Sanitiser-Composition, Uses & Side Effects
Hand sanitizer is among the most well-known household products that have gained prominence since the COVID-19 outbreak. This innocuous substance, which is essential for preserving personal cleanliness and stopping the spread of infectious diseases, has come to represent our collective struggle against invisible threats. However, what is hand sanitizer actually, how does it function, and what are the effects it has on society and our health? We go deeply into the realm of sanitizers in this extensive overview, covering everything from their composition to their functions and their negative effects.
What is Hand Sanitiser?
When soap and water are not easily accessible, hand sanitizer—also referred to as hand rub, hand antiseptic, or hand disinfectant—is a liquid, gel, or foam formulation that is mainly used to destroy germs and bacteria on the hands. The main active ingredient is usually alcohol, with additional ingredients added to improve efficacy, scent, and skin conditioning qualities.
Composition of Common Sanitisers
Depending on the particular brand and formulation, hand sanitizers have different general compositions. But the main active component of most hand sanitizers is alcohol, which break down proteins and breaks down the cell membranes of bacteria and viruses to operate as a potent germicide. Ethyl alcohol (ethanol) and isopropyl alcohol (isopropanol), the two most prevalent forms of alcohol used in hand sanitizers, have both been shown to be efficacious against a variety of infections.
Hand sanitizers may also include additional substances in addition to alcohol, like:
- Water: Water is used as a diluent to change the alcohol’s concentration.
- Glycerin and other humectants: Aid in preserving skin hydration and averting skin dryness.
- Aloevera or other emollients: They hydrate and calm the skin, preventing alcohol’s drying effects.
- Fragrance: Added for visual appeal to hide the alcoholic stench and enhance the user experience.
- Thickening agents: These substances give the sanitizer the gel, liquid, or foam viscosity that is required.
Types of Hand Sanitisers:
Alcohol-based hand sanitisers:
The most often used kind of hand sanitizers are alcohol-based ones, which are advised by health authorities due to their potency against a variety of infections, including viruses like the COVID-19-causing SARS-CoV-2 virus. Most alcohol-based hand sanitizers range in alcohol concentration from 60% to 95%.
Non-alcohol-based hand sanitisers:
Although less popular, these sanitizers use different antibacterial agents such triclosan or benzalkonium chloride. But against some viruses and bacteria, these formulations might not be as efficient as sanitizers with alcohol as a base.
Natural hand sanitisers:
Sanitisers Uses and Application:
When soap and water are not accessible or are difficult to use, hand sanitizers are mostly used to disinfect hands. To efficiently eliminate germs and lower the risk of infection, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises using hand sanitizers with at least 60% alcohol content. The following is an excellent way to apply hand sanitizer:
- Put one hand’s worth of sanitizer in the palm, the size of a cent.
- Rub your hands together, rubbing the backs of your hands, rubbing in between your fingers, rubbing under your nails.
- Rub the sanitizer continuously until it has dried fully, which should take no more than 20 to 30 seconds.
Sanitsers Side Effects:
- Skin dryness and irritation : Hand sanitizers’ high alcohol concentration can deplete the skin of its natural oils, causing dryness, redness, and irritation, especially after repeated usage.
- Allergic reactions: Some people may experience skin allergies or contact dermatitis as a result of sensitivities to certain compounds found in hand sanitizers, such as perfumes or preservatives.
- Chemical ingestion: Accidental hand sanitizer consumption can result in alcohol poisoning, which can induce symptoms including nausea, vomiting, disorientation, and, in extreme situations, respiratory depression and coma. This is especially true for youngsters.
To minimize the risk of side effects, it’s essential to use hand sanitizers as directed, avoid contact with eyes and mucous membranes, and keep them out of reach of young children.
When the COVID-19 pandemic broke out in late 2019, demand for hand sanitizers skyrocketed as people all around the world took strict hygiene measures to stop the virus from spreading. Sales of hand sanitizer surged, causing shortages in several areas and forcing producers to increase output to keep up with the extraordinary demand.
Since the outbreak, people have carried tiny bottles of sanitizer with them everywhere they go, making hand sanitizers commonplace in homes, offices, and public areas. Governments and health agencies have also launched hand hygiene campaigns, stressing the value of hand sanitization in stopping the spread of infectious diseases like COVID-19.
In situations where washing hands with soap and water is neither possible or available, hand sanitizers are essential for preserving personal hygiene and halting the spread of infectious diseases. Because of their strong antiseptic qualities and ease of use, hand sanitizers are now a vital weapon in the fight against infections like COVID-19.
But it’s important to use hand sanitizers sensibly, adhering to application recommendations, and being aware of any possible negative effects. Hand sanitizers will continue to be an essential weapon in our fight against infectious illnesses as we negotiate the difficulties brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. They are a quick, easy way to keep ourselves and others safe.
