Gentle cleansers kill viruses just like harsh soaps: Research
July 16, 2025
  • Read Ecopy
  • Circulation
  • Advertise
  • Careers
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
Organiser
  • ‌
  • Bharat
    • Assam
    • Bihar
    • Chhattisgarh
    • Jharkhand
    • Maharashtra
    • View All States
  • World
    • Asia
    • Europe
    • North America
    • South America
    • Africa
    • Australia
    • Global Commons
  • Editorial
  • International
  • Opinion
  • Op Sindoor
  • More
    • Analysis
    • Sports
    • Defence
    • RSS in News
    • Politics
    • Business
    • Economy
    • Culture
    • Special Report
    • Sci & Tech
    • Entertainment
    • G20
    • Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav
    • Vocal4Local
    • Web Stories
    • Education
    • Employment
    • Books
    • Interviews
    • Travel
    • Law
    • Health
    • Obituary
    • Podcast
MAGAZINE
  • ‌
  • Bharat
    • Assam
    • Bihar
    • Chhattisgarh
    • Jharkhand
    • Maharashtra
    • View All States
  • World
    • Asia
    • Europe
    • North America
    • South America
    • Africa
    • Australia
    • Global Commons
  • Editorial
  • International
  • Opinion
  • Op Sindoor
  • More
    • Analysis
    • Sports
    • Defence
    • RSS in News
    • Politics
    • Business
    • Economy
    • Culture
    • Special Report
    • Sci & Tech
    • Entertainment
    • G20
    • Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav
    • Vocal4Local
    • Web Stories
    • Education
    • Employment
    • Books
    • Interviews
    • Travel
    • Law
    • Health
    • Obituary
    • Podcast
Organiser
  • Home
  • Bharat
  • World
  • Operation Sindoor
  • Editorial
  • Analysis
  • Opinion
  • Culture
  • Defence
  • International Edition
  • RSS in News
  • Magazine
  • Read Ecopy
Home World

Gentle cleansers kill viruses just like harsh soaps: Research

by WEB DESK
Jun 17, 2023, 11:00 pm IST
in World, Health
FacebookTwitterWhatsAppTelegramEmail

A recent study by scientists at the University of Sheffield revealed that gentle cleansers are just as effective as harsh soaps in removing viruses, including coronavirus.

Health care professionals often substitute harsh soaps or alcohol-based hand sanitisers with skin-friendly cleansers in order to treat or prevent irritant contact dermatitis – a common skin disease which causes red and swollen skin with a dry and damaged surface. During the Covid-19 pandemic, incidence and severity of the disease amongst healthcare professionals increased from 20 per cent to 80 per cent.

Despite the widespread use of gentle cleansing products for handwashing, there has been limited evidence to show the antiviral efficacy of the products to prevent the spread of viruses such as human coronavirus, herpes simplex virus, norovirus and influenza.

Scientists from the University of Sheffield’s Sheffield Dermatology Research (SDR) group tested multiple handwash products as part of the study. These included antibacterial soap, natural soap, foam cleansers and bath wash products, with the team investigating their ability to kill both enveloped viruses; such as human coronavirus and influenza, which have an additional layer of structural protection; compared to non-enveloped viruses, such as norovirus and adenovirus.

The findings, published in the journal Frontiers in Virology, show gentle cleansers were effective in killing enveloped viruses, but non-enveloped viruses displayed resistance against skin-friendly cleansers, as well as harsh soaps.

Lead author of the study, Dr Munitta Muthana from the University of Sheffield’s Department of Oncology and Metabolism, said: “Washing our hands with soap and warm water for 20 seconds was a fundamental message advocated in the UK to help stop the spread of Covid-19. But for healthcare professionals, who can wash their hands as many as 100 times during a 12-hour shift, this may cause unintended adverse effects.

“Not only does irritant contact dermatitis cause the skin to become inflamed, blister and crack, which increases transmission of bacteria and viruses, it can also lead to less compliance with personal protective equipment (PPE) and inadequate hand washing for fear of making symptoms worse. The disease can also significantly impact workplace productivity.

“For the first time, our study has shown substituting harsh soaps with milder wash products such as gentle cleansers is effective in fighting against enveloped viruses, including human coronavirus, which is very encouraging – especially for those in jobs in which irritant contact dermatitis is an occupational hazard. We also found that using additional agents such as moisturisers to help protect the skin didn’t prevent the products’ antiviral activity, which means we don’t have to use very harsh products on our skin in order to kill viruses. ”

Importantly, the study also found non-enveloped viruses demonstrated greater resistance across all types of hand washing products tested, including harsh chemical substances and milder solutions. Norovirus – known as the winter vomiting bug – was the most resilient.

