Hand sanitizer stands as a crucial component of upholding proper hygiene standards and curbing germ proliferation. In instances where soap and water aren’t easily accessible, hand sanitizer emerges as a viable alternative. Grasping the nuances between hand washing and hand sanitization, along with understanding when to deploy each method, is pivotal in effectively combatting illness.
Delineations between cleansing hands with soap and water and utilizing hand sanitizer are noteworthy. Soap and water excel in the complete removal of diverse germ types from hands, whereas sanitizers predominantly target specific germs on the skin.
While alcohol-based hand sanitizers exhibit the capacity to swiftly reduce germ counts across various situations, their proper usage remains imperative. Soap and water surpass hand sanitizers in terms of efficacy, especially when it comes to eliminating specific germ categories such as Norovirus, Cryptosporidium, Clostridioides difficile, and certain chemicals. Moreover, hand sanitizers might not effectively eradicate hazardous substances like pesticides and heavy metals, such as lead.
For instances when soap and water aren’t immediately accessible, the CDC recommends these hand sanitizer use guidelines:
– Before and after visiting a hospital or nursing home resident, except if they are afflicted by Clostridioides difficile (in such cases, opt for hand washing).
– Employ an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with a minimum of 60% alcohol content.
– Refrain from using sanitizer if hands are visibly soiled or greasy, such as post-gardening, outdoor play, fishing, or camping.
– Dispense a sufficient amount of sanitizer to cover all hand surfaces.
– Vigorously rub hands together until dry (typically around 20 seconds).
– Avoid rinsing or wiping off sanitizer before it dries, as this might compromise its efficacy.
– Employ sanitizer right after coughing, sneezing, or blowing your nose.
The Landscape of Recalled Hand Sanitizers:
The FDA has encountered pressing safety issues during recent tests with specific hand sanitizers. These issues encompass contamination with potentially harmful forms of alcohol, inadequate active ingredient levels (ethyl alcohol or isopropyl alcohol), and labels bearing false, misleading, or unsubstantiated claims.
Notable among the recalled Hand Sanitizers are:
– Blumen Clear Advanced Hand Sanitizer
– Klar and Danver Instant Hand Sanitizer
– MODESA Instant Hand Sanitizer Moisturizers and Vitamin E
– Hello Kitty Hand Sanitizer
– LumiSkin Advance Hand Sanitizer
Though hand sanitizers do reduce germ presence, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is alerting both consumers and healthcare professionals to hand sanitizer products containing methanol, also known as wood alcohol—a substance commonly used in fuel and antifreeze production but unsuitable as an acceptable active ingredient for hand sanitizers. Methanol can prove toxic upon skin absorption and life-threatening if ingested.
The FDA strongly recommends scrutinizing product labels to ensure the only alcohols present are ethyl alcohol and isopropyl alcohol (also known as 2-propanol). These two alcohols are the sole acceptable forms in hand sanitizers. Methanol and 1-propanol, among other alcohol types, are unsuitable for hand sanitizers due to potential toxicity in humans.
The FDA persists in quality-testing hand sanitizers and maintains an updated list of tested and recalled products on its official website. For comprehensive details, visit the FDA website’s dedicated page on hand sanitizers: www.fda.gov/handsanitizerlist.
Sources:
- Hand Sanitizer Use Out and About | Handwashing | CDC
- Safely Using Hand Sanitizer | FDA
- Q&A for Consumers | Hand Sanitizers and COVID-19 | FDA
- Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update: FDA Takes Action to Warn, Protect Consumers from Dangerous Alcohol-Based Hand Sanitizers Containing Methanol | FDA
- Is Your Hand Sanitizer on FDA’s List of Products You Should Not Use? | FDA
