A lawyer travelling with only a carry-on bag triggered airport security scanners twice and was subjected to a full body search after traces of hand cream and body lotion were detected.
George, who posts on TikTok as @awomancalledgeorge, was pulled aside by security staff after her bag was flagged by the scanner. The swabs of her hands and bag also came back positive, leading to a "double security alert."
She explained: "The scanner seemed to have picked up traces of something that could be dangerous." The subsequent checks led to a full body search, and security staff unpacked and swabbed every item in her bag.
Why the alarm was triggered
George said she had "never seen anything like it" when her hand luggage was pulled, with staff talking "really seriously" to her. She recalled having to go off and have a "full body search" while they "had to unpack every single thing" in her bag.
The cause turned out to be the hand cream and body lotion she had applied after showering before heading to the airport. She warned other travellers: "It turns out the glycerin in hand cream and body lotion can trigger the security systems."
What airport swabs detect
Security swabs primarily test for trace chemical residues associated with explosives. Staff wipe a small area of a passenger's hands, bag, shoes, or electronics and analyse the sample for microscopic particles.
Because these chemicals can transfer from harmless everyday sources – like lotions, soaps, or certain fertilizers – a positive swab doesn't automatically mean you've handled anything illegal. Less commonly, depending on the country and situation, swabs can also detect drug residue or other prohibited substances.
George said she "shan't be doing that again" after learning the lesson the hard way.
