What germs lurk at the makeup counter?
Toral Patel
Dermatologist Toral Patel  owner of D&A Dermatology in Chicago   said that after trying on makeup  patients have arrived in  her  office with pinkeye  cold sores  bacterial infections and boils.
"It's not you  " Patel  said  "it's the people before you."
Viruses  like the herpes virus that causes cold sores  need a human host to survive   Patel  said  but they can last long enough on lipstick to travel to someone else.
"It can happen anywhere  " Patel  said. "It's not a matter of the neighborhood drugstore versus a high-end department store."
If you must sample   Patel  said  it's better to apply on your wrist or neck â a spot that's not as noticeable below the jawline â should your luck run out. And never  ever  dab around an open sore or a scratch.
If there's one thing  Patel  advises avoiding  it's applying near eyes  where skin is more sensitive.
"The minute someone dips their tester in there more than once  it's no longer a single-use tester  " Patel  said.
 Patel  herself doesn't try on makeup in stores â "not anymore "  she  said. Instead   she  notes  many stores are flexible with returns  allowing you to try at home.
Alternately  ask the person at the counter if he or  she  can sterilize an applicator. They should have an alcohol spritzer  which kills germs.
Dermatologist  [TGT]   owner of D&A Dermatology in Chicago   said that after trying on makeup  patients have arrived in  her  office with pinkeye  cold sores  bacterial infections and boils.
"It's not you  " Patel  said  "it's the people before you."
Viruses  like the herpes virus that causes cold sores  need a human host to survive   Patel  said  but they can last long enough on lipstick to travel to someone else.
"It can happen anywhere  " Patel  said. "It's not a matter of the neighborhood drugstore versus a high-end department store."
If you must sample   Patel  said  it's better to apply on your wrist or neck â a spot that's not as noticeable below the jawline â should your luck run out. And never  ever  dab around an open sore or a scratch.
If there's one thing  Patel  advises avoiding  it's applying near eyes  where skin is more sensitive.
"The minute someone dips their tester in there more than once  it's no longer a single-use tester  " Patel  said.
 Patel  herself doesn't try on makeup in stores â "not anymore "  she  said. Instead   she  notes  many stores are flexible with returns  allowing you to try at home.
Alternately  ask the person at the counter if he or  she  can sterilize an applicator. They should have an alcohol spritzer  which kills germs.