06. Things To Avoid

As well as the do's, here's a few general don'ts:

Squeezing & Popping:

Be careful if attempting to squeeze pus out of boils or pimples not to possibly drive any pus or germs deeper into your body. The pus is highly contagious too - so be sure to keep any open boils covered and dispose of pus by double-bagging it first. Doesn't hurt to be extra-fastidious here..

Double-Dipping:

Only dip tissues or Q-tips into ointments once before each use. Do not re-dip it into your ointment after each use.

H2O2 & Alcohol:

I would beware of using hydrogen peroxide or alcohol to regularly disinfect your skin. Hydrogen peroxide can really dry it out. Alcohol can also somewhat, and always stings a lot too!

Tape:

Do not use masking or any other non-medical tape on your skin. They will likely rip layers off your skin (from high adhesion), gradually creating a secondary wound! Ideally, just wrap any bandages or use makeshift slings to keep them in place. But if you must use adhesive in an awkward area, be sure to use proper band-aids or medical tape only. You might even consider swiping the area down first with a little tea tree oil to weaken the adhesive bond.

DMSO:

DMSO is a powerful solvent that some may try to use in combination to deliver medicine deep past the skin's surface. However, because it will permeate and create openings through all barriers, its effects may be unpredictable. I'd probably avoid experimenting with this unless you somehow really know what you're doing.

Triclosan & Triclocarban:

These common antibacterial chemicals found in many household hygiene products now are generally strong enough to kill some bacteria...while breeding more resistance from all the survivors. In addition, Triclosan is a testosterone & thyroid hormone disruptor and Triclocarban boosts hormones. As a result, usage of these products will likely just make problems worse in the long run.

Contact Sports:

To avoid infecting yourself or others, do not participate in any "contact sports" unless both parties and the venue are Staph-free. This includes various sports, MMA, sex, and other activities involving sweaty, skin-to-skin contact in particular. Also be wary of gyms, used towels or any other athletic gear that isn't regularly laundered and cleaned. Remember, Staph ideally loves to live on skin or damp, hard surfaces (like gyms and bathrooms).

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