THE coronavirus pandemic has had widespread effects across the global economy - and a new survey conducted in Ireland has confirmed it's also having a major impact on personal hygiene.
The poll conducted on behalf of RTE News has found a significant decline in the sale of a range of products normally considered to be vital for the normal functioning of polite society, including soap, shampoo, razor blades and antiperspirants for men.
Also down are sales of cosmetics, hairspray and lipstick - but Irish women appear to still be pampering themselves, with luxury bathing products surging to record levels of demand.
A potential obesity crisis also looks to be in the offing, with the figures indicating a surge in junk food and snack consumption, including a major bump in demand for chips and a 40% increase in sales of ice cream - despite Ireland's current wintry weather conditions.
Home baking of comfort food is also popular, with sales of flour double the levels in 2019.
And understandably the pandemic has taken its toll on mental health, with a 30% increase in prescriptions for depression, anxiety and insomnia.
The news about the demand for some personal hygiene products has seen Pharmacy Daily's resident Irishman raise significant concerns about the availability of his favourite self-tanning lotion.
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