Wash, iron used clothes before use

Everybody dreams of wearing new and high quality clothes but some people cannot afford them. Instead, they settle for second hand or used clothes, which they access at subsidised prices.  
Although dear to many middle class and low income earners in Uganda, secondhand clothes pose a health threat to users, especially when one does not follow the required precautions before using them.
Linda Nabatanzi, a businesswoman in Makindye, Kampala has dealt in second hand clothes for more than five years. According to Nabatanzi, fairly used clothes are of a high quality, last longer and are unique compared to new clothes, hence the high demand for them.
Skin irritations
However, Nabatanzi admits that, if not washed and disinfected properly, second hand clothes may cause skin irritations and infections owing to the previous users’ unknown health status.
She adds that the chemicals used to preserve these clothes may also be harmful, especially to people with allergies. “I normally buy used clothes for myself and my children at affordable prices. However, I always use detergents to wash these clothes and iron before putting them on. I have not suffered from a skin disease or infection just because of the precautions I take before wearing the clothes,” Nabatanzi said.
Fitting 
Since there are few restrictions on those dealing in second hand clothes, customers have the luxury of fitting them on from the market stalls which Nabatanzi says can lead to the spread of skin infections from one customer to another.
Dr Edward Ogwang, a dermatologist from The Skin Specialist’s Clinic in Wandegeya, says once second hand clothes are not thoroughly disinfected, they can spread fungal infections on the skin, scalp, nails and sometimes scabies.
Other skin diseases that can be caused by wearing unwashed used clothes include scabies, ringworm and chicken pox. 
He adds that they can also result in infestations once they are imported from places with parasites. Such may include body lice, bed bugs and fleas, among others. 
Ogwang advises consumers to always wash and iron second hand clothes before wearing them.
“The bleach helps to kill germs while ironing will take care of any infestations that may come with the clothes,” Ogwang says.
Undergarments 
Gertrude Namyalo, a nurse at God Bless Clinic in Ndeeba, says second hand undergarments including bras, vests, night dresses, swimming costumes, knickers and bikers, among others are more culpable in spreading diseases compared to regular clothing. 
This is because most people do not iron such clothes before use as they come in materials that cannot withstand heat.
Namyalo says infections such as vaginal and skin candidiasis, gonorrhea, syphilis and hepatitis types A, B, C, D and G can be transmitted through clothes previously used by infected persons, hence a need to be cautious about such goods.
Precautions
“Sexually transmitted diseases are spread through body fluids including blood, sweat, urine and vaginal discharge. Organisms that cause these diseases have been isolated in clothes of people with these diseases. The risk increases if the clothes are not properly washed, disinfected and ironed before use,” Namyalo says.
Namyalo advises that washing with regular detergents may not be enough to get rid of some of these bacteria and the eggs of some parasitic organisms which are naturally accustomed to harsh conditions for survival.
She says strong reagents are sometimes needed to get rid of them but one needs to iron them just to be sure.
“If you are buying these clothes, ensure that you use antiseptics to disinfect them, line them out in the sun to dry and iron them before use,” she advises.
“For underwear that cannot be ironed directly, you can place a material on the underwear when it is still a little bit wet and then iron it indirectly,” Namyalo advises.

Don’t buy makeup or makeup brushes

 It might seem like a good deal, until you have to pay for a doctor’s visit and some medication. Makeup and brushes touch your hands, eyes, and mouth. That makes those little containers breeding grounds for all kinds of germs. Even the testers in stores can be a bad idea. You can get skin rashes and serious infections. And used makeup may no longer have labels that list ingredients and warnings and tell you how to use them safely.