• James Brown
• January 4, 2023
• 4 Comments

Want to avoid COVID-19 and several other infectious diseases? It is intelligent to use hand sanitizer when you cannot wash your hands with soap and water. Thus, when you contact your eyes, nose, or mouth, you will convey considerably fewer live germs. But with so many hand sanitizers on the market, how can you determine the best one? Or the most effective alcohol to seek as an ingredient? It is easier than it appears.

Alcohol Percentage And Type

Hand sanitizers with 60 to 95 percent alcohol are more efficient in killing germs than those containing less alcohol.

Products provided by Medescan Australia with alcohol concentrations of more than 60% may be more effective and eliminate more types of germs than hand sanitizers with 60% alcohol, but they may also be more irritating to the skin.

“The suggested range is 60 to 90 percent. Few research indicates that a greater alcohol concentration makes hand sanitizer more effective. The expert stated that any hand sanitizer applied within this range will be effective. “However, the gold standard for hand hygiene is 20 seconds of hand washing with soap and warm water. This is usually favored over the use of hand sanitizer.”

The FDA has authorized two forms of alcohol for use in hand sanitizers: ethyl alcohol (commonly known as ethanol) and isopropyl alcohol.

You may also find benzalkonium chloride, which is not an alcohol, as an alternate active component. According to the CDC, it may be less effective against some viruses and germs than alcohol.

Avoid Toxic Hand Sanitizers

The FDA advises that some imported hand sanitizers, such as those from Mexico, include methanol, a wood alcohol frequently used to produce gasoline and antifreeze. It can be poisonous when absorbed via the skin and fatal when consumed. If methanol is listed on the product’s label, avoid it. Check the FDA’s do-not-use list for hand sanitizers, as methanol is not usually included on the product’s label. The FDA is attempting to remove these items from stores.

Do You Need To Make Your Own?

You may be tempted to manufacture your hand sanitizer during a scarcity, but the FDA cautions against it. According to their website, “hand sanitizer can be useless if prepared improperly, and there have been incidents of skin burns caused by homemade hand sanitizer.” The organization lacks verified information regarding the procedures used to make hand sanitizer at home and whether or not they are safe for use on human skin.”

Tips For Using Hand Disinfectant

Purchasing an efficient hand sanitizer is essential, but so is its proper use. Here are some considerations to make.

• Employ Enough. According to the CDC, people may not use enough hand sanitizer to kill all bacteria. You require a considerable amount, sufficient to cover all hand surfaces.
• Let It Dry. Apply hand sanitizer to one palm, then rub it into the surfaces of both hands until they are dry. Removing “extra” may diminish efficacy.
• Be Exhaustive. Cover all hand surfaces, including the fingertips, nails, wrists, back of the hands, and between the fingers, just like you would while washing your hands.
• Apply Moisturizer As Soon As The Hand Sanitizer Has Dried. If you wash your hands frequently and/or use hand sanitizer frequently, your hands may get dry. In addition, they may develop fissures or fractures that allow pathogens to permeate the skin. Moisturizer preserves the integrity of the skin.
• When Feasible, Wash Your Hands Instead Of Using Hand Sanitizer. Hand-washing for 20 seconds may be more effective against specific bacteria, such as norovirus, Cryptosporidium, and Clostridium difficile. However, hand sanitizers can be equally efficient as hand washing in decreasing influenza A and other pathogens. If your hands are oily or filthy, hand sanitizer will not function as well.
• To Reduce The Likelihood Of Irritation And Dryness, Seek A Hand Sanitizer With Emollients. The expert stated, “Hand sanitizer with an emollient, such as aloe, is exactly as effective as a product without emollients and less drying on the hands.” “It comes down to personal choice.

Hand sanitizer is not a panacea against all infectious diseases, but if you get an effective product and apply it correctly, it should reduce your chance of contracting many of them when you don’t have access to soap and water.