Germs spread easily from one person to another. They lead to infections, thus the need to kill germs by washing our hands frequently. Hand sanitizers are a way of killing germs. They act like disinfectants but do not remove all the germs like soap and water do. Sanitizers are used when soap and water are not available or after washing hands. They are advantageous since they can be used any time especially while travelling, unlike soap and water where you’d need access to a sink. For instance, during this Covid-19 pandemic, sanitizers come in handy. They destroy the micro-organisms coronavirus that cause Covid-19. Below you can learn about the various types of hand sanitizers that are manufactured.
Main Types
There are two main types of hand sanitizers namely: Alcohol-based and Alcohol-free hand sanitizers. Alcohol- based hand sanitizers contain varying amounts of alcohol. The alcohol kills germs by penetrating the germ or virus membrane. The alcohol-free hand sanitizer type contains quaternary ammonium. It is medically less effective than the alcohol-based hand sanitizer type. The alcohol in the hand sanitizers can penetrate most complex bacteria. During the covid-19 pandemic, the alcohol-free sanitizers are not recommended by the health professionals because they are not as effective as the alcohol-based. Prevention of disease is one purpose of using hand sanitizers. Doing it frequently reduces the risk of touching the eyes, nose or mouth unknowingly with contaminated hands.
The sanitizers are made with mostly liquid, as gels or as a foam. They contain moisturizers to help keep the skin soft and prevent from drying out. They should be rubbed to cover all parts of your hands including under the nails. They evaporate quickly which is also an advantage. The packaging can be small, easy-to-dispense bottles for easy portability and application. This ensures convenience during application and time saving.
Why Hand Sanitizers?
Hand sanitizers help reduce waste too in the case that people use paper towels to open doors. Using sanitizers reduces the use of paper towels by eliminating germs which is a better option. A disadvantage of hand sanitizers is that, for extremely dirty hands, the sanitizers do not clean the hands and in that case, soap and water are recommended. Sanitizers might have fragrant but the good thing is that they come in many types including those with less strong scents. They are most effective when used frequently, in enough portions, and if well stored or less exposed.
In comparison to soap and water, they beat washing hands with the moisturizing concept whereby the hands are not left dry or irritated. Healthier lives are what everyone aims at achieving. Diseases make people weak and uncomfortable. This said, embracing the idea of hand sanitizers makes complete sense. Treating illnesses is also more costly than preventing them in advance. Hand sanitizers should be made easily available to all people, and at cheaper costs, during a time like this during the Covid-19 pandemic to keep viruses at bay. They make living healthy lives easier.
