How Does Hand Sanitizer Work?

Just like soaps, face creams, and ointments, hand sanitizers have become commonly used commodities nowadays. And yes, it all started when the coronavirus affected people in almost all countries of the world. Although sanitizers were being used by some people even before COVID-19, their widespread use began only during the pandemic. Hand sanitizers may come in the form of liquids, foams, or gels. You might already know that their main purpose is to kill the microorganisms or germs on your hands. In this blog, let’s discuss how a hand sanitizer works.

What Does the CDC Say About Hand Sanitizers?

According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), hand sanitizers are as effective as washing your hands with soap. However many researchers believe that washing your hands with soap and water is better than using sanitizers. However, if you are outside, and don’t have access to a sink, or soap and water, the only way to clean your hands is by using a sanitizer. But, if you are at home, you can also use hand sanitizers in addition to soap, which will give you added protection.

Types of Sanitizers

There are two main types of hand sanitizers: alcohol-based and alcohol-free. The former usually contains ethanol, isopropanol, and n-propanol. The CDC recommends the use of sanitizers with a minimum of 60% alcohol.

Contrary to popular belief, the alcohol in a sanitizer does not dissolve but evaporates after you apply it to your hands.

Why Do Many Sanitizers Contain Alcohol?

Do you know what role the alcohol in alcohol-based sanitizers plays in killing the germs on your hands?

The alcohol breaks down the outer protective coatings of bacteria and viruses present in your hands. To do this effectively, the alcohol concentration in your hand sanitizer must be high. This is why the CDC recommends the use of sanitizers with a minimum of 60% alcohol.

How Exactly Does a Hand Sanitizer Work?

Most of us are aware that sanitizers kill germs or disease-causing pathogens in our hands, but we don’t know how it happens. We just apply a sanitizer on our hands, but we don’t stop to think about the process through which the microorganisms in our hands are destroyed by that sanitizer. There’s no better time than now to seek the answer to this question! So, let’s start right away!

As stated earlier, the alcohol in a sanitizer breaks down the cell membranes of germs like viruses. The cell membranes of many disease-causing germs contain similar compositions, so sanitizers can kill a wide variety of microbes on your hands. When the membranes of the microbes are broken down, the proteins and other critical elements of these microbes get exposed. These elements are what keep the organisms alive, and when they are exposed, the organisms start dying. 

In some cases, after the cell membranes are destroyed, the metabolism of the microbes is disrupted, leading to their death. In other scenarios, the alcohol in hand sanitizers causes the death of the organisms by cutting their bodies into pieces (after the destruction of their membranes). 

Does Hand Sanitizer Disrupt Your Gut Flora?

The alcohol in many sanitizers might disrupt your gut flora by disturbing the bacteria in the gut microbiome. Alcohol can also alter the composition of your gut microbiome in a way that the happy harmony of the gut flora gets affected, resulting in things spiraling out of control!

The disturbance in the balance of gut flora leads to various gut problems, including changes in bowel movement, and issues with digestion, such as heartburn, bloating, diarrhea, and even IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome). 

In case you feel that your gut flora is disrupted, try consuming probiotics and fermented foods, which can help restore order in your gut microbiome.

The Effects of Sanitizer on Hand Skin

The alcohol in a sanitizer can easily make your hand skin dry, so, any alcohol-based sanitizer you buy will contain some moisturizing agent to minimize the drying.

You might also have witnessed other side effects of using sanitizers like redness, itchiness, or breakouts of eczema on your skin, a few minutes after application.

What Is the Proper Way to Use Sanitizers?

Follow these steps for proper application:

1. Take off all rings or jewelry that might be covering your hands.
2. Apply a generous amount of sanitizer on your hands.
3. Rub the sanitizer gently all over your hands, including the fingers and areas around the nails.
4. Let your hands dry for about 20-30 seconds. Avoid rinsing the sanitizer off your hands before it gets dry.

Important Note: Sanitizers might not be effective if your hands are smudged with mud or dirt. Since the hands of doctors and other healthcare professionals in a hospital setting don’t contain mud or dirt, sanitizers are effective on their hands. 

Does Sanitizer Kill Norovirus?

Have you heard of this virus before? If not, we will tell you what kind of pathogen it is. Norovirus is also known as the “Norwalk” virus or “Winter Vomiting Bug.” As the name suggests, the virus causes vomiting and diarrhea. It can also result in nausea and a high temperature. With a lot of fluids and rest, you can combat the symptoms caused by norovirus and recover within a couple of days.

Now, let’s get to the question that swarms in many people’s minds: Does the hand sanitizer you use kill norovirus? 

Hand sanitizers are not that effective in fighting the norovirus. First of all, this is a non-enveloped virus, which means it is highly resistant to temperature and pH changes. It’s also resistant to many types of disinfectants like alcohol. Therefore, even high concentrations of alcohol cannot kill the norovirus because they cannot penetrate the protein shell of the virus, known as “capsid.” The capsid encloses the nucleic acid of the norovirus. Thus, unlike the case with other viruses, a hand sanitizer cannot render the norovirus inactive!

Do Hand Sanitizers Have Expiry Dates?

Every hand sanitizer must have an expiry date, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It is usually printed on the top or back of the sanitizers. It’s not safe to use them past their expiry dates. They might not be too harmful but remember that they might not be as effective as they were within the expiry dates.