May 15, 2020
A wide-ranging study that shows how cleanliness was not always next to godliness. A staff writer for the Atlantic and lecturer at the Yale School of Public Health, Hamblin notes that for centuries, bathing was viewed as suspect in Western culture, in which Christianity celebrates baptism but otherwise lacks the ritual washings of other religions. Germ theory changed all that, launching a hygiene revolution that followed the Industrial Revolution. Entrepreneurs made millions creating an ever expanding soap and skin care industry promising baby-soft, germ-free skin. The author believes we have gone too far. The skin that shields us from the outside world is also home to trillions of bacteria. Like their kin in the gut, the bugs are useful, aiding the skin's protective and immune functions. Wash them away and you throw the immune system out of whack, so it attacks the body's own cells in a frenzy that gives rise to allergies, eczema, and other conditions. To demonstrate that less is better, Hamblin gave up showering while writing the book. (He did wash his hands.) He did not become a public nuisance, he writes, and his skin improved. As he admits, this is not for everyone. Indeed, the very lack of clean water, soap, and sanitation among impoverished groups across the globe leads to needless disease and death. Hamblin, however, is not a righteous crusader exposing marketers of skin lotions and potions as phonies. He does call out some products, but most are benign. Cosmetics, which are not subject to safety and efficacy rules, can often cause dangerous side effects. Ultimately, Hamblin argues for more skin microbiome research and greater biodiversity in all aspects of our lives, underscoring the value of pets and plants and parks to enhance our lives--and those that live in and on us. A rich mix of sociocultural history detailing how marketing transformed beliefs about cleanliness.
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June 1, 2020
Physician Hamblin (If Our Bodies Could Talk) draws attention to our skin, the largest organ in our body. We spend lots of money on skin care--it continues to be one of the fastest-growing industries--without entirely understanding why the products that we apply to our skin work (or don't). The author describes skin anatomy and our skin microbiome, the bacteria and other microscopic creatures living on our skin. He goes on to discuss the history of the idea of cleanliness, the origins of the soap industry, and the lack of government regulatory oversight that allows nearly anyone to mix chemicals in their home and market them to the public as skin care. The resulting products may be harmless (if overpriced), but they may also be toxic. Some skin care companies are now embracing the idea that the less we do to our skin, the better. Hamblin notes that the incidence of eczema, allergies, and other skin problems is extremely low among the Amish, suggesting that early exposure to microbes and allergens may not only result in lower incidences of allergies, but better skin. VERDICT A quick, engaging read for everyone concerned with caring for their skin, and the science behind it.--Rachel Owens, Daytona State Coll. Lib., FL
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June 1, 2020
When it comes to skin care, less?much, much less?is more. Hamblin, a preventive-medicine physician who also holds a master's degree in public health, teaches at Yale, and writes for the Atlantic, convincingly makes the case for relying on just plain soap and water. He certainly does believe in washing hands frequently to prevent disease (only 19 percent of people around the world wash their hands with soap after using the toilet). But skip all the fancy, environmentally unfriendly bath gels, exfoliants, and creams as well as unnecessary bathing. Hamlin practices what he preaches. Five years ago, he stopped showering. Hamlin calculates that the time saved by skipping daily showers could free up the equivalent of two years of life for more meaningful activities, while saving water: an average American shower uses about 20 gallons. He also cautions that douching seems to lead to more sexually transmitted infections, and prepackaged wet wipes clog sewers. So what's clean enough? Mom had it right: Wash your hands. Especially in this time of COVID-19.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)