Health
Germy Items You Should Never Share
Health Points
- Personal care items can transmit bacteria, viruses, and fungi if shared.
- Doctors recommend never sharing items like lip balm, razors, or deodorant to lower your risk for infection.
- Maintaining good hygiene protects you and your loved ones from potentially serious illnesses.
Everyday objects like door handles and light switches may be unavoidable, but certain personal care items should stay yours alone. Doctors stress the importance of keeping items such as lip balm, razors, and deodorant to yourself to reduce the chance of catching or spreading harmful germs.
“We get exposed to a lot of pathogens — viral, bacterial, and fungal — from fomites,”
said Dr. Bernard Camins, an infection prevention specialist. Lip balm, for example, can harbor bacteria and viruses that transfer easily from one user to another and may spread conditions like cold sores or the common cold.
“There is a risk for herpes simplex virus transmission (cold sores), even from someone who has no symptoms,”
explains Dr. Adam Friedman. Sharing razors presents another danger, as small cuts or micro-tears in the skin can open a pathway for bacteria, including staph and, in rare cases, blood-borne viruses.
“Razors can transmit bacteria that live comfortably on one person’s skin, but won’t do well on another person’s skin,”
says Dr. Jack Levy. Nail clippers, makeup, and hairbrushes also top the list of items to avoid sharing. Each of these can move fungi or bacteria from one person to another, sometimes resulting in hard-to-treat infections.
“Small cuts around the nails can allow fungi and bacteria to spread, leading to onychomycosis (fungus) or bacterial infections like paronychia,”
Friedman advises. Taking a pass on sharing eye makeup, brushes, or false lashes is equally important, since they can lead to uncomfortable and even serious eye infections.
To safeguard your health and your family’s, keep personal items to yourself and clean them regularly. It’s a simple way to prevent unwanted illness and stay well.
