Keeping your hands clean stops the transmission of many dangerous diseases. You can wash your hands with water and soap or you can sanitize them using hand sanitizers.

What’s hand sanitizer? A hand sanitizer is a gel, foam, and liquid solution which acts as an alternative to hand washing with soap and water. You will find two types of hand sanitizers, alcohol based hand sanitizers and non-alcohol hand sanitizers.

Alcohol based hand sanitizers use alcohol to kill most bacteria, fungi and some viruses. The level of alcohol in these sanitizers varies between 60% and 85%. Common hand sanitizers found in the market contain 62% of alcohol. The most common brands of alcohol based hand sanitizers include Purell sanitizers, Avant, Sterillium, Desderman and Allsept S.

Some hand sanitizers are produced with extra ingredients such as natural products and essential oils. These hand sanitizers not only contain alcohol that is necessary to kill germs effectively and safely, but they also contain additional components that could moisturize and condition the skin. Hospitals use sanitizer dispensers equipped with elbow controlled mechanism to avoid any contact with the pump.

Non-alcohol based hand sanitizers use chemical agents such as benzalkonium chloride or triclosan to kill germs. The concentration of benzalkonium chloride or triclosan of these products is low.

Given that they do not contain alcohol, which is a preservative, the non-alcohol based hand sanitizers can become contaminated.

How to Use Hand Sanitizer

Hand sanitizers could kill most gems immediately while on the skin. How do we use it properly and when should we use it?

This is the correct way to use hand sanitizer:

• Apply enough solution to the palm of one hand.
• Rub the solution over all surfaces of your hands and fingers for few seconds until your hands are dry.
• If your hands are visibly dirty, you should wash them with soap and water.
• When to sanitize your hands? You should sanitizer your hands:
  • before and after preparing food.
  • before meals.
  • before and after treating wounds.
  • before inserting or removing contact lenses.
  • after changing a diaper.
  • after handling something that could be contaminated, such as garbage.

Benefits of Hand Sanitizers

Most people think that the alcohol based hand sanitizers could make your skin dry. Well it is true. However, it dries skin less than hand washing with soap and water.

Hand sanitizers kill viruses like flu virus, the common cold virus, and HIV and a number of bacteria such as antibiotic resistant bacteria and TB bacteria. Hand sanitizers also kill fungi too.

Common Risks

Alcohol based hand sanitizers can catch fire because of its alcohol content. However, some hand sanitizers with high high water content or moisturizing agents may not produce this effect. To minimize the risk of fire, it would be a good idea to rub your hands until dry. This indicates that flammable alcohol has evaporated into the air.