Anti-bacterial sanitizer is being utilized nowadays to maintain hand cleanliness because microorganisms are everywhere in the environment around us and they can infect us through our hands so we must be very careful about maintaining the cleanliness of hands and eradicate all the germs on our skin so that they may not be transmitted to our eyes, nose or mouth and result in ailment.
We are required to rinse our hands with water and soap frequently so that bacterias may not persist for long on our skin but basins are not available everywhere and we could not wash our hands while we are on a vacation or stuck in a place where washbasin is not accessible so a substitute is hand sanitizers that we can keep in our pocket or handbags, pour it in our palm and rub it all over hands to annihilate the germs which reduce the higher risk of getting in contact with germs and getting sick.
What is an antibacterial hand sanitizer?
It is a foam, gel, or liquid-based solution that contains 60-90 percent alcohol which makes it productive against bacterias. Ethanol, isopropanol, and benzalkonium chloride are active components in sanitizers. Some sanitizers are alcohol-free but alcohol-based sanitizers are best for removing germs from hands.
When and how to use hand sanitizers?
They are easy to be taken anywhere so they can be used at any place where handwashing is not convenient. You can use them before eating, drinking, or after using the restroom, public transportation, or touching any surface where germs may be present.
To use sanitizers, you must pour an ample amount of solution on your hand and rub it all over your hands, evenly. You must use a sanitizer that includes more than 60 percent alcohol otherwise it will not work properly against bacterias like antibacterial hand sanitizer at laclinica.com
Does it kill all germs?
Hand sanitizers are known to rub out germs from our hands and alcohol present in the solution can kill most of the germs that can inflict diseases like flu and creates resistance against it but disinfectants are not helpful for all the germs.
Specific germs like norovirus, cryptosporidium, and clostridium difficile are immune to alcohol and they could not be killed by sanitization so sanitizers can only diminish germs on the surface of hands but not eradicate all of them. Rather soap is a better option because the foamy texture and use of water can wash away the germs and not even their bodies will last on the skin.
These may not be useful if not applied properly. Sanitizer helps eradicate bacterias but it does not mean that germs will not interact with your skin again. You can defend yourself only through continuous use.
What are the types?
Excessive use of sanitizers has to lead to the introduction of various types like alcoholic and nonalcoholic. Alcohol-based sanitizers are antibacterial but may irritate the skin while non-alcohol-based are mild on the skin.
Sanitizers are also available in gel, foam, and liquid formula.
Soap or Sanitizer
Concerns are shown regarding the use of sanitizers and hand wash and they are often supposed equivalent which is not true. Because sanitizers can only kill most of the bacterias on hands but when hands are visibly stained with dust, debris, or grease, sanitizer can do nothing about it.
In such cases, hand washing is the best choice because water can wash away microbes as well as all the visible stains on skin, providing clean and hygienic hands while hand sanitizers are to be consumed when water is not accessible.
Limitations on using sanitizer
Sanitizers are undoubtedly a blessing to help against the spread of disease but its usage has some limitations. These are based on alcohol which makes them flammable and contacts with fire after applying it increases the risk of catching fire so you must avoid getting closer to any fire producing area so that you remain safe.
While using sanitizers you must be very careful around children, as swallowing can result in poisoning and brings serious risks to health so you must not swallow it and keep it out of children’s reach.
Sanitizers may have a threat to your skin because the amount of alcohol used in killing bacteria can be harmful to natural oils of skin as overdoing sanitization makes skin dry and itching, peeling, redness, and irritation might occur on your hands. Before you use any product, do a patch test in case you have sensitive skin as it may worsen it.