommended by the CDC.
