Many times we have the opportunities to exchange or borrow towels, cosmetics, or scissors with our friends. Meanwhile, there is no coincidence that we call some items personal. Reaching for others’ items is not only in a bad taste, but it can be dangerous. Fungal infections, bacterial infections, and even hepatitis B – we are exposed to all those while borrowing personal items.
Shoes and mycosis
If you want to borrow some amazing high heels from a friend (or she asks you for such a favor), you should really think about it twice. Not only because the shoes can get destroyed during the party. Even tights are not sufficient protection against fungal spores. Thus, the usual shoe shopping may end up with the dermatological problem as well.
Decontamination of shoes?
If you catch athlete’s foot or nail disease, you will eventually defeat it but the shoes should be thrown away. Their effective disinfection is practically impossible, or cause the damage to the shoes. It’s much easier to secure your feet when you are going shoe shopping by bringing the appropriate chemicals for the feet (eg, aerosol), such as products recommended while using the pool.
What about the children?
For children wearing shoes after older siblings or neighbors is even more inadvisable and not only because of the hygiene issue. It might also affect the children’s posture. Orthopedists observe that each of us has a specific way of walking that causes the shoes deformation, etc. That is why it may affect the posture of the next person who wears those shoes. It is really not worth of saving money on children’s shoes.
Lipstick with herpes
Doing make-up together? Why not? It’s so common among friends! And basically it is not very dangerous, but you should be aware of few important things. Cosmetics may cause allergies, and only by using the ones you’ve already tried and approved you can be sure that they actually make us pretty, and not cause harm. A common cause of irritation is the use of expired cosmetics or contaminated ones. Only you know if your cosmetics are still usable. Can you say the same thing about someone else’s lipstick?
If the owner (or other lender) has just gotten herpes, you can get infected. While most of us have already had contact with the virus that causes it, and it may not be such a big threat, some danger always exists.
Borrowed staphylococci
Mascaras, eyeliners and eye shadows may become a source of conjunctivitis or eye barley. Because most often it is caused by staphylococci, the infection can heal poorly, and the problem usually comes back. Sometimes rubbing gold on eye barley can solve the problem (it has been proved that gold has the antibacterial effect, although very poor), and sometimes the antibiotics are needed.
Is there anything we can borrow?
The only things you can actually use safely are someone else’s soap (liquid), shampoo and deodorant (spray deodorant). However, make sure you are not allergic to any of those, and that they are good for the type of your hair and skin.