Hand Hygiene

With all the health advice headlines awash on the front pages of the press concerning viruses- you could easily be excused for panic buying masks and hand sanitiser products.

Many antibacterial hand sanitising products, can actually more harmful to you and the environment, than the germs you are hoping to control.

Products that contain triclosan or triclocarban, which is an ingredient that can also be found in soaps and even toothpaste, e.g. products labelled antibacterial, antimicrobial, or antiseptic soaps were deemed to pose ‘unnecessary risks to health ‘ by the American FDA. These and 27 other chemicals were banned for use in these products, though some could be used in products licensed by drug companies as medication.

Using the wrong chemicals can actually cause the hands to quickly re-populate with bacteria after use, causing greater amounts of bacteria than before use, and have been shown to be ineffective in many cases.

List of banned hand sanitizer chemicals:

The FDA has barred 28 ingredients from use on over-the-counter antiseptic rubs.

chloroxylenol

chlorhexidine gluconate

cloflucarban

fluorosalan

hexachlorophene

hexylresorcinol

iodine complex (ammonium ether sulfate and polyoxyethylene sorbitan monolaurate)

iodine complex (phosphate ester of alkylaryloxy polyethylene glycol)

methylbenzethonium chloride

nonylphenoxypoly (ethyleneoxy) ethanoliodine

phenol (equal to or less than 1.5 percent or greater than 1.5 percent)

poloxamer iodine complex

povidone-iodine 5 to 10 percent

secondary amyltricresols

sodium oxychlorosene

tribromsalan

triclocarban

triclosan

triple dye

undecoylium chloride iodine complex

polyhexamethylene biguanide

benzalkonium cetyl phosphate

cetylpyridinium chloride

salicylic acid

sodium hypochlorite

combination of potassium vegetable oil solution, phosphate sequestering agent

triethanolamine

Tea tree oil is probably here because it’s so effective it’s been re classed as a medicine, and also because essential oi

Hand Hygiene

With all the health advice headlines awash on the front pages of the press concerning viruses- you could easily be excused for panic buying masks and hand sanitiser products.

Many antibacterial hand sanitising products, can actually more harmful to you and the environment, than the germs you are hoping to control.

Products that contain triclosan or triclocarban, which is an ingredient that can also be found in soaps and even toothpaste, e.g. products labelled antibacterial, antimicrobial, or antiseptic soaps were deemed to pose ‘unnecessary risks to health ‘ by the American FDA. These and 27 other chemicals were banned for use in these products, though some could be used in products licensed by drug companies as medication.

Using the wrong chemicals can actually cause the hands to quickly re-populate with bacteria after use, causing greater amounts of bacteria than before use, and have been shown to be ineffective in many cases.

List of banned hand sanitizer chemicals:

The FDA has barred 28 ingredients from use on over-the-counter antiseptic rubs.

• chloroxylenol
• chlorhexidine gluconate
• cloflucarban
• fluorosalan
• hexachlorophene
• hexylresorcinol
• iodine complex (ammonium ether sulfate and polyoxyethylene sorbitan monolaurate)
• iodine complex (phosphate ester of alkylaryloxy polyethylene glycol)
• methylbenzethonium chloride
• nonylphenoxypoly (ethyleneoxy) ethanoliodine
• phenol (equal to or less than 1.5 percent or greater than 1.5 percent)
• poloxamer iodine complex
• povidone-iodine 5 to 10 percent
• secondary amyltricresols
• sodium oxychlorosene
• tribromsalan
• triclocarban
• triclosan
• triple dye
• undecoylium chloride iodine complex
• polyhexamethylene biguanide
• benzalkonium cetyl phosphate
• cetylpyridinium chloride
• salicylic acid
• sodium hypochlorite
• combination of potassium vegetable oil solution, phosphate sequestering agent
• triethanolamine

Tea tree oil is probably here because it’s so effective it’s been re classed as a medicine, and also because essential oils need to be used with care and properly diluted before use on skin.

