Why do antibacterial cleaners contain alcohol

Research suggests that alcohols are swiftly germicidal when applied to the skin but have no noticeable persistent residual activity. However, it has been documented that the regrowth of bacteria does occur slowly after its use.

This may be because of the sublethal effect alcohol may have had on the residual bacteria. Adding chlorhexidine, octenidine, or triclosan to alcohol-based hand rubs may result in somewhat persistent protection as well. Ethanol, the most common alcohol ingredient, appears to be the most effective alcohol against viruses, whereas propanol is considered a better bactericidal alcohol. The combination of alcohols may also have a synergistic effect.

ABHS also often contain humectants, like glycerin, which helps prevent skin dryness, and emollients or moisturizers, like aloe vera, which help replace some of the water stripped off during use. Their widespread use in the home could make some bacteria resistant to these antibacterial substances.

There is evidence that the use of antibacterial and antimicrobial cleaning products — combined with the over-prescription of antibiotics — may produce strains of bacteria that are resistant to disinfectants and antibiotics. There are several issues involved:. Disinfectants are often not used correctly. Antibacterials such as triclosan can enter the environment and accumulate over time, leading to antibiotic resistance.

Most bacteria actually help humans. For example, intestinal bacteria help us to digest food. When you use antibacterial or antimicrobial cleaning products, good bacteria are also killed. This could be harmful if the ratio of good to bad bacteria is disturbed, and bad bacteria get the upper hand. Healthy households do not need antibacterial cleaning products.

Effective hand washing with soap, and household cleaning using warm water and a plain detergent, is the cheapest way to get rid of germs. Avoid antibacterial or antimicrobial products — they are more expensive, no more effective at cleaning and their widespread use may pose a wider health risk.

Researchers have suggested that the modern obsession with cleanliness may be partly responsible for the increase in allergic asthma and conditions such as hay fever allergic rhinitis. It has also been suggested that some exposure to certain microbes may actually help regulate the immune system.

This is based on the observations that growing up in a large family, being in child care from a young age and living with household pets seem to reduce the chances of developing allergic disease. More research into this area is needed, but current understanding seems to suggest that the immune systems of children may need some exposure to bacteria and other microbes in order to function at their best. In other words, a little dirt never hurt anyone.

We should target our hygiene practices to the areas of greatest risk, such as washing hands after going to the toilet and before handling food.

Surface disinfectants or sprays should not be used on humans or animals. They are intended for use on hard, non-porous surfaces. CDC states you should never eat, drink, breathe or inject disinfectants into your body or apply directly to your skin as they can cause serious harm.

Human antiseptic drugs, such as those permitted in hand sanitizers, are intended for use on human skin but are not intended for aerosolization. In addition, hand sanitizers are intended for use on the hands, and should not be used over larger body surfaces, ingested, inhaled, or injected.

Only two alcohols are permitted as active ingredients in alcohol-based hand sanitizers — ethanol ethyl alcohol or isopropyl alcohol isopropanol or 2-propanol. Methanol and 1-propanol are not acceptable ingredients in hand sanitizer and can be toxic to humans. Is it ok to use non-alcohol-based hand sanitizer instead of alcohol-based hand sanitizer?

Is it ok to use hand sanitizer with benzalkonium chloride instead of alcohol-based hand sanitizer? While they are not alcohol-based, and thus not recommended by CDC, there are some hand sanitizer products containing benzalkonium chloride as an active ingredient that may be legally marketed if they meet the requirements for marketing under section G of the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.

However, as noted above, there are no hand sanitizers, including those containing benzalkonium chloride, that are legally marketed specifically for the prevention or treatment of COVID Hand sanitizers using active ingredients other than alcohol ethanol , isopropyl alcohol, or benzalkonium chloride are not legally marketed, and FDA recommends that consumers avoid their use.

