Hand Sanitizer User Guide

Hand disinfectants that came into our lives in the corona period have an important place both in our business and daily life. Hand disinfectants, one of the most effective tools to protect against coronavirus, provide effective protection when used correctly. But when used incorrectly, it loses its effect and causes some health problems. So, what should be considered when using hand sanitizer?

What is a disinfectant?

We can define disinfectant briefly as a chemical substance that removes or kills disease-causing microorganisms on living or non-living surfaces. Disinfectants used in Disinfection processes neutralize pathogenic microorganisms that cause infections. However, not every disinfectant is sufficient to kill bacterial spores and all viruses. Sanitizers are used in cases where disinfectants are insufficient. Indeed, sanitation means reducing the number of microorganisms on a surface to a safe level. To put it scientifically, during the sanitation process, the number of microorganisms is reduced by 5 logs within 30 seconds, which means the death of 99.99 percent of microorganisms.

Sanitation process is mostly used for disinfection of medical environments. Hospital, operating room, health center, etc. The use of disinfectants may be insufficient to prevent the spread of infections in environments. However, it is necessary not to use sanitary solutions for daily use outside of these environments. Because sanitary solutions destroy almost all microorganisms in the environment, not only pathogenic microorganisms. However, among these microorganisms, there are also species that are necessary and beneficial for the ecosystem. Although the use of sanitary solutions has increased in hospitals and similar environments during the corona period, "disinfectant" is considered sufficient. Especially alcohol-based hand disinfectants provide adequate protection against coronavirus.

What is hand sanitizer for?

The main function of hand disinfectant is to prevent pathogenic microorganisms from causing infection by contact by providing hand hygiene. It is possible to find many disinfectants belonging to different types and brands in the market. Although the content of disinfectants varies slightly according to brands, they must be sufficient to neutralize pathogenic microorganisms. Among the disinfectants, especially alcohol-based ones, they provide effective protection against both bacteria and viruses. The effect of disinfectant alcohol and hand sanitizer types alcohol based is much higher than other types of disinfectants. Alcohol in the composition of disinfectants enables bacteria and viruses to be destroyed by breaking down the cell membrane. In this way, the person not only provides his own hand hygiene, but also prevents the spread of bacteria and viruses to others

Can any disinfectant be used for hands?

Some of the active ingredients used in disinfectants are not suitable for use on the skin. Surface disinfectant disinfectants are not suitable for hand use. Surface disinfectants are among the most useful products for cleaning different surfaces in homes and offices. As a matter of fact, these products are used for surface cleaning in many different environments such as food production areas, sanitary areas and laundries as well as general areas. Compared to ordinary cleaners, surface disinfectants have a different chemical composition. Thanks to these compositions, they not only provide surface cleaning in one go, but also clean the air and prevent the formation of bad odors in the environment.

However, surface disinfectants are not suitable for use on the skin. So much so that the use of surface disinfectant should be done with cleaning tools such as a clean cloth or mop, not with bare hands. Before you buy hand sanitizer, you should definitely pay attention to whether the product you will use is suitable for the hand. If you use surface disinfectants on your hands, you may experience complaints such as various skin irritations, redness and burning. You should also check the package insert that comes with the product or read the instructions for use on it. If you have any skin sensitivity, you should consult a dermatologist before using hand sanitizer.

When to use hand sanitizer?

Hand sanitizers are the secondary choice in hand cleaning and hygiene. Washing your hands with soap and water should always be your first priority. However, in cases where you cannot reach water and soap during the day, you can protect your hands with hand sanitizer. However, if you have visible dirt on your hands, you shouldn't be satisfied with using hand sanitizer. Although disinfectants contain concentrated alcohol, they do not clean visible dirt and do not give your hands a clean look.

If you have the opportunity to wash your hands with soap and water during the day after suspicious contact, you should wash your hands instead of using hand sanitizer. After washing your hands, you should not rub your hands with a hand sanitizer once. In such a case, hand sanitizer combined with the moisture in your hand will not come out easily. Your hands must be dry for the alcohol in the hand sanitizer to evaporate. You do not need to apply hand sanitizer after washing your hands, and if you do this, the alcohol stays on your hands longer and causes irritation and redness.

What amount of hand sanitizer should be applied?

