BIOLOGY ASSIGNMENT HELP: Microbial contamination due to make up and makeup applicators
Introduction
As Many organisms come into contact with the skin surface therefore many microbes are present on the human body on a large scale, there are different types of them; Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, E.coli are the main microbes found on the surface of the skin (Murray et al, 2005). The microbes penetrate into the dermis, through the hair follicles, sweat gland or an abrasion. The microbes may avoid the surface barrier to enter which may lead to infection; they transfer from one place to another by contact. The largest numbers of microbes found are the member of the individual’s normal or abnormal flora (Meerset al, 1995). Few highly pathogenic microbes learn to overcome all the defences, and more of them discover how to survive on the body surfaces. They can live on the surface of the human bodies as colonists or commensal or invade the tissues as pathogens. The skin defences include acid; it is one of the main anti-microbial defences deployed at the surface of the body.
Microbes
Microbial organisms are normally present on the human skin; they are usually not pathogenic due to the strategies present on the body surface that minimises bacterial colonisation. They have the potential to cause infections under the right circumstances. Bacteria that cause serious infections are often native to the human body, and facial skin is covered with bacteria; most of them require oxygen to survive. Staphylococcus is the most common bacteria present on the skin(Schro¨deret al, 2006).Staphylococcus aureus is common and is found in upto 40% of health people and is transferred by hands and contact (Gillespie et al, 2007).The hands and the face have different microbes and they can transfer their microbes by close contact. Streptococcus is another microbe present in the mucous membrane of the human mouth; this may transfer to lips and from there to the make and its applicators (Collins et al, 2004). It is a pathogenic microbe under favourable conditions.
Makeup/Cosmetics
Most cosmetics company recommend replacing them after 6 months of use to reduce contamination and risk of infection. There are recommendations by doctors and Cosmetics Company which include (i) do not share cosmetics (ii) replace them after bacterial infections (iii) do not used old applicators in new containers of cosmetics. The frequency of usage and replace the makeup and the applicators, the number of people using them and the types of the makeup and applicators may also affect cause of contamination and infection (Pack et al, 2008).
Anti-microbial agents in cosmetic products
Some Cosmetic products contain antimicrobial agents, which may minimize the risk of contamination and infection by use. Such as the lipstick contains Methylparaben and propylparaben are preservatives which contain anti-microbial, anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties. They can also extend the lipstick’s shelf life and keep potentially harmful microorganisms from growing in the lipstick. The mascara contains quaternium-15 which is an antimicrobial agent that releases formaldehyde which can prevent the microbial growth. TheFoundation contains C12-15 alkyl benzoate as an antimicrobial agent. These products contain the antimicrobial agent which prevents the microbial growth.
Skin Structure
The skin has a very complex structure; every part of the skin has a different structure; which helps in transferring microbes from one area to another. The skin is consists of many glands and layers;the Sebaceous glands are found over the entire surface of the body except the palms, soles, and dorsum of the feet. They are largest and most concentrated in the face and scalp where they are the sites of origin of acne. The normal function of sebaceous glands is to produce and secrete sebum, a group of complex oils including triglycerides and fatty acid breakdown products, wax esters, squalene, cholesterol esters, and cholesterol. The sweat glands are found almost all over the entire surface of the body. They are most concentrated in the palms and soles and the axillae. The hair follicles are complex structures formed by the epidermis and dermis. Sebaceous glands often open into the hair follicle rather than directly onto the skin surface.The base of the hair follicle, or hair bulb, lies deep within the dermis and, in the face, may actually lie in the subcutaneous fat. The epidemic strains are more effectively transmitted and they may survive the transmission more effectively, many microbes are adapted to particular routes of transmission (Gillespie &Bamford 2007). The spores on the human body enable bacteria to survive for many years.
Aim:
The aim of this project is to find out if there are microbes present on the makeup and its applicators
Hypothesis
- Make up applicators have microbes
Null hypothesis:
- Make up applicators do not have microbes
Method
Ethics:
No ethical issues involved, as there is not involvement of individuals. The experiments would be carried out on the makeup and the applicators
Safety: Lab risk assessment would be done. There is no risk involved while performing the experiment, but safety precautions must be taken into consideration; such as, wearing lab coats and gloves to avoid contamination and the sample should be kept away and handled carefully to avoid cross contamination amongst them. The sample must be carefully labelled and handled so that they are not exchanged. The surface area must be cleaned.
Criteria for inclusion: female of any age
Criteria for exclusion: individuals with skin, mouth and eye infections
Participants and samples:
20 participants would be required to carry with the experiment.
Samples:
Three samples of the makeup would be used; lipstick and mascara and foundation; and threesamples of the applicators; wand, brush and sponges shall be used for the experiment.A total of 60 makeup samples would be collected and a total of 60 applicators. The cosmetics used by the participants would be non-waterproof. The make-up and the applicators would be normally used and the samples would be taken from the subjects.
20µl of the makeup products would be sampled and the wand and brush would of immersed in 5ml of water and the sponge would be immersed in 20ml of sterile water; they would be let in the water for the microbes to get transferred to the water and then the sample would be taken from the water which contains the microbes. The applicators would be returned to the participants and all would be safe to use again.
Microbiology:
Samples would be placed on different agar plates such as, nutrient agar; it is generally used for cultivation of all microbes, Baird-Parker; which is used forStaphylococcus aureus, and MacConkeys gar plates; used for coli forms. The agar plates would be inoculated using the spread plate technique, immediately after culturing the plate would be placed in an incubator at 37oC for 48 hours. Each plate would be examined for microbial growth and number of colonies. A pilot experiment would be performed to confirm the method which would be used to take sample and testing them before starting the actual experiment.
Questionnaire:
Total number of 20 Potential participants would be handed a questionnaire to complete. The questions in the questionnaire would include; the age of the participants, age of the makeup, age of the makeup applicators, cleansing of the applicators, frequency of use of the makeup and the applicators and the number of people using the applicator and the makeup.
Stats
The total count for the bacteria and its colonies would be done,
Two way Annova would be performed to compare the results of the types of makeup and applicators, and the applicators used by one individual and used by more than one individual.
Conclusion:The results will conclude if microbes are present on the makeup and its applicators. If the microbes are present on the applicators then this finding would be very useful for the hygiene purpose of the cosmetics and its applicators and if the findings show that the there are no microbes present on the applicators then yet it would a useful finding as it would show that the applicators and the makeup products are microbe free and safe to use.
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