Many people rely on plastic gloves right now to stay safe on their trips to the store. Although there is not anything wrong with wearing gloves to the store, and you should take any preventative measures that help you feel safe, there are definitely some warnings to keep in mind when opting to wear gloves. Specifically, it’s important to remember the same preventative strategies you would be using without the gloves, such as washing your hands and avoiding touching your face.
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Infectious disease specialist Patricia Dandache, MD, tells the Cleveland Clinic, "We’re seeing a lot of people out in public wearing gloves, which isn’t wrong so to say, but unfortunately most people aren’t wearing or disposing of their gloves correctly, which defeats the whole purpose."
Additionally, gloves tend to give people a false sense of security, which can lead to them forgetting other precautionary measures they should be taking.
The article explains, "There could be a tear or rip in the gloves, you could put them on or take them off incorrectly, but most importantly, the gloves could give you a false sense of security – and you end up touching everything you please, including your face, leading to self-contamination."
The article continues, "Any germs that might be on your gloves can be transferred to all other surfaces and items you touch. This is why it’s counterproductive to wear gloves, yet continue to rummage through your purse or text on your phone while in the store."
With that in mind, skipping gloves might actually make you more vigilant about what you touch and what you should avoid.
However, if you do feel safer wearing gloves, it's important to keep in mind how to dispose of them safely by following the CDC's guidelines. You should also never reuse the gloves.
