Any Medical Reason NOT To Buy Used Soap?

[Al From Maine]

I know that there are lots of cautions and directions on cleaning old razors to avoid nasty medical diseases like AIDS and others.

I'm not medically trained, but are there similar concerns about using old soaps or creams? I see them for sale often here on B & B and have just begun using some Old Spice soap that I bought off eBay that is at least 15 years old -- but it was used before I received it.

I'm not trying to be an alarmist or ruin anyone's sale. :001_smile

I'd like to hear from someone who has some medical training or really knows their stuff -- after all you're putting the used soap or cream directly on your face and then shaving with the distinct possibility of nicks and cuts. Are there medical concerns with using previously used soaps and creams?

Experts -- please weigh in.

Al

[Steerpike]

I'd say not. Nicks and cuts on your face are minute, even if your soap were heavily infested with bacteria (which it may well be despite the preservatives added- most of the world is) you aren't going to get a serious innoculum into a shaving nick.

I wouldn't worry about used razors either- clean them, of course, but don't get too worried about it. I'd be extremely surprised if there was even one case history of someone contracting Hep, AIDS or other serious disease form shaving. The pathogenesis of these diseases is so much more complicated than simply "exposure to the pathogen in whatever concentration causes the disease."

[ClunkClunk]

Not an expert at all, but I think soap is a pretty inhospitable environment for many microorganisms, even for fairly stubborn bacteria. Combine that with a lack of water if the soap has been dry for a long time, and IMHO, things would be fine.

[Mr Mockett]

Also for razors. If the razor has been unused for some time, there aren't a lot of pathogens that can live in air for that long. That's why I just disinfect for 15 minutes in alcohol, or boil for at least that long, because for the most part everything will be dead before the razor even gets to you.

[Mr. Clean]

No expert here, but I am not inclined to use "used" soap/creams etc. I have heard in the past that using bar soaps in public facilities is at best a "crap-shoot". Here is a link to a study which may add credence to that line of thought.

http://www.ijdr.in/article.asp?issn=0970-9290;year=2006;volume=17;issue=2;spage=70;epage=3; aulast=Hegde

[Handy]

No expert here, but I am not inclined to use "used" soap/creams etc. I have heard in the past that using bar soaps in public facilities is at best a "crap-shoot". Here is a link to a study which may add credence to that line of thought.

http://www.ijdr.in/article.asp?issn=0970-9290;year=2006;volume=17;issue=2;spage=70;epage=3; aulast=Hegde

I figured you wouldn't use second hand soaps by your screen name.......:biggrin:

[michaelskar]

I am 98.7462 % sure that it's fine to use "used" soap

[JayKay]

Blood born pathogens cant survive out of the body for thery long.

[masonjarjar]

It goes against all my better judgment to buy or trade for used shaving items. Sorry guys, I just think it's kinda gross.

(I might consider something I could sterilize like a razor... maybe)

[Al From Maine]

No expert here, but I am not inclined to use "used" soap/creams etc. I have heard in the past that using bar soaps in public facilities is at best a "crap-shoot". Here is a link to a study which may add credence to that line of thought.

http://www.ijdr.in/article.asp?issn=0970-9290;year=2006;volume=17;issue=2;spage=70;epage=3; aulast=Hegde

The conclusion to the study was:

"The results indicate that the bar soap under "in-use" condition is a reservoir of microorganisms and handwashing with such a soap may lead to spread of infection."

That's not exactly comforting....

Al

[TstebinsB]

It was also observed that the number of bacteria isolated from heavily used soaps which were wet were higher than from infrequently used soaps that were dry.

They don't tell you what the difference was between the two. We only get dry soaps from each other. I would've liked to have seen what potential bacteria were in the dry soaps in comparison to the wet soaps.

From the aformentioned site:
http://aycu20.webshots.com/image/45619/2005755419932303827_rs.jpg

[Suzuki]

The conclusion to the study was:

"The results indicate that the bar soap under "in-use" condition is a reservoir of microorganisms and handwashing with such a soap may lead to spread of infection."

That's not exactly comforting....

Al

A bar of soap used by numerous people left sitting in the open and damp is not comparable to a puck of shaving soap, which is generally used by one person and left to dry between uses.

[OldSaw]

No expert here, but I am not inclined to use "used" soap/creams etc. I have heard in the past that using bar soaps in public facilities is at best a "crap-shoot". Here is a link to a study which may add credence to that line of thought.

http://www.ijdr.in/article.asp?issn=0970-9290;year=2006;volume=17;issue=2;spage=70;epage=3; aulast=Hegde


It goes against all my better judgment to buy or trade for used shaving items. Sorry guys, I just think it's kinda gross.

(I might consider something I could sterilize like a razor... maybe)


The conclusion to the study was:

"The results indicate that the bar soap under "in-use" condition is a reservoir of microorganisms and handwashing with such a soap may lead to spread of infection."

That's not exactly comforting....

Al

Study aside, I'm more in agreement with the just plain gross crowd. There are plenty of people swapping soaps with no problems. There probably is nothing wrong with it, I am just turned off by it.

Same thing goes at every new years party. People start kissing like crazy. Before they can even get rid of the saliva from the last person they kissed they are trying to lay one on someone else. Of course there is usually lots of alcohol involved. The last time I let a complete stranger kiss me I didn't catch anything but I lost a friend, (it was his date).

[jat9096]

No expert here, but I am not inclined to use "used" soap/creams etc. I have heard in the past that using bar soaps in public facilities is at best a "crap-shoot". Here is a link to a study which may add credence to that line of thought.

http://www.ijdr.in/article.asp?issn=0970-9290;year=2006;volume=17;issue=2;spage=70;epage=3; aulast=Hegde

interesting article.

