Ever since the world fell to its knees with the news of COVID-19, our life as we know it has spiralled out of control. Loo paper and hand sanitiser sales have gone crazy - the most recent news of gin and vodka distillers in Canada and Atlanta switching production from liquor to making sanitiser proves this item is in hot demand. Fingers crossed the global panic buying may ease, but until then, we want to shed some light on whether the sanitiser craze is worth worrying about, and how the humble bar of soap could be your new BFF. Here are some facts that might surprise you.
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What's best washing your hands with soap and water or using sanitiser?
If there is one thing you can take away from this article, hand-washing is more effective at removing germs and grime than hand sanitiser. "Hand sanitiser kills the germs but does not remove them from your hands," says US-based dermatopathologist Gretchen Frieling, MD. "The action of physically washing your hands well is what removes the germs physically and down the drain," Frieling says for those instances where you don't have access to water and soap, sanitiser serves as a good alternative. Still, it will not beat an old fashioned hand-wash. Another essential fact that backs hand-washing, v.s constant use of sanitisers, comes from research our of Kyoto Profectural University of Medicine. The mucus expelled (when you are sneezing, coughing, or blowing your nose) encases viruses and forms a protective barrier against ethanol and therefore, cannot be deactivated by hand sanitiser until the mucus is completely dry on the skin. The study found that washing hands, even just with water, was proven to deactivate the influenza A virus within 30 seconds, while mucus was still wet. Furthermore, soap contains fat-like substances called amphiphiles. These have a similar lipid membrane to the membrane that surrounds a virus, so when you wash your hands, the fat from the soap binds with and to that virus' membrane causing it to disconnect, which essentially makes the virus fall apart.
How long should you wash your hands?
Thoroughly and at least for 20 seconds in warm (or cold) water with soap. That means washing in-between your fingers, on the backs of your hands, and underneath fingernails. Also, the soap brand you use is irrelevant; antibacterial soap isn't necessary for preventing COVID-19 as it's a virus (not bacteria), according to NYC-based dermatologist Hadley King, MD.
Can hand sanitiser cause skin sensitivities?
The short answer is no. However, sanitiser does cause your hands to feel dry; this is because of the high alcohol content (an effective sanitiser should have at least 60 per cent ethyl alcohol), which can damage the skin and cause irritations. "There have been studies in the past about how hand sanitisers may disrupt your healthy microbiome and leave you more vulnerable to some infections," says NYC-based dermatologist Hadley King, MD. Who adds that continued use of sanitiser breaks down the skin, leaving it cracked and chapped, which is when germs can enter these crevices, making sanitising more of an issue than a reactive measure.
Can hand sanitiser absorb into the bloodstream?
According to Niket Sonpal, MD, a New York-based internist, and gastroenterologist, "Hand sanitisers contain about 65 per cent ethyl alcohol, and some of it is absorbed into the skin." He adds, "Research has found alcohol in the bloodstream of people who constantly use hand sanitiser. Alcohol from the sanitisers can also be absorbed through inhaling its vapours, which there is no logical reason to do." However, he is quick to add. "You'd have to apply a lot of hand sanitiser topically to see an internal effect. Researchers at the University of Florida had 11 participants use sanitiser every five minutes, 10-hours a day for three days, and found that each had alcohol metabolites consistent with drinking alcohol. But again, that is an excessive amount of sanitiser for one person to use.
What about preparing food with sanitiser on your hands?
According to those experts, you're likely not going about it correctly and could be unknowingly causing harm. In fact, according to Sonpal, you should be washing your hands after sanitising. "You must wash your hands immediately after using hand sanitiser, and before handling food, this will not diminish the virus killing effects," he says. "It's vital because washing your hands removes chemicals and other fragrances that exist in commercially produced hand sanitiser that could make you and your family sick. The exception is situations where food products are not handled by hand, such as when products are sealed." If you're not near a water source, Sonpal warns that you should make sure the sanitiser is dry on your hands before touching food. "You shouldn't pour so much hand sanitiser on your hands that you would be ingesting a toxic amount of it," says Sonpal. "According to the American Council On Science and Health, to effectively clean your hands with sanitiser, you need to use three millimetres."
What's the best hand sanitiser to buy?
Read the label. "You want to look for formulas with at least 60 per cent alcohol, and up to 95 per cent. In times of outbreak, you want to make sure you have something to neutralise germs." The key here is alcohol, such as ethyl alcohol or ethanol, says NYC-based dermatologist Hadley King, MD. His advice is that popular non-alcohol alternatives like benzalkonium chloride are not as good, "The science supports that alcohol kills coronaviruses." Be mindful; sanitiser does expire, so that bottle you have had in the cupboard for years has to go, it won’t be effective. "Usually, sanitisers expire approximately three years from the date of manufacturing," explains Niket Sonpal, MD, a New York-based internist and gastroenterologist. "Many brands have products with alcohol levels of 60 per cent or more. The issue is that the alcohol in the mixture evaporates over time, and if it reaches below 60 per cent, the solution becomes less effective," says Sonpal.