On the path to a healthy life, anti-bacterial textiles, as an emerging category of products, are gradually gaining ground in the public eye and are being admired by many. Some vendors claim that all skin infections can be prevented by wearing anti-bacterial textiles, which many consumers believe to be true, yet it is an entirely wrong place.
Antibacterial textiles are usually made capable of inhibiting bacterial growth and reproduction by adding antibacterial agents to fibres or special treatment of fibres. Common antibacterial agents include organic antibacterial agents, inorganic antibacterial agents, such as nano-silver ion antibacterial agents, which can act as antibacterial agents by destroying the cytowall of bacteria, cellular membranes and inhibiting the enzyme activity of bacteria. But this antibacterial effect is conditional and limited in scope, not as full-fledged as a merchant boasts.
The path to skin infection is varied, and antibacterial textiles can only have some antibacterial effect on skin surfaces exposed to textiles. In our daily lives, our skins are exposed to various conditions and various strains. For example, in public places such as bus lifts and elevator buttons, where there are a large number of virulent bacteria such as bacillus coliculus, yellow raisins, etc., our hands touch these bacteria and touch the face, neck, etc., may cause skin infections, at which point antibacteric textiles are powerless. Even when wearing anti-bacterial clothing, other parts of the skin, such as the hands and feet, are not covered by clothing, remain vulnerable to bacteria, fungi and other pathogens that cause infection.
In addition, the antibacterial effects of antibacterial textiles will diminish as the number of uses increases and the number of washings increases. During washing, antibacterial agents may be partially removed, leading to reduced antibacterial performance. There are also differences in the antibacterial effects of different antibacterial agents on different types of bacteria, fungi. For example, some antibacterial textiles may have a better inhibition effect on common golden grapes, but the desired antibacterial effects may not be achieved for fungi, such as red scabies, which cause skin ailments.
In fact, the skin itself has a certain defence mechanism, such as the skin barrier function and fatty acids from the piping gland, to protect against some of the bacteria. However, when the skin barrier is impaired, such as deformation of the skin, scratching or certain skin diseases such as rashes, silver crumbs, etc., the bacteria are more likely to enter the body and cause infection. At this point, reliance on anti-bacterial textiles alone is far from sufficient, and there is a need for the timely treatment of wounds, medical advice for medication, etc.
We should take a correct view of the role of anti-bacterial textiles as an auxiliary health protection, rather than a “godic instrument” to prevent all skin infections. In daily life, it is essential to maintain good hygiene practices. Basic hygiene measures such as hand washing, regular bathing and maintenance of a residential environment can be effective in reducing the exposure and spread of pathogens. At the same time, a reasonable diet, adequate exercise, adequate sleep and increased body immunity are key factors in the prevention of skin infections.
For consumers, when buying anti-bacterial textiles, it is important to be rational and not confused by the rhetoric of the merchants. Formally produced products of guaranteed quality are selected, and product specifications and test reports are scrutinized to understand their antibacterial properties and scope of application. At the same time, it is important to understand that even in the case of anti-bacterial textiles, other measures to prevent skin infections cannot be ignored and that only a combination of approaches can truly and effectively protect our skin health from skin infections.
