Skip the Antibacterial Soap; Use Plain Soap and Water
I'm reading up on a few technical things for upcoming content and I thought I would share this 2024 article from the US FDA (Food and Drug Administration) saying to skip "antibacterial" soaps in favor of proper handwashing with basic soap. This is a topic I'll be bringing up in this year's Safe Practices in the Piercing Room class for several conferences including APP Las Vegas in June.
Products sometime create a false sense of security, antibacterial soaps are one I would bring up. Applying a harsh chemical to your skin several times a day can easily lead to worsening skin irritations. If you find your hands to be inflamed, itchy, and dry at the end of a day piercing you might be causing the problem by using an excessively strong soap. Strong chemical disinfectants are a hand washing protocol for a surgeon who wears a glove for several hours between changes. For a piercer washing hands between every client a gentle hand soap with a proper handwashing motion is the superior choice and will greatly reduce hand irritation.
Here is a helpful chart to help you remember the steps to proper hand washing.