In this day and age, it is becoming increasingly commonplace to be overly concerned with cleanliness and personal hygiene, leading to a situation where we are now overly clean. As a result, we are exposed to a variety of potential hazards caused by the over use of cleaning products and the avoidance of contact with germs, dirt and other natural elements.
The over-reliance on cleaning products has been linked to a range of health issues, including skin irritation, allergies, asthma and respiratory problems. In particular, the use of antibacterial soaps and other chemical cleaners is thought to affect our immune systems by reducing the number of beneficial bacteria species that live on our skin, leading to an increased susceptibility to infection and disease. This is because the chemicals kill off both the beneficial and harmful bacteria, meaning that the beneficial bacteria are unable to protect us from the harmful bacteria.
On a more psychological level, it is thought that an overly clean environment can actually lead to increased anxiety and even depression. This is because the lack of dirt and germs can lead to an overly sterile and uninviting environment, which can lead to feelings of loneliness and isolation. In addition, the bacteria that help us to stay healthy can actually help to boost our mood, so a lack of exposure to these ‘good’ bacteria can have an adverse effect on our mental health.
It has also been suggested that an overly clean environment can lead to an increased risk of developing autoimmune diseases, such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, as the lack of exposure to dirt and germs can affect the way that the body responds to germs and other foreign particles. This is thought to be due to the fact that our immune system is finely tuned to recognise and respond to a wide range of bacteria and dirt particles, so if we are exposed to too few of these, our immune system can become confused and start attacking our own body instead.
Finally, being too clean can also have a negative impact on our social lives. This is because the lack of dirt and germs can lead to a decrease in the amount of microbial species that come into contact with us, which can lead to a decrease in the number of opportunities for us to interact with other people. For example, if someone is not exposed to dirt, they may be less likely to be exposed to other people’s germs, which can lead to a decrease in a person’s social circle.
Overall, it is clear that being too clean can have some surprising and unintended consequences. Therefore, it is important to maintain a balance between cleanliness and exposure to germs and dirt, in order to ensure that our health and social lives are not adversely affected by our attempts to stay clean.
