As caution turns into obsession

GOING CLEAN

This underlines the fact that health is not only a concern now, but also a priority among youngsters who prefer to take the adage ‘prevention is better than cure’ seriously.
Tincy, who is a student of St Joseph’s College of Business Administration, says, “Nowadays our lives have becoming sedentary and we are easily vulnerable to illnesses. When we go to places where facilities are not available, it’s always convenient to have a sanitiser or a tissue at hand.”

But why is there an increase in health-consciousness? Says Hari, an engineering student, “I think people are becoming finicky about cleanliness. Personally I am a cleanliness freak and everytime, I step out of the auto or reach office, I make sure to use a sanitiser. It is a must-have accessory in my bag. Also, nowadays as people are always on the move, it is all the more necessary for them to be clean.”

“Sanitisers and tissues are a substitute for water and actually comes in handy wherever there is scarcity of water. I always carry such items when travelling in the bus or while going shopping. I always make it a point to wash my hands every few minutes because dirt gets collected very easily. This being the case, I don’t see why people should not use such products as it is absolutely essential,” added Veena who has just come to India.

Sanitisers are not the only products that serve this purpose. Almost all products that fall under this category are becoming popular, be it a hand wash, face wash or face wipes.
 But what drives people to use these products other than the health factor? Says Tincy, “They smell good and double up as beauty enhancers too. Most of the sanitisers and face washes are scented and also have moisturising effects. So they give an additional advantage which spares us the effort of carrying a body lotion or face cream.

Such products may be termed as the next big thing in the area of healthcare, but some still feel that they are not required. Seconding this opinion Nidhi, management graduate, says, “Honestly speaking, they are a waste of money however much they are touted as a must-have. And though it is helpful in some situations to carry them, they are not a complete necessity. A few years back, such products were not available in the market yet people survived, didn’t they?” she asks.