If you use hand sanitizer often, proper hygiene is obviously important to you.
It certainly can ease your anxiety until you’re close to a sink again!
If you’re curious as to what those may be, read on to find out!
That’s because it’s a vehicle for alcohol, according to Kristina Duda, a registered nurse.
That’s good news for the health-conscious commuter, for sure.
However, sanitizer is actually a littletoogood at killing bacteria, according to microbiologist Jonathan Eisen.
That’s because it kills off bacteria that’s beneficial for keeping our bodily functions in order.
Because hand sanitizer can wreak havoc on our healthy bacterial communities, Eisen advises against using it every day.
What’s so scary about antibiotic-resistant bacteria anyway?
Still, hand sanitizer isn’t a magical elixir regardless of what the bottle claims.
And, as is often the case, more research is needed.
You definitely don’t want to go home with those all over your hands!
There’s a reason for that, as noted byJanette Nesheiwat, a family and emergency medicine doctor.
“Or use soap and water instead of an alcohol-based sanitizer when possible.”
Are you sensing a theme?
Handwashing is king, folks.
It’s also worth noting thatdry skincan be more than just annoying.
If your hands are dry to the point they become cracked, you may be more susceptible to infection.
“It at least seems plausible,” microbiologist David Coil toldReader’s Digest.
That would make it pretty tough to get things done, especially if you work extensively with your hands.
This is especially the case if you opt for specific kinds of hand sanitizer, as noted by Fischer.
Sounds like that could be a problem for a while!
In fact, theCDConly recommends using hand sanitizer that contains atleast60 percent alcohol.
As it turns out, that’s an antiquated practice, according to wound care expert Dr. Kazu Suzuki.
It’s also going to packquitethe sting!
“It’s important to use soap and water if your hands need to be cleaned of dirt.”
After all, that’s certainlya lot strongerthan your averagewhiskey!
If a smidgen accidentally lands on your lip, though, that’s not a cause for concern.
If you guzzle a few mouthfuls, on the other hand, you might be in trouble.
Can using hand sanitizer every day impair your muscles?
Wild animals may also be vulnerable, which isn’t good news for their survival rates if exposed.
“The evidence was stronger in postmenopausal women than in premenopausal women.”
So the older you get, the more of an issue this could become.
Li and a team of fellow researchers reviewed data from nearly 2,000 women in the United States.
That’s a significant difference!
As triclosan can also be found in some soaps, see to it you’re read those labels carefully.
