|  | Public Health Safety | Public Health

Types of Hand Sanitizers

Hand sanitizers are all the rage these days. Horror stories about killer bacteria running rampant in hospitals and being carried out into the streets, not to mention swine flu, avian flu and tuberculosis, have everyone scrambling to get any and all bacteria and viruses off their hands as often as possible. As a result, a wide variety of hand sanitizers have appeared on the market. Here's a rundown of the different varieties, and their pros and cons.

  1. Triclosan-Based Gels

    • Many hand sanitizers, including the popular Vicks Early Defense, work because they contain a pesticide agent called triclosan (also known as Microban). There has been a great deal of controversy about triclosan because while it works, it is reported to kill bacteria in such a way that the remaining bacteria become resistant to it. What's more, the website Beyondpesticides.org reports that triclosan has been linked with numerous health problems ranging from thyroid dysfunction to even cancer. It seems that hand sanitizers, and the many antibacterial soaps and other products that contain it, may be best avoided.

    Alcohol-Based Gels

    • Most hand-sanitizing gels on the market for use in health-care facilities and in the home are alcohol based. Alcohol isn't implicated in as many health issues as triclosan, but it must be present in the sanitizer at a concentration of at least 60 percent to work. Many hand sanitizers on the market have lower alcohol concentrations than this, so it's important to read the label of the one you're considering buying. Be sure to keep all alcohol-based hand sanitizers away from children. The New England Journal of Medicine has reported a number of cases of people who have consumed it ending up with alcohol poisoning.

    Alcohol Wipes

    • Pre-moistened sanitizing towelettes, often called Wet-Naps after a common brand name, are also usually alcohol based---so just as with gels, be sure the alcohol concentration is at least 60 percent. Because the amount of liquid in each wipe is fairly small, however, there is little risk of intoxication from alcohol ingestion.

    Good Old-Fashioned Soap and Water

    • Despite being somewhat unfashionable, plain soap and water make an excellent hand sanitizer. It fact, the New York Times reported in September of 2009 that both soap and water and hand sanitizers are effective in staving off the H1N1, or swine flu, virus. The CDC even says that the best way to sanitize hands is to wash them for 20 seconds with soap and water, and to only use a standalone hand sanitizer if soap and water aren't available.

    Essential Oil-Based Sanitizers

    • With all the concern about health problems related to triclosan and proper concentrations in alcohol-based sanitizers, some people have chosen to avoid both triclosan and alcohol by choosing hand sanitizers powered by essential oils for those times when soap and water aren't available. Clean George and Young Living are just two of the many companies that make hand sanitizers containing rosemary, eucalyptus and other oils that have long been known to have antimicrobial properties.

Public Health - Related Articles