With more people using hand sanitizer as a means of fending off germs, there has been a surge of choices for the consumer. With the H1N1 virus still in the back of the public’s mind, many companies plan to profit off sanitizers. But, not all sanitizers are made the same. Here are some guidelines to follow, and things to look for to keep yourself healthy and your hands germ free.
1. Moisturizer- Alcohol based hand sanitizers dry out your skin, causing them to crack and become rough. Many sanitizers on the market now contain moisturizers like Aloe Vera to keep your skin hydrated. The moisturizer infused products also have been shown to increase the effectiveness of the sanitizers capabilities.
2. Use More!- If you can dry your hands in 15 seconds you aren’t using enough. It is recommended to use at least a silver dollar sized amount. It should take about 30 seconds for your hands to be dried.
3. Check the alcohol content- For a sanitizer to be effective it must have at least a 60% alcohol content. Budget brands can contain less. At the same time sanitizers with a large alcohol content, like 95% have been shown to not have enough moisture to work correctly. More information on the effectiveness of gels can be found on the Center for Disease Controls website.
4.Use wipes- An AJIC (American Journal of Infection Control) study showed that in gels and wipes with similar ingredients the wipes were proven to be more effective at killing germs. It is concluded that gels should be used for on-the-go situations.
5. Sanitizers vs. Soap and Water-According the the FDA hand sanitizers should not replace regular soap and water hand washing. More in-depth information on the differences can be found on about.com’s biology section.
With these pointers you should be able to protect yourself from germs for effectively. Is there anything about your sanitizer habits that you might change with these points in mind?
For even more tips on how to keep yourself free of sickness and healthy talk to a doctor in your area!
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