Herpes and Other Germs Lurking on Makeup

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A woman in the US is suing a cosmetics store because she claims that she caught herpes from their lipstick tester.

[2]In case you’re wondering if this is even possible, as a microbiologist, I can tell you that it most certainly is.And it’s not just herpes that can lurk in makeup.

[3]But let’s look at herpes first.

This very common virus is mainly spread by skin-to-skin contact, kissing and sex, but it can also be transmitted in droplets1droplet带菌飞沫。of spit2spit唾液；唾沫。left by an infected person on towels, cups, cutlery and, yes,lipstick.

[4]Globally, it’s estimated that 67%of people are infected with the Herpes simplex virus(HSV-1).But it’s a hidden enemy—a person doesn’t need to have visible signs of the virus to spread the infection.The virus lives in facial tissues where it can shed and spread.

[5]It doesn’t always show up on the skin as a blister immediately after it has infected a person, instead it can stay hidden and appear after a few months.

[6]Because of this, it’s impossible to say with certainty if the American woman caught herpes from this particular store tester, or elsewhere.

[7]Herpes causes blisters on the lips and around the mouth that can last up to ten days.Lipsticks and makeup brushes that touch these parts of the face can then spread the infection to other people.

[8]Fortunately, herpes is a fragile virus and typically only survives outside the body for ten seconds.But it can survive longer in warm and moist environments, such as in sweat.It can also survive between two to four hours on plastic, chrome and water, so there are lots of ways the virus can spread.

[9]There is no cure for a herpes infection, although treatments are available that will reduce the length of

美国的一位女士起诉了一家化妆品店，因为她声称用了店里的口红试用装后感染了疱疹病毒。

[2]也许你会感到疑惑：这可能吗？作为微生物学家，我可以告诉你，这极有可能。而且不仅仅只有疱疹病毒会潜伏在化妆品里。

[3]我们先从疱疹病毒说起吧。

这种常见病毒主要通过皮肤接触、接吻和性交传播，然而也可通过感染者留在毛巾、杯子、餐具以及口红上的唾液飞沫传播。

[4]据估计，全球67%的人已感染了单纯疱疹病毒。但该病毒是一种隐藏的敌人——传播者不一定表现出明显的病毒感染的症状。这种病毒生存在面部皮肤组织中，可随其脱落并传播。

[5]感染该病毒后，并不总是立即表现为皮肤上起水疱，相反，此病毒能潜伏几个月之后再出现症状。

[6]正因为如此，我们无法确定这位美国女士是因使用这家商店的试用装感染了疱疹病毒还是在其他地方感染的。

[7]疱疹病毒会导致嘴唇和嘴巴周围起水疱，病状可持续10天。而使用触碰过这些患病部位的唇膏和化妆刷就可能传染他人。

[8]幸运的是，疱疹病毒是一种脆弱的病毒，通常只能在体外存活10秒钟。但在温暖而潮湿的环境，比如汗液中，它却能够存活更长时间。它在塑料、铬和水的环境中能存活2-4小时，因此可通过多种途径传播。

[9]尽管治疗可缩短感染期，但这种病毒感染却无法根治。

An old problem

[10]Microbiologists have known about the link between beauty products and pathogens since the mid-1940s when talcum powder contaminated with Clostridium tetani bacteria caused the death of a newborn baby.

[11]Since the 1960s, contamination linked to other opportunistic3opportunistic机会致病性的（对免疫系统差的人有害）。patho-gens, including Salmonella, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, has been reported by microbiologists across the globe.

[12]Cosmetic products contain preservatives to help slow down the growth of microbes, but they can become contaminated if people use non-sterile applicators or fingers to apply products, or if the products are poorly handled and stored; for example, products stored in warm and humid or damp conditions such as the bathroom.

[13]Makeup brushes also have the potential to act as suitable homes for bacteria to thrive.Often, beauty blenders and brushes are dampened to help the application of eyeshadows or foundation.But this environment has the potential to promote rapid bacterial growth.

