Jamie Nonis finds out that it’s not always smart – or healthy – to lend out your grooming kit

Ever since kindergarten, we’ve been taught that sharing is a virtue. Toys, books, the odd lunch snack – they were all up for grabs. As adults, we’ve moved on to more grown-up things, and while few of us would ever offer someone a used tissue, we wouldn’t hesitate to pass lipstick to a friend or share toothpaste with a roommate. Are we being too generous for our own good? We spoke to two experts – Dr Ang Por of Dermatology Associates and Dr Pang Shin Ming, director of the Dermatology Unit at Singapore General Hospital – to find out which personal items we should be keeping to ourselves.

Manicure tools

Shareable? Only if properly sterilised.
The details: ‘There is a possibility of passing fungal infection from one nail to another. When pushing back the cuticles or cleaning under the nails, there is a risk of causing trauma and, if the tools are not clean, it can cause bacterial skin infection too,’ says Dr Ang.
Communicable diseases: Fungal infection, bacterial infection.

Make-up brushes

Shareable? Sometimes.
The details: ‘If there is a fungal infection on the face, the potential of catching it is there. Otherwise, the likelihood of getting any other infection is low,’ says Dr Ang.
Communicable diseases: Cold sores, fungal infection.

Lip balm

Shareable? Never.
The details: Simplex viral infections (aka cold sores) that affect the mouth are usually passed via close contact, such as kissing. The risk of getting it from lip balm or lipstick is low, but once you get the virus – which manifests as recurring blisters or scabs – it stays in the nerve roots and is reactivated under certain circumstances, like stress. ‘Some saliva and phlegm may remain on the lip balm and there is a possibility of transmitting tuberculosis or other infections,’ adds Dr Ang.
Communicable diseases: Cold sores, tuberculosis.

Soap

Shareable? Always.
The details: ‘It’s better to use liquid soap than bar soap, but as soap is inherently self-cleaning, it’s OK to share,’ says Dr Pang.
Communicable diseases: None.

Earrings

Shareable? Only if sterilised with antiseptic.
The details: Clip-ons are fine, but those that poke through may draw blood or fluid discharge, which may stay on the earring. ‘If there is trauma on the earlobe, these secretions may pass into the bloodstream and transmit Hepatitis B or HIV. There is no case report of getting such infections from earrings so far, but why take the risk?’ cautions Dr Ang.
Communicable diseases: Eczema, hepatitis B, HIV, syphilis (rare).

Mascara

Shareable? Sometimes.
The details: Dr Pang believes there’s a possibility of transmitting eye infections, while Dr Ang says: ‘It is unlikely you will catch anything, unless in the rare case of lice affecting the eyelash.’
Communicable diseases: Eye infections, lice (rare).

Toothpaste

Shareable? Sometimes.
The details: ‘It’s fine to share, unless there is a lot of direct contact with the toothbrush, as the toothbrush may carry some blood,’ says Dr Pang.
Communicable diseases: Hepatitis B, HIV, syphilis (rare).

Hand towels

Shareable? Sometimes.
The details: ‘It’s usually OK to share, unless one has an infection like scabies, which can be passed via skin contact or infected clothing. It is very itchy and often affects the finger webs,’ says Dr Ang. According to Dr Pang, fungus can live in wet and dry conditions for a few days.
Communicable diseases: Scabies, fungal infections.

Razors

Shareable? Never.
The details: Getting nicks while shaving is common, and if any blood is left on the blade, it could be passed to a different person via another nick. ‘This is potentially one way of getting HIV and hepatitis B, although the risk is very low,’ says Dr Ang.
Communicable diseases: Hepatitis B, HIV, syphilis, warts.

Jamie Nonis finds out that it’s not always smart – or healthy – to lend out your grooming kit

Ever since kindergarten, we’ve been taught that sharing is a virtue. Toys, books, the odd lunch snack – they were all up for grabs. As adults, we’ve moved on to more grown-up things, and while few of us would ever offer someone a used tissue, we wouldn’t hesitate to pass lipstick to a friend or share toothpaste with a roommate. Are we being too generous for our own good? We spoke to two experts – Dr Ang Por of Dermatology Associates and Dr Pang Shin Ming, director of the Dermatology Unit at Singapore General Hospital – to find out which personal items we should be keeping to ourselves.

Manicure tools

Shareable? Only if properly sterilised.
The details: ‘There is a possibility of passing fungal infection from one nail to another. When pushing back the cuticles or cleaning under the nails, there is a risk of causing trauma and, if the tools are not clean, it can cause bacterial skin infection too,’ says Dr Ang.
Communicable diseases: Fungal infection, bacterial infection.

Make-up brushes

Shareable? Sometimes.
The details: ‘If there is a fungal infection on the face, the potential of catching it is there. Otherwise, the likelihood of getting any other infection is low,’ says Dr Ang.
Communicable diseases: Cold sores, fungal infection.

Lip balm

Shareable? Never.
The details: Simplex viral infections (aka cold sores) that affect the mouth are usually passed via close contact, such as kissing. The risk of getting it from lip balm or lipstick is low, but once you get the virus – which manifests as recurring blisters or scabs – it stays in the nerve roots and is reactivated under certain circumstances, like stress. ‘Some saliva and phlegm may remain on the lip balm and there is a possibility of transmitting tuberculosis or other infections,’ adds Dr Ang.
Communicable diseases: Cold sores, tuberculosis.

Soap

Shareable? Always.
The details: ‘It’s better to use liquid soap than bar soap, but as soap is inherently self-cleaning, it’s OK to share,’ says Dr Pang.
Communicable diseases: None.

Earrings

Shareable? Only if sterilised with antiseptic.
The details: Clip-ons are fine, but those that poke through may draw blood or fluid discharge, which may stay on the earring. ‘If there is trauma on the earlobe, these secretions may pass into the bloodstream and transmit Hepatitis B or HIV. There is no case report of getting such infections from earrings so far, but why take the risk?’ cautions Dr Ang.
Communicable diseases: Eczema, hepatitis B, HIV, syphilis (rare).

Mascara

Shareable? Sometimes.
The details: Dr Pang believes there’s a possibility of transmitting eye infections, while Dr Ang says: ‘It is unlikely you will catch anything, unless in the rare case of lice affecting the eyelash.’
Communicable diseases: Eye infections, lice (rare).

Toothpaste

Shareable? Sometimes.
The details: ‘It’s fine to share, unless there is a lot of direct contact with the toothbrush, as the toothbrush may carry some blood,’ says Dr Pang.
Communicable diseases: Hepatitis B, HIV, syphilis (rare).

Hand towels

Shareable? Sometimes.
The details: ‘It’s usually OK to share, unless one has an infection like scabies, which can be passed via skin contact or infected clothing. It is very itchy and often affects the finger webs,’ says Dr Ang. According to Dr Pang, fungus can live in wet and dry conditions for a few days.
Communicable diseases: Scabies, fungal infections.

Razors

Shareable? Never.
The details: Getting nicks while shaving is common, and if any blood is left on the blade, it could be passed to a different person via another nick. ‘This is potentially one way of getting HIV and hepatitis B, although the risk is very low,’ says Dr Ang.
Communicable diseases: Hepatitis B, HIV, syphilis, warts.