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There's one place you certainly wouldn't expect to find harmful bacteria, and that's in the stuff you use to clean yourself. Whether it's hand soap or shampoo, there could be harmful infection-causing bacteria floating around just waiting for an opportunity.
Well, that's a very real possibility--so much so, in fact, that a variety of Gilchrist & Soames shampoos and body washes were recalled for possible Psuedomonas aeruginosa and Enterobacter gergoviae contamination. Unfortunately, this is definitely not the first time that this has happened.
Whether we like it or not, germs and bacteria hang around even some of the most unlikely places--like your hand soap--and most of the time, that's fine.
However, if a product's built-in antimicrobial agents lose their effectiveness, the bacteria can run rampant and multiply faster than bunnies.
If a product is unopened, you have about three years before the build up begins. Once it is open, however, use it within the year, dermatologist Zoe Draelos, MD, told NPR. Once the liquid starts separating from the lipid components, throw it out and never look back!
What was the last time you checked the expiration on your hand soap or shampoo? Probably never. Now you will!
What do you think about all this? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
Photo Copyright © 2009 Helga Weber/Flickr
