If you have super filthy hands and you disinfect them, don’t you then have a bunch of bacteria corpses on your hands? Is there anything wrong with being covered in microscopic dead bodies?

Question

If you have super filthy hands and you disinfect them, don’t you then have a bunch of bacteria corpses on your hands? Is there anything wrong with being covered in microscopic dead bodies?

In: Biology

Answer 1

Disinfectant has to get to the bacteria/virus. Dirt and oils cover them up, protecting them from the disinfectant. It’s recommended to clean hands first then for added protection, disinfect the clean hands. Same goes for surfaces.