I have a friend who is obsessive about germs. She imagines them everywhere and keeps a supply of antibacterial hand sanitizer on her desk, in her purse and on her keychain. Her dishwashing liquid is antibacterial as is her hand soap in the bathroom. I have a bottle of hand sanitizer but I keep it in the bathroom and as long as I am in there, I usually just wash my hands so it doesn’t get used much. Is she really safer from germs than I am?

Not according to the Harvard Health Letter. In their January 2007 issue they state that in studies, washing hands with soap and water for 15 seconds reduced bacterial counts by about 90%. The alcohol based hand sanitizers are convenient because you don’t need water, but alcohol doesn’t kill everything. To top it all off, there is the issue of possibly worsening bacterial resistance to antibiotics. Plus, they state that to be effective, the sanitizer needs to come into contact with all surfaces of your hands.

The Harvard Health Letter suggests these steps to make sure you clean your hands thoroughly, whether you’re using soap and water or a hand sanitizer:

1. Spread cleaner over hands.
2. Clean backs.
3. Clean fingertips.
4. Clean fingernails.
5. Clean thumbs.
6. Clean between fingers.

Hand washing: Don’t give up on plain soap and water, from the Harvard Health Letter

Anyone can get skin cancer but your risk increases with age and with the years spent unprotected from the damaging UVB rays of the sun. A good habit to fall into is regularly examining your skin for the signs of skin cancer.

Watch for changes in the skin. Not every spot or change means skin cancer but examine your skin regularly for new spots or changes and have any suspicious skin area checked out by a doctor. Although you cannot always detect skin cancers, you can be aware and report changes in skin to your healthcare provider.

The most serious form of skin cancer is melanoma. Know the A D C D’s of spotting melanoma:

* A: Asymmetry — one half is unlike the other half.

* B: Border irregular — scalloped or poorly circumscribed border.

* C: Color varied from one area to another; shades of tan and brown; black; sometimes white, red or blue.

* D: Diameter larger than the diameter of a pencil eraser.

If you see any of the warning signs of melanoma, consult your doctor immediately.

For more information on skin cancers and how to do a self-exam, go to:

this site.

For illustrations of the ABCD’s of melanoma, go to:

this site.

Protecting skin from the sun is something everyone should do from their youth on, but often the skin, although the largest organ of our body, is largely ignored by its owner. As we age, caring for the skin becomes more important as skin becomes thinner and more easily damaged.

The sun is the greatest cause of damage to the skin, and although we cannot undo the damage it has already caused, it is never too late to prevent further exposure. Try to stay out of the sun during its strongest hours, typically 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, and wear a sunscreen when you are out. Use a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15. Over-exposure to the sun causes many of the skin conditions we think of as age-related, such as wrinkles and age spots. The sun’s rays contribute to the loss of elastin in our skin which leads to wrinkles and sagging skin. Dark discolorations result from years of sun exposure and make the skin appear mottled.

Dryness is another problem as the natural oily secretions of our skin decrease. This is only exacerbated by low-humidity due to air conditioning or dry climates. Moisturizing is important, but be careful about using oily bath preparations as they increase the risk of slips and falls. It is better to consistently use a moisturizing cream to prevent dryness from occurring. Dry skin is more prone to injury and may heal more slowly as we get older.

Caring for skin is a life-long job, but one that reaps rewards in the form of a younger and healthier looking you.