Mobile Phone Bacteria: The Surprising Health Risks You Need to Know

Skin damage from using a mobile phone may occur, according to dermatologist Dr. Mamina Turegano, known as “Doctor Mamina” on the TikTok platform.

Starting the Discourse

Most individuals don’t think twice about using their cell phone anywhere, including during their morning commute, dinner, and visits to the doctor. However, research demonstrates that cell phones are much dirtier than most people realize, and that the more germs you touch, the dirtier your hands become. We are intended to know about how Mobile phones harm the skin. Have a look on the story for details.

In actuality, the main source of dirt on your phone comes from your own hand. According to a Deloitte report, Americans check their phones 47 times per day, which provides several opportunity for microbes to transfer from your fingers to your phone.

According to Emily Martin

According to Emily Martin, assistant professor of epidemiology at the University of Michigan School of Public Health, “cell phones do tend to get pretty gross because people are always carrying them even in situations where they would normally wash their hands before doing anything.”

The number of germs that live on an average cell phone has been the subject of conflicting research, but a recent study discovered that high school students’ phones contained more than 17,000 copies of the genes from bacteria. Cell phones have 10 times more bacteria on them than the majority of toilet seats, according to researchers at the University of Arizona.

Germs on human skin

The natural germs on human skin and the oils on your hands are transferred to your phone every time you check a text or send an email; these microbes are normally harmless to your health. Accordingly, Martin claims that the majority of the organisms found on phones are not pathogens that will make you ill.

For instance, Staphylococcus might be present, but it’s not normally the form that will cause you to become infected with staph.

However, some bacteria need to worry you. According to Susan Whittier, director of clinical microbiology at New York-Presbyterian and Columbia University Medical Center, “We’re not walking through a sterile environment, so if you touch a surface there could be something on that.” Environmental pollutants are prevalent.

Studies have revealed that harmful bacteria including Streptococcus, MRSA, and even E. coli can be found on cell phones. According to Whittier, simply having these bacteria on your phone won’t necessarily make you unwell, but you still don’t want to let them into your body. If someone has the flu or strep throat and coughs on their phone before passing it to a buddy, viruses can also spread on phones.

Simple ways to keep some germs at bay

Thankfully, there are simple ways to keep some germs at bay. Martin and Whittier both concur that using a phone in the bathroom is one of the worst places to do it. Toilet flushes disperse germs, which is how phones get contaminated with fecal pathogens like E. coli. Martin believes that using a cell phone while using the restroom is similar to entering without washing your hands before exiting. “It’s at the same level of concern.”

The Final Concern

A few different techniques will work to clean your phone, but keeping it out of the bathroom will assist. Many people just use a soft microfiber cloth to wipe their phones clean, which will get rid of most of the germs. Whittier advises mixing 60% water and 40% rubbing alcohol for a more thorough clean.

After combining the ingredients, gently wipe your phone with a towel dipped in the mixture. Doing this a couple times per month is sufficient, according to Whittier, unless you’re unwell. Avoid using cleaners that are liquid or aerosol because they could harm your phone.

However, the best advice is more about you than it is about the phone. According to the experts, as long as you regularly wash your hands, you should be alright.

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