Hand sanitizer

Hand sanitizer is a thick gel containing an active ingredient that can kill bacteria. Most hand sanitizers contain some form of alcohol, though other antimicrobials, or bacteria killing agents, are used in certain products. Sanitizers are often used in situations where washing hands with soap and water is not practical. Sometimes they are used in addition to regular handwashing. Although hand sanitizers will not work well in some circumstances and some experts question whether they provide a significant benefit, they are thought to be better than not attempting any hand cleansing at all.

Background

In the late nineteenth century, people began to understand that bacteria caused illnesses. Prior to that time, handwashing was done mostly to remove visible dirt, with no realization that hands could appear clean and still be covered with dangerous germs. Researchers have since determined that the human hand can be covered in anywhere between ten thousand to ten million bacteria at any given moment. Although not all bacteria are harmful, some can cause serious illnesses.

Once the potential danger from bacteria was understood, handwashing with soap and water became more common. The process works for several reasons. First, soap helps to loosen surface soil and skin oils that hold bacteria. Second, the friction caused by rubbing the hands together also helps to dislodge both bacteria-laden debris and any microbes on the skin. Finally, the flow of water over the hands rinses the bacteria away.

Another way to remove bacteria is with an antimicrobial agent. In 1966, a student nurse named Lupe Hernandez learned as part of her training that alcohol could be delivered in a gel solution and that it would be suitable to kill bacteria. Hernandez patented the idea for a hand sanitizer that did not require additional water or the use of soap. Originally used mostly in medical settings as an alternative to some of the frequent hand washings necessary for health professionals, hand sanitizer gel solutions gained popularity with the public in the 1980s and 1990s. This was facilitated by the release of a consumer-oriented version in 1997 by the PURELL Company. By the twenty-first century, the product was widely available and frequently seen in large dispensers in public buildings such as stores, hotels, and schools.

Overview

Hand sanitizer contains an active ingredient, often some form of alcohol, along with chemicals called emulsifiers that help a gel to form. They also include humectants, emollients, and moisturizers, all of which help protect the skin from the drying effects of the alcohol. Finally, hand sanitizers often contain fragrance and colors to help make them more appealing to consumers.

The vast majority of hand sanitizers use either isopropyl alcohol, ethyl alcohol, or a combination of the two. The alcohol concentration should be between 60 and 95 percent to ensure effectiveness. Other sanitizers are made with benzalkonium chloride, an organic salt that is also used in wound cleaners and other substances intended to kill dangerous organisms.

The rest of the hand sanitizer solution contains what are known as inert ingredients, or the non-active ingredients. These ingredients give the product its shape, color, and scent. They include emulsifiers such as aminomethyl propanol and carbomer, which bind the ingredients together into a gel.

Alcohol in the concentrations used for sanitizers can make the skin dry, resulting in cracks that can provide openings for bacteria to enter the body. To prevent this, hand sanitizers include humectants such as glycerin and propylene glycol. A humectant is a substance that attracts water. Humectants are added to hand sanitizers to help attract moisture to the surface of the skin and minimize the drying effects of the alcohol. Other additives found in hand sanitizer to protect against overdrying include moisturizers such as aloe vera and tocopheryl acetate. Emollients such as isopropyl myristate are also added because they help make dry skin more flexible and smooth.

Manufacturers often add colors and fragrances to help make their product look or smell different from their competitors. Some companies sell "designer" hand sanitizers with fancy fragrances and elaborate containers to appeal to different consumers.

Regardless of the formula, hand sanitizers can only be effective if they are used properly. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the correct way to use hand sanitizer is to apply the amount recommended on the product label to the palm of one hand and then spread and rub the sanitizer over all surfaces of both hands until the hands are dry. Rubbing the gel on the hands and then wiping it off with a towel may not allow sufficient time for the germ-killing action to take place.

While hand sanitizer can substitute for hand washing in some instances and is better than nothing in other cases, there are some situations where a hand sanitizer may not be sufficient. If hands are dirty or greasy, the sanitizer may not be adequate to remove the germs held to the hands by these substances. They are also not likely to be very effective in food service settings, where hands are often wet and/or oily, since the liquids, oils, and proteins found in food can harbor large amounts of bacteria. Hand sanitizers are also not effective at removing nonbacterial contaminants, such as pesticides or other chemicals.

Another concern with hand sanitizers is that the alcohol they contain has been the cause of poisonings when it is consumed either accidentally or intentionally. Small children sometimes consume the substance when they find bottles in an adult's bag or sitting around the house. Media outlets have also reported on teens deliberately ingesting sanitizers with ethyl alcohol to get drunk, since it is inexpensive and its sale is not restricted. The alcohol content can even be increased when the sanitizer is distilled according to instructions available on the internet. However, medical professionals caution that the practice is very dangerous, and a number of people have ended up in the hospital with alcohol poisoning because of experiments involving drinking hand sanitizer.

In addition, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has questioned whether the use of hand sanitizer is as effective as claimed. Questions have also been raised as to whether the product is safe when used often, especially when used on the very young, seniors, and pregnant women. Some experts have also questioned whether the regular use of products like hand sanitizers is creating a new generation of bacteria that are resistant to known antibacterial agents.

Hand sanitizer attracted much cultural attention in 2020 with the outbreak of the global COVID-19 pandemic. Fear of the virus led to widespread panic buying and hoarding of sanitizers, along with other disinfectants and protective equipment. This caused shortages in many areas, including for medical workers, and some manufacturers of other products such as perfume and liquor switched to making hand sanitizer to meet demand. Many consumers also sought alternative products, leading to several warnings from the FDA over ineffective or dangerous formulations. Products containing methanol were particularly highlighted as toxic.

Bibliography

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