Great Risk of Using Hand Sanitizers

 

-By Kamal Shrestha

“Use hand sanitizers with care otherwise, it only becomes a habit like a drinking tea or coffee in the morning, afternoon or even before going to bed because of its feeling of cool tingling sensation and its alcoholic alluring fragrance. If you use it enough, it’s horrible for skin and you will only accelerate the appearance of aging. It’s not an alternative to washing hands with a hygiene soap and water. Only use it when it is not possible to hand wash”  
 
Everyone knows about the critical situation brought by Covid-19 and the coronavirus. People are being scared of it since its spread throughout the world. WHO says, ” The best way to prevent and slow down transmission is be well informed about the COVID-19 virus, the disease it causes and how it spreads. Protect yourself and others from infection by washing your hands or using an alcohol based rub frequently and not touching your face.”  
 
It’s a good habit to wash our hands frequently with a hygiene soap and water or use hand sanitizers in case of contact with people or things. In my opinion and according to the healthcare expert- hand washing is better than hand sanitizers for healthy lifestyle. Maximum use of sanitizers cause the skin dry which accelerate the appearance of aging.  
 
Hand sanitizers are quick, portable, and convenient, especially when you don’t have running water nearby. It has a form of alcohol, such as ethyl alcohol, as an active ingredient and works as an antiseptic.  
 
If we go back to history, hand sanitizer became popular in the 1990s. It became the perfect solution to free germs. People were obsessed with being germ free in seconds— on the plane, in the car, at the playground, etc. Hand sanitizer is invented by the medical practitioners. It came to be a handy to doctors and nurses as they were often rushed in their daily duties.  
 
COVID-19 Update: Please use hand sanitizer during this pandemic to keep yourself safe. This article is not intended to spread unnecessary things in the mass of people. Stay home, stay safe.  
 
Hand washing with Soap and water kill and flush germs from skin. Hand sanitizers work by sitting on skin and killing germs on contact. They only work, however, if they have enough alcohol to kill the germs—at least 60 percent, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).  
 
1. Risk of Habitual Use: If we use hand sanitizer frequently, it becomes hazardous. We will be fascinated to use it instead of washing hands with soap and water. If this habit persists, they may consistently have unclean hands and could potentially spread germs or contract illnesses. To avoid using it more, only use sanitizers when it is not possible to wash your hands conventionally and just buy small bottles of sanitizers to limit your use.
 
2. Potential Fire Hazard: According to the World Health Organization, some hand sanitizers are flammable due to their high alcohol content. So avoid using alcohol-based sanitizer near a heat source or an open flame.  
 
3. Toxic Chemicals: Hand sanitizer is loaded with toxic chemicals if it is scented. Pharmaceuticals aren’t required to disclose the ingredients that make up their secret scents, and therefore generally are made from dozens of chemicals. These chemicals are irritating and have been linked to allergies and hormone disruption.  
 
4. Weakens immune system: We think we’re reducing our risk of getting sick when we use hand sanitizers, but they can actually weaken the immune system. Studies have shown that ultra-clean environments—particularly early in life—can contribute to reduced immune defenses later on.  
 
5 Dry skin: The alcohols used in hand sanitizers include isopropyl, ethanol, and n-propanol. These are the drying alcohols we told you about. They irritate the skin, strip away it’s natural oils and acid mantle, dehydrate cells, and increase risk of contact dermatitis.  
 
6. Accelerate aging: All those drying effects can lead to increased appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, as well as calluses, cracks, and flakiness. Over time, alcohols can disrupt the natural barrier function, reducing skin’s ability to protect itself, and leading to increased dehydration.  
 
7. Damage skin: Scientific studies have shown that alcohols can actually damage skin cells.  
 
8. Antibiotic resistance: Many hand sanitizers these days are made with triclosan. Triclosan contributes to making bacteria resistant to antibiotics. Using hand sanitizers may actually lower your resistance to diseases by killing good bacteria, which helps protect against bad bacteria. This antibacterial has been found in animal studies to disrupt hormone function. It’s also connected to the rise of so-called “super-bugs”—bacteria and viruses that can resist antibiotics.  
 
(Reference: https://www.thestreet.com, https://safety.lovetoknow.com/Hand_Sanitizer_Dangers, https://www.annmariegianni.com/7-reasons-why-you-should-avoid-hand-sanitizers/