First author of the study, Natalie Winder, PhD Researcher at the University of Sheffield’s Department of Oncology and Metabolism, said: “Even when we increased the exposure of norovirus to the handwashing products from 20 seconds to one minute, the virus wasn’t disrupted. Bleach was the only agent which affected the virus – however bleach-based hand washes are not a feasible option due to its corrosivity, which would be extremely harmful to the skin.

“Norovirus can spread very easily – it takes just 18 norovirus particles to infect another person, as opposed to 1,000 coronavirus particles needed to spread the infection. Our findings show that although good hand hygiene practices are important to preventing the spread of many viruses, they are insufficient at controlling the norovirus.

“Measures such as isolation and disinfecting surfaces with bleach are more effective in preventing the spread of the norovirus infection and more research needs to be done to see whether heavily diluted bleach-based hand washes, which are safe to use on the skin, can be produced.”

The study was conducted by the University of Sheffield and funded by CeraVe.

(with inputs from ANI)

 

 

 

 

Topics: coronavirusHealth CareskinGentle cleansersSkin diseaseDisease controlInfluenza virus
ShareTweetSendShareSend
✮ Subscribe Organiser YouTube Channel. ✮
✮ Join Organiser's WhatsApp channel for Nationalist views beyond the news. ✮
Previous News

Study shows conflict in marriage less harmful for kids when father keeps it constructive

Next News

Uniform Civil Code: Nothing religious about it

Related News

Representative image

Influenza viruses can use two ways to infect cells: Study

AIIMS Delhi introduces advanced surgery for skin cancer treatment

Representative Image

Single vaccine that protects against three lethal coronavirus types successful in mouse trials

Representative image

Study reveals why high income individuals are more prone to develop melanoma

Children who live near heavily used roadways more likely to develop atopic dermatitis: Study

COVID 19: India reports 10,753 fresh cases in last 24 hours

Load More

Comments

The comments posted here/below/in the given space are not on behalf of Organiser. The person posting the comment will be in sole ownership of its responsibility. According to the central government's IT rules, obscene or offensive statement made against a person, religion, community or nation is a punishable offense, and legal action would be taken against people who indulge in such activities.

Latest News

Representative image

Delhi: Schools receive fresh bomb threats, 10 institutions targeted in 3 days amid heightened security

BJP MLAs staged a protest in Jammu against the mandatory Urdu language requirement for Naib Tehsildar posts

J&K: BJP launches region-wide protest demanding rollback of Urdu language mandate for Naib Tehsildar recruitment

EAM S Jaishankar during SCO Council of Foreign Ministers Meeting, in Tianjin, China

Jaishankar slams Pahalgam terror attack at SCO meet with Pakistan present, urges global unity against terror sponsors

Image for representational purpose only

Chhattisgarh: Raipur police deports “30 Bangladeshi infiltrators”

Satyajit Ray ancestral home demolished in Bangladesh as Bengal cultural legacy suffers relentless assault

Representative image

Eyewitness reveals terrorists celebrated Pahalgam attack; Fired in air after forcing him to recite Kalima

Representative image

India issues fresh advisory urging citizens to avoid non-essential travel to Iran amid rising tensions

Bhopal scholarship scam uncovered: Government funds swindled by bogus institutions

MP: Over 100 fake missionary schools & madrasas swindled Rs 57 lakh from govt scholarships using ghost students

NIA busts major jailbreak plot: LeT aide T Nasir’s escape foiled, psychiatrist, ASI, and woman held

EAM Dr. S. Jaishankar’s visit to China marks a historic moment in India-China ties post-2020 Galwan Clash

Resetting Sino-India Ties: Jaishankar meets Xi Jinping, calls for de-escalation, trade & zero tolerance on terror

  • Privacy
  • Terms
  • Cookie Policy
  • Refund and Cancellation
  • Delivery and Shipping

© Bharat Prakashan (Delhi) Limited.
Tech-enabled by Ananthapuri Technologies

  • Home
  • Search Organiser
  • Bharat
    • Assam
    • Bihar
    • Chhattisgarh
    • Jharkhand
    • Maharashtra
    • View All States
  • World
    • Asia
    • Africa
    • North America
    • South America
    • Europe
    • Australia
    • Global Commons
  • Editorial
  • Operation Sindoor
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Defence
  • Culture
  • Sports
  • Business
  • RSS in News
  • Entertainment
  • More ..
    • Sci & Tech
    • Vocal4Local
    • Special Report
    • Education
    • Employment
    • Books
    • Interviews
    • Travel
    • Health
    • Politics
    • Law
    • Economy
    • Obituary
    • Podcast
  • Subscribe Magazine
  • Read Ecopy
  • Advertise
  • Circulation
  • Careers
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Policies & Terms
    • Privacy Policy
    • Cookie Policy
    • Refund and Cancellation
    • Terms of Use

© Bharat Prakashan (Delhi) Limited.
Tech-enabled by Ananthapuri Technologies