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Every day we try to implement healthy habits. However, it often turns out that due to ignorance or years of fixed patterns, we only keep appearances that are not healthy at all. Certain health-promoting behaviors are paradoxically more harmful than helpful. Find out about 6 seemingly correct habits that can actually harm us a lot.
Contrary to appearances, many mistakes can be made even in such an uncomplicated activity as hand disinfection. First of all – too rare hand disinfection. It can be observed especially often in professional groups, where frequent disinfection is necessary. People stop doing this because their skin is damaged or because of an allergic reaction that makes it impossible to perform their duties. Commonly available liquids in dispensers, e.g. in shopping malls, nurseries or supermarkets, often discourage hand disinfection. They often have an unpleasant smell and a very sticky consistency, leaving a hardly absorbable layer on the hands.
What’s more, they often do not have any ingredients that protect our skin against the irritating effects of the alcohol they contain. Unfortunately – disinfecting your hands once at the entrance to the gallery is not enough. Another mistake is forgetting the 30-second period after disinfecting your hands for the disinfectant to work and kill any harmful viruses, bacteria, or yeasts that build up on your skin. We should remember to disinfect our hands at least several times a day, especially when we cannot wash our hands under running water with soap.
When in public places, remember to disinfect your hands regularly – it’s best to always have your disinfectant gel or liquid with you, but one that will be a registered biocidal product, and thus effective and safe. However, if we do not have one with us, let’s use generally available dispensers so as not to transfer harmful microorganisms on our hands.
Are your hands really clean?
While the coronavirus pandemic has contributed to remarkable advances in hand hygiene, new behaviors have become the norm with increased education. According to the report of the National Health Fund, from January to March 2020, 3332 benefits were provided related to the treatment of rotavirus diarrhea, the so-called dirty hands disease – it was three times less compared to the same period last year.
Moreover, Poles suffered less from salmonellosis and intestinal infections. [1] There is only one conclusion – we started washing our hands. However, many people still forget how to effectively wash their hands. Unfortunately, washing your hands under running water for a few seconds is not enough. In accordance with the recommendations of the Chief Sanitary Inspectorate, it is necessary to wash your hands for about 30 seconds with taking an appropriate amount of soap – so that the entire surface of the hand is covered. The cleaning agent should be spread over the surface by rubbing the stretched hands together, and then thoroughly wash the spaces between the fingers, the backs of the fingers and the area around the thumbs. [2]
A disposable mask in name only – contrary to appearances, such behavior can do more harm than good. Surgical masks are disposable and, as the name suggests, they should be thrown into the trash after each wearing. The surgical face masks used are not only highly contaminated – the mask itself can be a source of infection, but also does not protect against the coronavirus effectively. Repeatedly put on, the mask loses its shape, does not fit tightly to the face, which loses its function.
Incorrect use of disposable masks can worsen the condition of the skin in some people, exacerbate acne lesions or cause chin folliculitis in men. Every time the mask only becomes wet, it is no longer usable – throw it away by grasping it from the back of the bond, without touching the front surface where any microbes accumulate. Also, after each use of the mask, you should thoroughly wash and / or disinfect your hands so as not to transfer harmful pathogens to them.
Unfortunately, recently on Polish streets and other public places, you can more often notice a person wearing a mask incorrectly than one who actually covers the nose and mouth with it. Such behavior is even conducive to disease, providing only apparent protection against infection. The “relaxation” that has occurred in society also results in a reluctance to wear face masks at meetings, among company employees and even among taxi drivers and public transport drivers. Sometimes you can even get the impression that the pandemic has ceased to exist.
Such behavior is only conducive to an increase in the number of infections throughout the country and although, for example, a parent cannot enter the child’s school with a mask, the child goes on class trips, coming into contact with people who do not wear these masks. That is why social responsibility is so important – masks, proper hygiene habits and vaccinations are still the most effective method of limiting the coronavirus.
Indestructible vaccinated – are you sure?
Getting vaccinated against COVID-19 does not exempt you from wearing masks in public places, maintaining social distancing, and frequent washing and disinfecting hands. While vaccines do significantly prevent coronavirus disease, it is not yet known to what extent vaccination reduces SARS-CoV-2 virus transmission and prevents asymptomatic infection. For this reason, each person should still adhere to the DDM principle – Distance, Disinfection, Face Mask.
Quarantine is unequal – unfortunately, nowadays the rules for granting quarantine are not entirely clear. Of course, after contact with a sick person, an unvaccinated person must undergo 10 days of compulsory quarantine, counting from the day following the last day of contact, however, different rules apply to people who have received the full vaccination course. Household members of a person infected with the coronavirus are released from quarantine if they are vaccinated against COVID-19 or have been isolated no later than 6 months from the date of a positive test. (pursuant to § 4 section 7 of the Regulation of the Council of Ministers of May 6, 2021 on the establishment of certain restrictions, orders and bans in connection with the occurrence of an epidemic, Journal of Laws of 2021, item 861, as amended) .).
In such a situation, it is therefore doubtful whether the vaccinated person will infect other people. Similar rules apply to the parents of a child who has been quarantined after contact with a person suffering from coronavirus, e.g. at school – parents are not subject to it. During this time, it is worth keeping special safety rules, including not to attend group meetings or not to visit older people who are particularly at risk of suffering from severe disease. [3]
How to fight pandemic paradoxes?
If we want to take care of our health and that of our loved ones in the best possible way, it is worth knowing what mistakes not to make and how to wisely apply the rules that cannot be reduced in any way.
Fortunately, the lessons learned from the first wave of the pandemic have resulted in products that maintain protection while being less time-consuming and harmless. The product of the NAOS Biphase Lipo Alcoolique company deserves special attention, as it not only effectively disinfects the skin, but also protects the hydrolipid barrier due to the content of squalane and shea oil.
From the first use, the product prevents irritation, dryness and cracking of the skin of the hands. Biphase Lipo Alcoolique compensates for the drying effects of alcohol by providing the skin with essential lipids to rebuild the hydrolipid film and intercellular cement. As shown by consumer tests, 95% of people skin the skin immediately after use and retains more water to maintain its protective barrier. What’s more, thanks to the handy packaging, you can always have it with you to use it in a place where it is not possible to wash your hands – when shopping or while traveling.
Inaccurate prevention works like a leaky umbrella. We seem to have it overhead, but we’re still wet. If we develop effective habits in our daily life, they will protect against diseases without harming us. By focusing on modern solutions, we also save time, because they better face the reality in which they were created.