What is the risk of using a hand sanitizer that contains methanol wood alcohol? A: FDA is warning consumers and health care professionals about hand sanitizers that contain methanol, also known as wood alcohol, because it is a dangerous and toxic substance. Methanol can cause serious side effects when absorbed through the skin and can cause blindness or death when swallowed. Do not use any products on this list of hand sanitizers with potential methanol contamination, and continue checking this list often as it is being updated daily.

Check your hand sanitizer products to see if they are on this list and dispose of them immediately if they are. What should people do that have been exposed to hand sanitizer with potential methanol contamination?

A: Methanol exposure can result in nausea, vomiting, headache, blurred vision, permanent blindness, seizures, coma, permanent damage to the nervous system or death. Although people using these products on their hands are at risk for methanol poisoning, young children who accidentally swallow these products and adolescents and adults who drink these products as an alcohol ethanol substitute are most at risk.

People who have been exposed to hand sanitizer containing methanol and are experiencing symptoms should seek immediate medical treatment for potential reversal of toxic effects of methanol poisoning.

Q: What should I do with hand sanitizer that contains methanol wood alcohol? A: If you have one of the products on this list of hand sanitizers with potential methanol contamination, you should immediately stop using it and dispose of the product, ideally in a hazardous waste container. Because these hand sanitizers contain significant amounts of methanol, do not pour these products down the drain or flush them. I assumed they killed existing but were not a preventative measure.

Tesfa April 23, AM. Jennifer May 6, AM. I have found liquid hand sanitizer. I would like to make it into a gel. Is it safe and still effective? Tiffany May 6, PM.

Myra May 12, PM. This is a completely false assertion based on an unfounded urban legend: "In , while still a nursing student, Lupe Hernandez patented an alcohol-containing, gel-based hand sanitizer for hospitals. Amiee May 19, PM. The article is incorrect.

Riya May 20, AM. Alpha Arogya May 21, AM. Thank you for sharing this blog. I would like to add a few points of mine too. With the sudden increase in demand, market is flooding with cheap quality hand sanitizers. Applying this cheap sanitizer on hand means poisoning yourself because — 1.

Hands start turning white if used times a day; 2. Hands begin to crack and you feel the need to wash hands frequently; 3.

Due to the use of alcohol alone, antibacterial layer on the foreskin of hands start breaking down. This cheap alcohol enters are body and starts attacking our Lymphatic system, Therefore, it is recommended that one only uses a hand gel that contains the right grade alcohol and other mentioned contents. For more information, visit Alpha Arogya. John May 29, AM. Just a question since alcohol based hand sanitizer kills germs instantly does drying your hands with a paper towel after use prevent it from working effectively.

Irene June 11, AM. Good Article! Is is safe to use hand sanitizers before food? Also is it safe to use alcohol based hand sanitizers? Does it causes any problem to our hands due to prolonged use? Gilbert June 11, PM. Yes, drying your hands out too fast does reduce the effectiveness of the hand sanitizer. The alcohol needs a "dwell time" on your hands to penetrate and kill the germs to be effective.

Hand sanitizers with added ingredients create a thin "film" to keep the alcohol on your skin to increase it's effectiveness. While I appreciate the CDC and FDA's intent with the hand sanitizer temporary exception that allows any alcohol compounder to make hand sanitizer, the ingredients they are using evaporate quickly, reducing the germ-killing power, and dry out the hands, making it uncomfortable to use.

The best product is a high quality, made in the USA product that is FDA registered, and is the best insurance to make sure you get the safest and most effective hand sanitizer.

Levi Armstrong August 24, AM. It's great that you said that I should keep a bottle of hand sanitizer in my bag during this pandemic because they are the next best thing if there's not a handwashing station nearby. This pandemic has been making me constantly anxious whenever I go our for necessities because I don't want to bring virus home to my kids and immuno-compromised mother. I've read online that aloe vera balances the harsh drying effects of alcohol, so I'll buy aloe gel hand sanitizers the next time I go out.