XD Clean freaks are idiots... We have an IMUNE SYSTEM, you know? Them cute little white blood cells that fight off infections... Washing hands and using bleach kills germs.... Temporarily, but not only does it weaken that immune system that you need to stay alive but it MAKES THE BUGS STRONGER... So next time you get an infections and you die from it, IT IS NOT BECAUSE YOU WERENT CLEAN ENOUGH it is because YOU WERE NOT DIRTY ENOUGH!!!!

Relax. Playing in the dirt is not going to hurt anyone. Unless it's, you know, beside a radioactive plant. This only serves to make people more afraid of things they don't need to be afraid of.

I think these photos should show how versatile the microbes on the hands are; the different colors, shapes and textures signify that they're different kinds of microbiomes, but it should not scare parents (or anyone for that matter) microbes are a normal part of the human body. They won't hurt you if you maintain a moderate level of cleanliness. Being clean is a good thing, but don't go overboard and fear the microflora that simply exist on you. They're just as part of you as your skin and tissue!

My mom always told me to wash my hands without having to see a microbes hand print. Wash your hand when you get home from out doors and wash your hand after using the bathroom. : P I will do the same for my baby boy, not because I saw this picture and I'm freaking out, it is just comment sense to wash my hands from the education I got at home. This is pretty cool to see tho ! :P

Spare a thought for OCD sufferers before publishing these sort of images as a leader. Among the most bacteria laden items are mobile phones and toothbrushes in shared bathrooms BTW

I work in a microbiology lab. I hand-printed my 8 yo daughter's hand once to show her how important handwashing was. Her print grew very few, clinically benign skin bacteria. It was really not impressive. I "doctored" it up at work so it looked dirtier. I think that is what we are seeing here.

Concerned about doctors not washing hands between patients, a hospital did the same with their hands. The experiment did serve to increase hand washing/sanitizing among the hospital's doctors.

Interesting shapes

interesting