What Are the Dangers of Using Purell Gels?

Purell and other waterless hand sanitizers have cropped up in schools, doctor's offices and other public places in recent years. Made primarily with ethyl alcohol, hand sanitizers are considered a safe and effective way to kill bacteria and prevent the spread of germs. Despite their relative safety, Purell and other hand sanitizers can also pose some minor health risks.

Ingestion

• Accidental ingestion is the largest issue with Purell and other hand sanitizers. In 2006, poison centers around the U.S. fielded more than 11,000 calls regarding the accidental consumption of an alcohol-based hand sanitizer...and the overwhelming majority involved children under six. Although none of the calls resulted in fatalities, alcohol-based sanitizers have the capability to make children very ill, so they should be kept away from very young children. If you send your child to school with a bottle, discuss the effects and dangers of ingestion.

Hygiene

• A common misconception is that applying hand sanitizer is equivalent to washing your hands. Although Purell and other hand sanitizers effectively kill viruses and bacteria, they don't remove dirt and other proteins. The friction of hand-washing and hot, running water is necessary to remove dirt and residue from hands. In fact, the presence of dirt reduces the efficacy of Purell. For maximum efficiency, wash your hands thoroughly before applying Purell or other alcohol-based hand sanitizers.

Dead Skin

• In conjunction with killing germs, Purell and other hand sanitizers effectively kill some of your skin cells. Purell strips the outermost layer of skin of necessary oils to slow the growth of bacteria and viruses. As a result, extensive use of hand sanitizers often results in dry, cracked skin. Use moisturizer or lotion after applying Purell to prevent dry skin.

Good Bacteria and Resistance

• Although germs and bacteria are negatively associated with illness, some germs in the environment are necessary. Not all bacteria is "bad" bacteria, but Purell and other hand sanitizers don't distinguish between "good" and "bad" bacteria. Some bacteria exposure is necessary to build tolerances and allow the immune system to fight them more efficiently in the future. If you attempt to immediately thwart every semblance of bacteria with hand sanitizer, you may weaken your body's ability to fight it in the future.