Workers exposed to sanitisers containing ‘biocides’ have been found to be more at risk of thyroid cancer in addition. (Reuters)

Sanitisers may also contain ingredients such as : methylparaben, propylparaben, fragrance (synthetic sensitising chemicals etc) diazolidinyl urea or other chemical anti-microbe agents. None of which would be considered natural, and are things you should avoid exposure too, unless absolutely needed eg In a strict work hygiene protocol.

Simply replacing all the above with simple hand washing- soap and water is better for you, and is less likely to damage the skins own protective layer of sebum.

Hand Washing

Rub hands together, under clean running water with soap, and continue to wash whilst counting to twenty, washing all the way up to your wrists and lower forearm.

According to research, washing hands for longer periods is not more effective and can start to dry out skin.

‘For those times in-between’ the only safe and effective sanitisers are made with food grade and cosmetic grade ethanol or tdsa.

Alcohol Hand Sanitisers are the most effective containing at least 60% -89% denatured alcohol

Properly formulated, these should work against most bacteria, some virus (including flu) however, not always effective against fungi or Nora virus or E. coli. (Soap and water is better!)

Alcohol is drying to skin, but a good formula will contain a small amount of glycerine and in medical settings, the type of mixture used in commercially produced sanitisers, is thought to be slightly less drying to skin, than the equivalent amount of hand washes needed!

Denatured alcohol usually needs a license for purchase in the Uk.

Why not use 90 % alcohol?

It evaporates too quickly, and does not allow the alcohol to penetrate the protein wall of bacteria, so may not work as well.

Safety-wise; bear in mind an alcohol-based hand sanitizer should be kept away from all children in case they drink it, plus it could also be flammable (As is perfume) so be mindful where you spray it.

This kind of mixture can also be used to wipe down door handles, chair arms, nail files, and limited small work surface areas.

Essential oils like Lavender Tea Tree Peppermint Geranium Neroli Etc may be used in a commercial formulation at around 1% depending on the oil.

The advice for those making homemade sanitiser recipes is that these are best left out, due to the varying qualities of essential oils, and the need for extensive filtering to reduce aromatic carbons that might render the mix ineffective.

ls need to be used with care and properly diluted before use on skin.

Workers exposed to sanitisers containing ‘biocides’ have been found to be more at risk of thyroid cancer in addition. (Reuters)

Sanitisers may also contain ingredients such as : methylparaben, propylparaben, fragrance (synthetic sensitising chemicals etc) diazolidinyl urea or other chemical anti-microbe agents. None of which would be considered natural, and are things you should avoid exposure too, unless absolutely needed eg In a strict work hygiene protocol.

Simply replacing all the above with simple hand washing- soap and water is better for you, and is less likely to damage the skins own protective layer of sebum.

Hand Washing

Rub hands together, under clean running water with soap, and continue to wash whilst counting to twenty, washing all the way up to your wrists and lower forearm.

According to research, washing hands for longer periods is not more effective and can start to dry out skin.

‘For those times in-between’ the only safe and effective sanitisers are made with food grade and cosmetic grade ethanol or tdsa.

Alcohol Hand Sanitisers are the most effective containing at least 60% -89% denatured alcohol

Properly formulated, these should work against most bacteria, some virus (including flu) however, not always effective against fungi or Nora virus or E. coli. (Soap and water is better!)

Alcohol is drying to skin, but a good formula will contain a small amount of glycerine and in medical settings, the type of mixture used in commercially produced sanitisers, is thought to be slightly less drying to skin, than the equivalent amount of hand washes needed!

Denatured alcohol usually needs a license for purchase in the Uk.

Why not use 90 % alcohol?

It evaporates too quickly, and does not allow the alcohol to penetrate the protein wall of bacteria, so may not work as well.

Safety-wise; bear in mind an alcohol-based hand sanitizer should be kept away from all children in case they drink it, plus it could also be flammable (As is perfume) so be mindful where you spray it.

This kind of mixture can also be used to wipe down door handles, chair arms, nail files, and limited small work surface areas.

Essential oils like Lavender Tea Tree Peppermint Geranium Neroli Etc may be used in a commercial formulation at around 1% depending on the oil.

The advice for those making homemade sanitiser recipes is that these are best left out, due to the varying qualities of essential oils, and the need for extensive filtering to reduce aromatic carbons that might render the mix ineffective.