Millions of micro-organisms inhabit the earth's atmosphere posing a threat to our health and well-being. At any given moment we come in contact with millions of minute living organisms that we can neither see nor feel, except in terms of the after-effects they might produce in us! Scientists call them bacteria. To us they are simply, germs.
Germs are present in the soil, air and water of the earth's surface. They exist on our skin, in our food, on practically every surface we come in contact with. Like us, they need food, water and a suitable temperature to exist and multiply, a process at which they unquestionably excel! Germs multiply by fission, which is to say, one germs splits into two-a phenomenon that occurs with clockwork regularity at intervals of 20 minutes. It doesn't need a mathematician to to calculate the results-millions and millions of new germs by the minute... a population explosion that augurs ill for us!
Are germs always dangerous to humans? The answer fortunately is NO. The human body has a natural immunity to many germs, strains or viruses. This immunity may be complete as in the case of measles and other infections diseases. We also acquire immunity, through an actual attack of the sickness or by having ourselves inoculated. But besides specific disease-carrying germs there are numerous general strains that can enter the body and cause a local infection that soon spreads through the blood stream. One of the commonest entry points for these germs is a break in that flimsy suit of armour - our skin.
Sounding the alarm
Once the germs enter the body through a break in the skin's surface, an amazing chain reaction of event's is set up. Immediately the capillaries at the 'invasion site' dilate or expand to allow extra blood flow to wash away as many of the invaders at it can. Excess lymph oozes out of the capillary walls to fight the germs with the antibodies it contains. Another major force in the human defence mechanism are the white blood corpuscles which use the tried and tested method of surround and destroy to repel the attack! Many white blood corpuscles are killed in the process. They form the familiar 'pus'.
In many cases these instinctive tactics are not enough to destroy all the germs. The body needs the help of an effective antiseptic that is powerful enough to kill the germs, yet gentle enough not to harm our body tissues, cleaning the affected area with a good antiseptic aids the healing process too, by keeping the opening germ free till the body builds its own protective scab.
For a minor cut or scratch, a daily wash with an antiseptic solution is usually enough. If it is a deeper wound, an application of a good antiseptic cream might also be necessary, together with a soft dressing to keep the dirt out. The final stage in the healing process is reached when the scab falls off exposing the new layer of skin underneath... and keep a safe distance between the germs and us.
But it's always wise to have a good antiseptic close at hand, you never know when the invisible invaders will attack next.
Stella Marie is a trained Beautician & Dietician. Alongwith her clinic, she also runs the popular website http://www.greatoffers4u.com/. Visit http://www.greatoffers4u.com/library/ for more articles. 
