Keeping your hands clean stops the transmission of numerous dangerous diseases. You may 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 that kills viruses and bacteria. It is most frequently used for cleaning hands when soap and water are not available. 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 several viruses. The amount of alcohol in these sanitizers varies between 60% and 85%. Most hand sanitizers found in the market contain 62% of alcohol. The most common brands of alcohol hand rubs include Purell sanitizers, Avant, Sterillium, Desderman and Allsept S.

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

Non-alcohol based hand sanitizers use chemical agents including benzalkonium chloride or triclosan to kill germs. The amount of benzalkonium chloride or triclosan in these products is low.

Alcohol is really a preservative. Because they do not contain alcohol, the non-alcohol based hand sanitizers. can become contaminated.

Correct Way of Using Hand Sanitizer

Everyone knows that hand sanitizers could kill most gems. What is the correct way to use it and when should we use it?

The proper way of using hand sanitizer is as shown below:

• Apply enough sanitizer gel to wet your hands
• Rub the solution over all surfaces of your hands and fingers for few seconds until your hands are dry.
• Wash your hands with soap and water if they hands are visibly dirty.
• When to apply the sanitizer gel? You should sanitizer your hands:
  • before and after preparing food.
  • before meals.
  • before and after treating wounds.
  • before inserting or removing contact lenses.
  • after touching an animal.
  • after coughing or sneezing into your hands.

Health 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 numerous bacteria for example antibiotic resistant bacteria and TB bacteria. They also kill fungi.

Common Risk of Hand Sanitizer

Alcohol based hand sanitizers can catch fire because of its alcohol content. However, certain 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.