Hand hygiene is one of the most important things for everyone. No matter if you are working from home or in a public place you always have to remember to wash your hands regularly.
The easiest way we all know is with water and soap of course. Using always warm or hot water however, may have a different or unwanted effect because hot water opens the pores which can lead to easier access for potential bacteria or germs into your skin. That’s why using cold water is also important.
If you find yourself in a place where you really need disinfection but you can’t wash your hands the old fashioned way just use a hand sanitizer.
Hand sanitizers are liquids that contain a high percentage of alcohol usually isopropyl alcohol, ethanol (ethyl alcohol), or n-propanol. The sanitizer will work if the percentage of alcohol is above 70%.
Alcohol is very harsh to the skin as it can dry it fast. This is why you need to have a humectant in the ingredients list. Aloe vera gel or vegetable glycerin can be a great addition because it will balance the strong drying effect.
Be sure to always check the packaging when choosing a sanitizer. Too colorful or playful designs can end up being used the wrong way by children or pets.
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC), the proper way of using a hand sanitizer is:
- Apply product to the palm of one hand.
- Rub hands together.
- Rub the product over all surfaces of hands and fingers until hands are dry.
Alcohol doesn’t work for everything
Hand sanitizers might not work in some cases like removing heavy metals or pesticides. If you have touched chemicals that you are not sure of or any other surfaces it is recommended that you use water and soap to wash it off.
In case of especially dirty or greasy hands, the sanitizer won’t have a strong effect either.
There are germs like Cryptosporidium, norovirus, and Clostridium difficile which wont be killed by it. Clostridium difficile can cause life-threatening diarrhea and Cryptosporidium is a parasite that causes a diarrheal disease called cryptosporidiosis.
How long is it good for?
Hand sanitizers don’t have really an expiration date because alcohol is a shelf-stable chemical. However, you have to keep it in a sealed container at room temperature. This way it will remain at the same concentration for a very, very long time.
Also, try to avoid opening and closing too frequently the container because alcohol evaporates easily and can decrease over time.
Safety
Hand sanitizers are for external use only. They are flammable and catch fire, producing a translucent blue flame. Keep always out of reach of children and pets.
Avoid eye contact and keep away from heat or hot surfaces. If swallowed the liquid can cause alcohol poisoning so always be careful and have in mind that too.