We’ve all been there: you need to wash your hands, but you’ve run out of hand soap, and all you have is body wash.
You probably think, “it says it’s good for the body, so why not use it on my hands?”
Well, it may be good on the body, but can it really be used as hand soap?
We interviewed dermatologist Ally Wheeler to find out.
In this post you'll find:
Can body wash be used as hand soap?
Body wash can be used as hand soap. However, it won’t kill the germs on your hands as good as hand soap.
Dermatologist Ally Wheeler says, “Body wash is made for the body, not the hands. It will clean your hands, but it won’t be as good at killing germs as regular hand soap.”
She adds that “The best thing to use on your hands is regular hand soap or a foaming alcohol-based hand sanitizer. These will kill off most germs and viruses.”
Using body wash as hand soap won’t irritate your skin, but it won’t be as effective.
It’s best to use regular hand soap and save the body wash for your body unless you have no other option.
Can shampoo be used as hand soap?
Shampoo can be used as hand soap. However, it won’t kill the germs on your hands as good as hand soap.
If you don’t have hand soap, shampoo is better than nothing.
However, it still won’t kill off the germs and bacteria on your hands as well.
Dermatologist Ally Wheeler says, “shampoo won’t kill germs and bacteria like hand soap does. It will clean your hands, but it won’t be as good at killing germs as regular hand soap.”
Does body wash kill germs like hand soap?
Body wash does not kill germs like hand soap.
This is because the ingredients in body wash aren’t as strong as those in hand soap that kill the germs.
Body wash is designed to remove dirt, oil, and debris from your skin. It can clean your skin, but it won’t kill germs or bacteria on the skin.
Dermatologist Ally Wheeler says, “regular hand soap or a foaming alcohol-based hand sanitizer will kill off most germs and viruses on the hands.”
Final thoughts
So the answer is yes, body wash can be used as hand soap, but it won’t kill the germs or bacteria on your hands as well as hand soap.
Hand soaps are specially formulated to kill germs and viruses on your hands while also being gentle enough for sensitive skin.
Body washes have different ingredients that make them better suited for use on the body but as suitable for washing your hands with.
The best way to keep yourself from getting sick or spreading illness around your home is by using regular hand soap or alcohol-based foaming sanitizer.
