With the effects of Covid-19, we are more attentive to hand hygiene than ever before. The sales of hand sanitizing products have boomed over the last six months, and it's almost unimaginable to enter a store without having to get your hands sanitized before entry.

Nowadays, alcohol is the most widely used ingredient in sanitizers, either in the form of ethyl alcohol or isopropyl alcohol. The suggested concentration of alcohol in hand sanitizer is between 60 and 95%. It is thus not astounding that the use of sanitizers containing alcohol can lead to skin problems over time.

How do Hand Sanitizers Sanitize?

Hand sanitizers were mainly designed for people who work in the medical field. These products come in handy for doctors and nurses who are often rushed in their daily activities. Hand sanitizer works by being rubbed on the skin and killing germs on contact. Hand sanitizer only works if the alcohol content is at least 60%. Once rubbed onto the skin, the alcohol begins to evaporate, and it is through the evaporation process that the germs are killed. 

Ethanol and isopropanol are the only acceptable forms of alcohol that can be used in hand sanitizers.

What Germs can Hand Sanitizers Eliminate?

The Consumer Guidance Society of India (CGSI) states that alcohol-based hand sanitizers that meet the alcohol ratio requirements can radically reduce the number of bacteria on your hands. It might also be able to destroy a range of disease-causing pathogens on your hands, including SARS-CoV-2 and the new coronavirus currently wreaking mayhem across the world.

Here is a glimpse at some dangers hand sanitizers might pose:

Methanol is Toxic:

Methanol based alcohol is a substance that causes skin irritation. The CGSI also states that if ingested, methanol can cause dizziness, headaches, blurred vision, etc. When methanol is inhaled, swallowed, or absorbed through the skin, it metabolizes formic acid. This can lead to a dangerous build-up of acid inside the body that can cause organ failure and vision problems.

Concerns about Triclosan: 

Triclosan is an antibacterial material being used in some hand sanitizers and beauty products. According to CGSI, Triclosan can potentially disrupt the human endocrine system. 

The Production of Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria: 

Another primary concern about hand sanitizers is that we might become overly reliant on them, making our body produce bacteria resistant to antibiotics. 

Unknown Chemicals:

Some hand sanitizers are made with certain chemical scents that do not have to be listed on the ingredients label. A lot of perfumes are irritating and have been linked to allergies or hormone disruptions. 

Hand sanitizers are excellent on-the-go solutions that can stop germs spread when soap and water aren't available. Covcare's foot-operated hand sanitizer dispenser stand can help keep you safe amidst the pandemic, but sanitizing products that contain methanol instead of ethanol or isopropyl pose serious health risks. So always make sure that you purchase the right products.