By KSO
Almost everyone has the same ritual. You finish. You reach for the tissue. You wipe. You fold. You wipe again. You look. You wipe one more time for luck. You pull up your pants. You think you are clean. You are not. You are just smearing it around.
TISSUE DOES NOT CLEAN, IT SPREADS.
Here is what happens when you wipe with dry tissue.
The faecal matter does not disappear. It smears. It spreads across the skin. It gets into the folds. It gets into the hairs. It leaves a residue that you cannot see but it is there. And it stays there.
Even when you wipe and it appears that there’s nothing on the tissue, that does not suggest that there is no residual faecal matter there. It may not be visible to the eyes but if you wash it, it takes care of it.
You are not cleaning. You are moving bacteria from one part of your skin to another.
THE 2021 STUDY THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING
A study published in the Journal of Water and Health in December 2021 examined hand contamination after defecation with and without the use of water. The findings were blunt.
People who used water had seven to ten times less bacteria on their hands than those who used dry tissue alone. Read that again.
Seven to ten times less bacteria.
And this was not about washing hands after. This was about the cleaning method itself. Water cleans. Tissue smears. The difference is not small. It is massive.
THE FRICTION PROBLEM
Dry tissue requires friction. You rub. You try to get it all off. But friction damages the skin.
Wiping with dry toilet paper can lead to microtraumatic injuries, which favour anal fissures and can worsen haemorrhoids.
The mechanical irritation causes tiny tears in the sensitive skin. And when the skin is torn, bacteria can enter.
You are not cleaning. You are wounding.
THE HANDS YOU THINK ARE CLEAN
Here is the part nobody thinks about.
When you wipe with dry tissue, your hands are involved. You fold. You reach. You wipe. And the bacteria from your gets on your fingers, your nails, your hands.
A study found that after traditional handwashing following defecation, both hands were still unacceptably contaminated with faecal coliform counts in the thousands per hand.
You wipe. You think you are clean. You wash your hands. But the contamination is already there.
WHAT THE EXPERTS ACTUALLY SAY
Washing with water, rather than wiping with tissue paper, is more hygienic after defecating.
If it is just urine, you wipe it off but if it has faecal tissue, it is good to wash.
The experts are not divided. They are clear. Water is better.
THE MOIST TISSUE TRAP
Some people have switched to moist toilet paper or wet wipes. They think this solves the problem.It does not.
Moist toilet paper contains preservatives chemicals like methylisothiazolinone (MI) and methyldibromoglutaronitrile that are powerful allergens. Studies have found that these chemicals cause allergic contact dermatitis a painful, itchy rash in people who use them regularly.
Another study found that almost one quarter of baby wipes released formaldehyde a known carcinogen and strong allergen.
You are not cleaning. You are applying chemicals to the most sensitive part of your body.
THE WORLD IS WAKING UP. YOU ARE NOT.
In Japan, bidets are standard. In Italy, they are in almost every home. In Thailand, every toilet has a hose. In Turkey, they are expected. In India, water is the norm.
The world is using water. You are using paper.
And you are suffering for it. The itching. The irritation. The haemorrhoids. The fissures. The infections. They are not bad luck. They are the consequence of a habit.
WHAT YOU SHOULD ACTUALLY DO
1. Wipe first, then wash.
Use tissue to remove the bulk. Then use water to clean the residue. This is the recommended method. Tissue first. Water second. Dry after.
2. If you cannot wash, do not pretend tissue is enough.
Use a small amount of water on the tissue. Pat, do not scrub. Then dry. It is better than dry tissue alone. But it is not as good as water.
3. Stop scrubbing.
Gentle cleaning is enough. Aggressive wiping causes microtears. Microtears cause infection. Be gentle.
4. Do not use soap on the anal area.
Soap irritates the sensitive skin. Water is enough. If you must use soap, rinse thoroughly. Do not leave residue.
5. Dry after washing.
Do not leave the area wet. Moisture breeds bacteria and fungi. Pat dry with a clean tissue or towel.
6. Wash your hands properly afterward.
Soap. Water. At least 20 seconds. This is not optional.
7. Consider a bidet or a hand-held spray.
If you can afford one, install it. It is the easiest, most hygienic solution. It pays for itself in toilet paper savings alone.
THE BOTTOM LINE
You are not dirty because you use tissue. You are dirty because tissue does not clean.
It smears. It spreads. It leaves residue. It causes friction. It damages skin. It contaminates your hands.
Water cleans. Water removes. Water washes away what tissue only moves around.
Your anus is not a surface to be scrubbed. It is a part of your body that deserves to be washed.
Use tissue to start. Use water to finish. And stop pretending you are clean when you are not.
Your body is not a chore. Stop treating it like one.
-Baby Doctor ❤️🩺
Disclaimer: This article is based on research published in the Journal of Water and Health, the Journal of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Development, peer-reviewed dermatology studies, and guidance from the Cleveland Clinic and public health experts. Every claim is verifiable.
P.S. my novel is out. It is called The Anatomy of Resilience. It is a story about failure, survival, and getting back up. If you want to read it, it’s K50, WhatsApp me: +260975785143.