|  | Conditions Treatments | Medical Conditions

What Are the Dangers of Hand Sanitizer Wipes?

Hand sanitizer wipes contain soap and ethyl alcohol. They are convenient when you are on the go or have young children playing at a germy playground. Hand sanitizer wipes are useful against viruses and germs. However, they carry risks, especially to children. It's useful to know this so that you can utilize the benefits of hand sanitizer wipes while reducing the risks.

  1. Skin Irritation

    • Hand sanitizer wipes can irritate the skin, especially sensitive skin. Using the wipes can make cuts or scrapes painful, itch and may even cause rashes on the skin. The reason for the stinging and burning in cuts and abrasions is the alcohol content. If you have dry skin and handle hand sanitizer wipes, it can aggravate conditions such as eczema. If you have sensitive skin, test the hand sanitizer wipes on a small section of skin before using them.

    Poison

    • According to the American Association of Poison Control Centers, in 2006, there were approximately 12,000 cases of poisoning caused by hand sanitizers. Some of the symptoms of poisoning caused by hand sanitizer wipes are vomiting and dizziness. The dangers of poisoning are due to the high alcohol content. Because young children put things in their mouths, it is important to keep hand sanitizer wipes away from them.

    Fire

    • The high alcohol content in hand sanitizer wipes is also a dangerous fire risk. They must be kept away from all sources of flame or heat. To mitigate this risk, do not touch anything that runs the risk for fire after handling the hand sanitizer wipes. In fact, it's best to wait a substantial amount of time, such as one hour, before touching anything that has the potential to be flammable.

Medical Conditions - Related Articles