All of a sudden, hand sanitiser is one of the most important personal care products you can own.
To help you make the most of your hand sanitiser, take a look at some frequently asked questions, find out what you need to know when it comes to buying hand sanitiser online and learn how to use it to protect yourself from the spread of germs and viruses.
What is the best hand sanitiser to buy online?
Wikipedia describes hand sanitiser as a “liquid or gel generally used to decrease infectious agents on the hands.”
Hand sanitiser works by destroying disease-causing agents, or pathogens. When effective, it breaks apart proteins, splits cells into pieces or disturbs the cell’s metabolism so it can no longer spread.
However, just because the bottle says it is hand sanitiser or a sanitiser that only requires one application and lasts for hours doesn’t mean it is an effective product.
According to CDC(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention): “Many studies have found that sanitizers with an alcohol concentration between 60–95% are more effective at killing germs than those with a lower alcohol concentration or non-alcohol-based hand sanitizers(Reference A, B).
Hand sanitizers without 60-95% alcohol:
- May not work equally well for many types of germs
- Merely reduces the growth of germs rather than killing them outright.”
The most important ingredient, as specified by CDC, is pure alcohol. If there is no alcohol in the hand sanitiser you buy, be aware that it may not do the job and protect your hands from germs.
The alcohol content in the hand sanitiser product you buy must be at least 60% to make it effective.
Is hand sanitiser better than soap and water?
Right now, health authorities advise that washing your hands with soap and water is the best way to reduce the spread of germs.
Of course, soap and water are not always available, especially when you’re out and about. The next best thing is a hand sanitiser. You can carry the hand sanitiser conveniently with you and you won’t need a towel to dry your hands after using it.
When to use hand sanitiser and when it is not effective
An alcohol-based hand sanitiser (aim for at least 60% alcohol) will quickly reduce the number of germs/microbes on your hands by dissolving their outer layers.
When you are out and about, for example at the supermarket or visiting your doctor, take some hand sanitiser with you. Use it when you leave your house or vehicle and again when you return to minimise the germs on your hands.
Despite the effectiveness of quality hand sanitiser, there are some instances where you are better off using soap and water. For example, if your hands are quite dirty from handling food, playing sport, gardening or working on your car, the layer of dirt and grease may be too much for the hand sanitiser to penetrate.
If you are at a hospital, you may wish to take extra precautions by using a combination of hand sanitiser and soap and water.
How to use hand sanitiser properly?
When applying your hand sanitiser, check the amount recommended on the bottle. Rub this amount all over the total surface area of both hands, front and back.
It is important to take time to rub it in evenly all over both of your hands and continue to do so until your hands are dry. It is recommended to rub your hands together for 15 to 20 seconds.
The most forgotten areas to apply hand sanitiser is under your fingernails, between finger webs and the back of your hands. Give these areas attention and you’ll have better chances of protecting yourself against disease.
As with using soap and water, the action of rubbing the hands for 20 seconds plays a large part in eradicating any microbes/germs.
If you follow these simple steps you will be able to make the most of your hand sanitiser and help to keep Perth as safe and healthy as possible.
At Dermedica in Perth, we are pleased to be able to supply hand sanitiser that has the recommended alcohol content to our customers around Australia.
Dermedica online is providing this quality product in a convenient travel size available to buyers in Perth and beyond. Our product is non-drying and ideal for sensitive skin.
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Want to take better care of your hands?
If you have noticed your hands are looking dry and aged from using endless hand sanitiser, we can help to revitalise them.
Dermedica offers a number of affordable hand rejuvenation treatments to help your hands look more youthful. Check out the following hand rejuvenation treatments:
- Simple DIY Moisturiser plus kit
- Advanced Skin Needling
- Laser-like treatment to remove age spots
- Skin tightening
- Biostimulatory collagen stimulating treatment.
For more information: Hand Rejuvation
Reference
A) Todd ECD, Michaels BS, Holah J, Smith D, Grieg JD, Bartleson CA. Outbreaks where food workers have been implicated in the spread of foodborne disease. Part 10. Alcohol-based antiseptics for hand disinfection and a comparison of their effectiveness with soaps.external icon J Food Prot. 2010 Nov;73(11):2128-40.
B) Kampf G, Kramer A. Epidemiologic background of hand hygiene and evaluation of the most important agents for scrubs and rubs.external icon Clin Microbiol Rev. 2004 Oct;17(4):863-93.