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Can Infections Be Contracted From Sharing Non-sterilized Razor Blades?
Question: Hi,
I used a razor to shave my face this morning and then realized someone else may have used it some time ago...most likely months ago. I did not cut myself at any point enough to see any blood and the razor was visibly clean. Should I be concerned about any type of infection? My primary fears are blood borne illness.
I used a razor to shave my face this morning and then realized someone else may have used it some time ago...most likely months ago. I did not cut myself at any point enough to see any blood and the razor was visibly clean. Should I be concerned about any type of infection? My primary fears are blood borne illness.
Brief Answer:
Please don't worry! There is no risk for hepatitis and HIV.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thank you for writing in HealthcareMagic.
It is known that sharing razors with a person infected with hepatitis might increase your risk of getting the hep B or C but this is not your case.
Based on your history, you didn't cut yourself and the razor was clean you shouldn't worry about HIV and hepatitis.
Furthermore, HIV cannot spread through the razor because HIV is not transmitted by inanimate objects and shaving with a razor is considered a negligible risk.
I hope my answer helps you. Feel free to ask further.
Regards.
Please don't worry! There is no risk for hepatitis and HIV.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thank you for writing in HealthcareMagic.
It is known that sharing razors with a person infected with hepatitis might increase your risk of getting the hep B or C but this is not your case.
Based on your history, you didn't cut yourself and the razor was clean you shouldn't worry about HIV and hepatitis.
Furthermore, HIV cannot spread through the razor because HIV is not transmitted by inanimate objects and shaving with a razor is considered a negligible risk.
I hope my answer helps you. Feel free to ask further.
Regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Arnab Banerjee
Hi again,
Thank you for the oppurtunity to follow up. I am fortunate enough to spend some time each week talking to a therapist about how my health phobias came to be but I don't have the oppurtunity to talk to a doctor very often about the rational reasons I should not be worried. Incidents like this occur every day for me. The last occurence was when I super glued a cut on my finger shut and I started worrying that someone with a blood borne illness my have used that same container of glue in the past and some microscopic amount of blood may have been sucked back into the container and now I'm putting it in my cut. Today it was changing a cartridge in my razor and wondering if an exgirlfriend may have used that cartridge at some time and left some microscopic amount of blood. The good thing here is that part of me knows this is irrational, but we are made up of many parts and I have this germaphobe brain that torments me with "what if?" My follow up here is not to debate your answer, and this may go beyond the intended use of this app, but I sense you are genuinly interested in helping. Any feedback you have to offer me is greatly appreciated.
Thank you for the oppurtunity to follow up. I am fortunate enough to spend some time each week talking to a therapist about how my health phobias came to be but I don't have the oppurtunity to talk to a doctor very often about the rational reasons I should not be worried. Incidents like this occur every day for me. The last occurence was when I super glued a cut on my finger shut and I started worrying that someone with a blood borne illness my have used that same container of glue in the past and some microscopic amount of blood may have been sucked back into the container and now I'm putting it in my cut. Today it was changing a cartridge in my razor and wondering if an exgirlfriend may have used that cartridge at some time and left some microscopic amount of blood. The good thing here is that part of me knows this is irrational, but we are made up of many parts and I have this germaphobe brain that torments me with "what if?" My follow up here is not to debate your answer, and this may go beyond the intended use of this app, but I sense you are genuinly interested in helping. Any feedback you have to offer me is greatly appreciated.
Brief Answer:
You are welcome.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
You are welcome.
You should know that using a glue in your cut and used cartridge in your rasor, the risk to get HIV is zero because HIV cannot live outside the body just a few seconds.
The risk to get HBV or HCV exist if someone is sharing the razors with an infected person,but it is difficult to do so.
Usually, HBV can survive outside the body at least 7 days and HCV can live outside the body for up to 3 weeks.
If exist the possibility that your razor is infected during this time I think that you have right to worry. But till the moment that you are not sure if an infected person has been using the razor before I do not see this concern as reasonable.
I hope my answer helps you.
Regards.
You are welcome.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
You are welcome.
You should know that using a glue in your cut and used cartridge in your rasor, the risk to get HIV is zero because HIV cannot live outside the body just a few seconds.
The risk to get HBV or HCV exist if someone is sharing the razors with an infected person,but it is difficult to do so.
Usually, HBV can survive outside the body at least 7 days and HCV can live outside the body for up to 3 weeks.
If exist the possibility that your razor is infected during this time I think that you have right to worry. But till the moment that you are not sure if an infected person has been using the razor before I do not see this concern as reasonable.
I hope my answer helps you.
Regards.
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Nagamani Ng
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