Keeping your family safe and healthy is an ongoing job. Fortunately, there are an abundance of tools out there to fight off the potential for sickness—hand sanitizer, for example. During the pandemic, carrying around a bottle of hand sanitizer became a necessity. Even though the danger has somewhat abated, it’s still a good thing to carry a bottle around. But is it safe to use hand sanitizer every day? And what are its other potential effects and cautions? Here’s a quick breakdown on hand sanitizer and its use.
What Is It Good For?
Many diseases are transmitted when the hands encounter bacteria, viruses, or other microbes and the person unmindfully touches their face, nose, mouth, or eyes. Hand sanitizers, which can contain up to 60 percent alcohol, kills the germs on contact, and is a convenient cleaning alternative in the absence of soap and water.
Convenient and thorough, hand sanitizers are especially effective at keeping children’s hands germ-free, reducing the chances of illness and doctor’s office visits. But hand sanitizer has its potential cons as well. Here are a few to consider.
Potential Risks
In general, when used properly, hand sanitizer is perfectly safe. Excessive use, however, may lead to the following issues:
Skin Irritation
Too-frequent use of hand sanitizer may lead to irritated and dry skin, due to its high alcohol content. When used to excess, the alcohol may remove the skin’s natural oils, leading to dryness and irritation. For that reason, pick sanitizers that include ingredients that moisturize the skin, such as aloe vera and glycerin. Let children know about the potential for dry skin and encourage them to use moisturizer should their skin become irritated.
Ingestion Risk
Most children over a certain age know not to drink hand sanitizer. But with its prevalence and safeness, younger ones may not immediately understand the danger. Likewise, they may need a warning not to put their hands in their mouths immediately after sanitizing. Supervise their use, and make sure they rub their hands together until the sanitizer absorbs. Pick a sanitizer equipped with a bitter flavor as well.
Overuse and Antibiotic Resistance
Some strains of bacteria have developed resistance in response to the prevalence of antibiotic medications. Hand sanitizer is a different thing altogether. Alcohol-based sanitizers kill germs through a different process, breaking down proteins to kill the germs. Regardless, let your children know that soap and water is more effective and doesn’t contribute to bacteria developing resistances.
Other Factors
One way overusing hand sanitizer causes harm is when it’s thrown away. Don’t toss unused hand sanitizer in the trash. It can enter the ecosystem, contaminating water and soil, hurting plants and animals. Think of the planet’s health as well as your children’s—after all, it’s their world too!
So is it safe to use hand sanitizer every day? It’s complicated, but with proper and safe use, hand sanitizer can keep your family healthier and happier!