[14]In 2015, it was reported that a 27-year-old Australian woman became paralysed after contracting an MRSA infection that attacked4attack侵害，侵染。her spine.She used a brush to apply makeup that belonged to a friend who had a Staphylococcus infection on her face, and became contaminated5contaminate感染。with the organism6organism〈医〉细菌，病菌。.

[15]Staphylococcus is a common bacteria that doesn’t typically cause harm and lives on the skin or in the nose.However, MRSA(Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus)is an antibioticresistant strain of Staphylococcus.

遗留难题

[10]20世纪40年代中期，发生了一起使用感染了梭状芽孢杆菌的滑石粉导致新生儿死亡的病例，自此微生物学家认识到美容产品和病原体之间的联系。

[11]20世纪60年代以来，世界各地的微生物学家报告了其他包括沙门氏菌、肺炎克雷伯菌和铜绿假单胞菌在内的条件致病菌相关的感染病例。

[12]化妆品含有防腐剂以减缓微生物的生长，但如果人们使用非无菌的涂抹工具或手指来上妆，或操作及储存不当，比如将化妆品放在浴室这种温暖而潮湿的环境中，化妆品便会受到污染。

[13]化妆笔刷也可能成为滋生细菌的温床。通常，画眼影或上粉底会打湿粉扑和笔刷，而这种环境却可能加速细菌繁殖。

[14]据 报 道，2015年，一名27岁的澳大利亚妇女感染了MRSA（耐甲氧西林金黄色葡萄球菌），之后该细菌侵入脊椎导致其瘫痪。她朋友的脸部感染了葡萄球菌，而她用了这位朋友的笔刷化妆，进而感染了此病菌。

[15]葡萄球菌是一种常见的细菌，寄生于皮肤或鼻子部位，通常不会造成伤害。然而，MRSA是一种抗药性的葡萄球菌菌株。

Irreversible blindness

[16]Mascara wands and eyeliners not only beautify the eyes, but can cause irritation7irritation〈医〉疼痛，发炎。and conjunctivitis8conjunctivitis结膜炎。, caused by both bacteria and viruses, including herpes simplex.

[17]Studies have revealed that 43%of eyeliners and mascara wands contain contaminants.I know many friends who have been left with a“pink eye”after sharing mascara or using ancient mascara that has been sitting in their makeup bags.

[18]Symptoms of pink eye include redness, watery discharge and, in extreme cases, irreversible blindness.

[19]Lashes aren’t just there to make us look pretty, they serve to block out dirt and bacteria, and using products on the eyes can cause contamination of the product.With time, bacteria can build up in the cosmetic container, increasing the risk of eye infection every time the product is used.

[20]If all of these horror stories tell us one thing, it’s stay away from sharing makeup products, both among your friends and especially in cosmetic stores.

[21]Always keep your own cosmetic products clean and use single applicators where possible.You wouldn’t share your toothbrush with strangers, so why make an exception with your cosmetics?■

永久性失明

[16]睫毛刷和眼线笔用于美化眼睛，但也会引起由细菌和病毒（包括单纯疱疹病毒）所导致的刺激性反应和结膜炎。

[17]研究表明，43%的眼线笔和睫毛刷都含有污染物。我认识很多朋友，她们在共享了睫毛膏或使用了放在化妆包里的老式睫毛膏后，都得了“红眼病”。

[18]红眼病的症状表现为红肿、流泪，甚至极端情况下会导致永久性失明。

[19]睫毛不只是为了好看，更是为了阻挡灰尘和细菌，而在眼部涂抹化妆品便会导致产品的污染。随着时间的推移，细菌会在化妆品容器中繁殖积累，增加每次使用化妆品时眼部感染的风险。

[20]倘若所有这些恐怖事例给我们一点启示的话，那就是在朋友之间，特别是在化妆品店里，要避免共用化妆品。

[21]请始终保持自用化妆品清洁，并尽可能使用单独的化妆工具。你不会和陌生人分享你的牙刷，但为什么化妆品就破例了呢?□