What are the risks when we wash our hands too often?

A recent study, carried out by scientists at College Rover, analyzed the new hygiene habits of generation Z. Marked by the Covid-19 episode, the latter have implemented drastic changes in their relationship with cleaning and in particular with hand washing.

Therefore, in a sample of over 1000 young Americans, 50% of them say they wash their hands between 5 and 10 times a day. 32% of them estimate they do it between 11 and… 20 times. An impressive figure which, according to Katrine Wallace, epidemiologist, is a response to the hygiene standards acquired during the Covid epidemic.

But a problem arises: what is the risk of washing our hands too much?

If it is completely normal to wash your hands after going to the bathroom, before eating or even when you come home after a day at work, is it justified to do so 10 or more times? According to William Schaffneran infectious disease expert who took part in the College Rover study, It’s good that Generation Z is being proactive about the risks of transmitting certain viruses.

Lynora Saxinger, also specialized in infectious diseases, is, for her part, more concerned about the consequences of this excessive practice on the skin.. In fact, the hands, like the face and also the body, are inhabited by numerous harmless bacteria. This is called the microbiota. But when we wash our hands too often, these microorganisms start to become fewer and fewer. A problem according to Geneviève Héry-Arnaud, bacteriologist at the CHRU in Brest, interviewed by TF1 Loweror. The reason ? She explains it:

“On the one hand, they compete for nutrients and available space, which therefore reduces the risk that pathogenic bacteria can proliferate. On the other hand, they can also produce bacteriocins, compounds that can kill other bacterial species. »

Increased risk of developing obsessive-compulsive disorders

Shanna Kramer, therapist interviewed by Femalehe also speaks germophobic risk. If this term doesn’t mean much to you, it simply echoes the irrational and uncontrolled fear of being contaminated by viruses or germs. Unfortunately, Covid-19 has also played a major role in the explosion of cases of this mental illness which can become as paralyzing as it is debilitating on a daily basis. If you notice that you wash your hands excessively, do not hesitate to consult a specialist…