[kongjie]

One thing I believe you could get from a used razor would be tetanus. While I imagine the chance that a used razor would be contaminated with tetanus spores isn't very high, it's no problem for them to survive in such an environment--in dust or dirt. When you combine that with the high probability of a nick during shaving, it might be something to take under consideration.

Of course, if you're a klutz like me, your tetanus shot is up-to-date.

Regarding soap: keep in mind the reason that washing your hands reduces infection is not because the average soap kills the nasty stuff (as evidenced by the info on shared soaps above)--it's because soap helps you to remove the bad stuff from your hands.

[Jim]

Yes it can be very dangerous- nicks, bruises, cuts, contusions -when your bride finds out how much you spent:w00t:!

[Hoos]

While I'm all for using common sense and taking reasonable precautions, it's just irritating when people partially cite a study to support a personal preference.

Every one, every day lives, breathes, works, and makes love in a soup of bacteria. Yet we've survived for quite some time.

I have no issue with someone saying "I don't want to use soap that's traded or a traded razor". That's your right and your opinion and it should be respected. But to try and scarify people for no good reason is really unnecessary.

Yes, used soap or a used razor may carry some risk. Probably a lot less risk though than we take by getting out of bed every day.

[Jimbo]

In a microbiology class in college, a classmate did a study on bacteria present on used bars of soap in the dorm. I was surprised; there were a lot of bacteria and fungi present.
Soapy water causes the cell walls of the microbes to leak and they die but I guess not all of them die.
Having said that, I doubt there is anything to worry about on a 15 year old bar of shaving soap.

[falkon]

Personally, I just find it gross. While I wouldnt think twice about sharing with a buddy, something about strangers sharing shaving soap is just odd.

[thirdeye]

Yes it can be very dangerous- nicks, bruises, cuts, contusions -when your bride finds out how much you spent:w00t:!

:lol::lol::lol: I love it,,,,

[Colphax]

I wouldn't worry about a blood-borne pathogen in shaving soap too much, since they don't survive long outside the body, and I wouldn't worry too much about a hardier contact spreading germ such as colostrium difficile (causes nasty diarrhea), since you'd technically be washing your face with the lather and rinsing between passes.

If you're not freaked out about using used shaving soap, but still concerned about germs, you can minimize your risk by letting the used soap sit for a week after you recieve it (to let it dry out thoroughly, since bacteria need moisture) before using it, and/or washing your face thoroughly after using it to shave. Astringents and alcohol-based aftershave wouldn't hurt either.

Drat, another admit just hit the floor...time to go!

[mission of burma shave]

see the Mach 3 guys don't have this pressing issue to worry about. :smile:

[johnniegold]

According to this Snellen Chart:

[FaPat5]

While I don't think anything will happen to you if you do use used soap, I personally don't like the idea. That said, I wouldn't mind using a used razor (as I would clean it before use anyway), or used shaving cream tube.With a tube you only squeeze some out, and I highly doubt anything will suddenly start living in there.

However, plenty of people trade soaps here, and none of them have died yet.

[Roman414]

As cheap as soap is, why would you? When I come into possession of an old mug that still has soap in it, I toss it out and scrub the mug. As far as buying OR selling used soap, I am amazed that anyone does that, That is kind of like selling partially-used tubes of toothpaste, or partially-used rolls of toilet paper, it seems to me. Just something that would never occur to me.

[tim8557]

If it got to the point where I could only afford used soaps and creams....I'd quit shaving.

[Peppery John]

The conclusion to the study was:

"The results indicate that the bar soap under "in-use" condition is a reservoir of microorganisms and handwashing with such a soap may lead to spread of infection."

That's not exactly comforting....

Al

I'll bet you were pleased with that piece of news. The nanny state is creeping everywhere.:frown:

[michaelskar]

whenever I get a used bar of soap in a trade, I lick it clean before shaving.

But really, if you let water run on it for a while, any funk should be washed off...it is soap (and I doubt germs are burrowing their way deep into the soap). If they ARE doing that...more power to 'em! They deserve to infect me after all of their hard work.

[northmendo]

Blood born pathogens cant survive out of the body for thery long.

I am not an expert But. I am a Fire Fighter and have been through many medical classes and although most Blood born pathogens (BBP) can't live for long some can. Hepatitis can dry and be re-wet and still live for up to 6 months. If you can confirm that the soap or razor for that matter hasen't been used for at least that long than you may be okay. Although I just wouldn't take that risk.

Just my 2 cents.:wink:

[falkon]

If it got to the point where I could only afford used soaps and creams....I'd quit shaving.

amen

[northmendo]

If it got to the point where I could only afford used soaps and creams....I'd quit shaving.

+2

[LukeInFlames]

No expert here, but I am not inclined to use "used" soap/creams etc. I have heard in the past that using bar soaps in public facilities is at best a "crap-shoot". Here is a link to a study which may add credence to that line of thought.

http://www.ijdr.in/article.asp?issn=0970-9290;year=2006;volume=17;issue=2;spage=70;epage=3; aulast=Hegde

yeah, look where this is coming from - the indian journal of dental research. what self-repecting dentist in the developed world would use a BAR OF SOAP between patients? and no gloves? EURGH! no wonder their soap is filthy.

besides, everything is covered with bacteria. everything. in fact, the average office keyboard has as much fecal bacteria on it as a washroom door handle.

big deal.

-L.