The correct amount for hand sanitizer is 2.5 cm diameter hazelnut kernels. Usage patterns below this amount may be insufficient against bacteria and viruses. On the other hand, irritation and burning sensation in the hands, eczema, etc. complaints may occur.

How to apply hand sanitizer?

To apply the hand sanitizer correctly, it is necessary to take the disinfectant in the palm and spread it on the hands to cover between the fingers and wrists. It should not be done in a very short time or a long time. In both cases, the active ingredients cannot function. If the fingers and wrists are neglected, hand sanitizer may not be effective enough.

How long should it take to apply hand sanitizer? 

Since alcohol-based hand disinfectants are highly effective disinfectants, it is sufficient to apply between 2 and 5 seconds. If you rub your hands thoroughly during this time, the active ingredients in the disinfectant will spread to your hands. If you keep rubbing your hands for 10-15 seconds, the alcohol will evaporate with your body temperature, so your hands will not be wet.

Is cologne made of hand sanitizer? 

Colognes usually use alcohol of 70 degrees and above. It is possible to use colognes that contain alcohol between 70 and 90 degrees as a hand disinfectant. However, alcohol content evaporates rapidly from sealed colognes. In such a case, the disinfection provided by cologne will be extremely limited. cologne with 70 degrees and above alcohol If you want to use the variants as a hand sanitizer, you must ensure that the mouth is kept tightly closed after use.

Can hand sanitizer be smelling?

Hand disinfectants are chemical substances and may cause some health problems if used incorrectly. Due to the chemicals used in disinfectants, different chemicals that give perfume or fragrance can be mixed with disinfectants in order to avoid bad odors in the environment. These chemicals, which evaporate with alcohol when in contact with the skin, can be harmful to the respiratory tract. For this reason, you should not put your hands near your nose after applying hand sanitizer to see if your hands smell nice. Whether your hands smell nice or not, the scent of the disinfectant will evaporate in a few seconds.

Can hand sanitizer be used on a mask?

Using hand sanitizer on a mask has become quite common practice recently. However, masks, especially surgical masks, are among the disposable products, and the properties of these products are not features that can be recovered when washed or disinfected. Fabric masks used as an alternative to surgical masks are not an effective tool against coronavirus. Compared to surgical masks, cloth masks, printed masks and patterned masks provide weaker protection. misconceptions to use masks The application of cologne causes the active ingredients in their composition to be inhaled into the body. The moisture on the mask surface creates a favorable environment for bacteria and viruses to reproduce.

Can desk and mobile devices be cleaned with hand sanitizer?

Hand disinfectants are special products developed for hand cleaning and hygiene and should only be used on hands. You should not use hand disinfectants for cleaning tables and other furniture, mobile devices and other items at home or in the office. The amount of alcohol and active ingredients in hand disinfectants have been specially determined to ensure disinfection only on a limited surface. If you use these products for cleaning large surfaces, you will not get effective results. You should only use surface disinfectants for surface cleaning. Likewise, you should not use any chemicals containing alcohol on your mobile devices and other electronic items. Otherwise, there will be discoloration and a bad appearance on your items. We can also say that alcohol-based products have harmful effects on touch screens.

What are the side effects of using hand sanitizer?

The active ingredients used in hand disinfectants may cause some side effects, especially if used frequently. Among these, dry skin and skin irritation, eczema and burning are the most common side effects. When using hand disinfectant, you should not use the products unnecessarily in order to avoid such side effects, so you should avoid contact as much as possible. If you need to use hand sanitizer after questionable contact, you can use softening or moisturizing products after disinfectant. However, you should be careful that these products are water based, not alcohol based. If you apply an alcohol-based moisturizer to your hands after an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, the irritation and burning sensation on your skin will increase.

Can hand sanitizer be prepared at home?

Increased awareness about cleanliness and hygiene during the corona period increased the interest in disinfectants. Disinfectants, which provide effective protection against coronavirus, have also started to take an important place in the home and office budget. For this reason, various searches began for the production of disinfectants at home. However, making a disinfectant at home may not provide effective results and may lead to some health risks. It makes sense when the production of disinfectants within the scope of chemical substances is done in accordance with certain standards. We cannot say that some disinfectants prepared by mixing various solutions, even naturally in the home or office environment, can provide effective protection against coronavirus.

We wish all our readers healthy, enjoyable and lucrative days…