Does hand sanitizer have a disinfecting and sterilizing effect? ​​Is hand sanitizer corrosive?

Hand sanitizer is a product that we all use. It is very helpful for cleaning our hands. Some people want to know whether hand sanitizer has a bactericidal effect. So does hand sanitizer have a disinfecting and bactericidal effect? Is hand sanitizer corrosive?

Does hand sanitizer have a disinfecting and sterilizing effect?

We wash our hands daily mainly to remove dirt and disinfect. But not all hand sanitizers are antibacterial. The greater function of hand sanitizer is antibacterial. If you want a bactericidal effect, it is best to use a hand sanitizer with a 75% ethanol concentration. Ordinary hand sanitizers only have a cleaning function, while antibacterial hand sanitizers have a bactericidal function in addition to a cleaning function. The hand sanitizer is packaged in a convenient pump head, which is easy to use, isolates from external pollution, and avoids cross-infection caused by shared soap. When purchasing hand sanitizer, you need to go through formal channels. "Xiao Zihao" disinfectant hand sanitizer, as long as it is a regular product, has undergone special testing before being put on the market. It has no harm to the human body and can also play an antibacterial and antibacterial role.

Is hand sanitizer corrosive?

No. Ordinary hand sanitizer can be said to be a liquid version of soap. Its cleaning ingredients are mainly anionic surfactants and a small amount of non-ionic and zwitterionic surfactants. This type of hand sanitizer usually has the function of cleaning and removing dirt. The national standard does not have specific requirements for the sterilization effect of ordinary hand sanitizers, but only requires that the bacteria in the hand sanitizers must not exceed the standard. Antibacterial/antibacterial hand sanitizer is ordinary hand sanitizer with antibacterial or bactericidal ingredients added. It has obvious killing or inhibitory effects on common pathogens on the hands, such as pyogenic cocci, intestinal pathogens, pathogenic fungi, etc. After SARS, this type of hand sanitizer emerged in large quantities and is suitable for use in public places with large traffic such as hospitals, shopping malls, supermarkets, and bus stations. The national standard has clear requirements for the bactericidal/inhibitory indicators of this type of hand sanitizer: when labeled as an antibacterial product, the bactericidal rate should be ≥90%; when labeled as an antibacterial product, the antibacterial rate should be ≥50%. The third category is hand sanitizer, which is basically a sterilization and disinfection product, mostly in spray or gel form, and the main sterilization ingredient is usually alcohol. Because it does not require flushing, it is very convenient to use. This type of hand sanitizer can be often seen during this epidemic.

What are the ingredients in hand sanitizer?

1. Surfactant: Surfactant is the main ingredient in the formula of hand sanitizer. Its basic function is to remove oil and dirt on the hands and produce a certain amount of foam.
2. Emollients: Emollients are also essential ingredients in hand sanitizers. Glycerin is the most widely used. It can leave a protective film after the moisture on the skin surface evaporates, preventing or slowing down the loss of moisture inside the skin and maintaining the skin's moisturizing properties.
3. Thickener: When using hand sanitizer, if the viscosity is too low and it is not easy to stay in the hands, the cleaning ability will be affected. The most commonly used thickener is inorganic salt, such as NaCl, which is cheap, has good thickening effect and is easy to use.
4. Anti-slip agent: In order to reduce the slipperiness of hand soap during the washing process and increase the skin's cleansing feeling, a certain amount of anti-slip agent can be added to the formula. C18-20 anionic surfactants can locally form a larger surface tension in hand soap, reducing the greasy feeling during the washing process. Among them, those with mild properties can be selected as anti-slip agents.
5. Preservatives: In order to prevent and inhibit bacterial growth and ensure that the product has a certain shelf life, a certain amount of bactericidal preservatives must be added to the hand sanitizer. You should choose non-toxic, non-irritating to the skin, light-colored and inexpensive preservatives. Commonly used ones include sodium benzoate.
6. Appearance regulator: In order to make the product pleasing to the eye, appropriate flavors and colors can be added to the hand sanitizer. Generally, you can choose fruity, floral or light fragrance to adjust the aroma.

Is it better to have hand sanitizer with alcohol or without alcohol?

Alcoholic good. When buying hand sanitizer, it is better to buy one containing alcohol. Compared with non-alcoholic hand sanitizers, hand sanitizers containing alcohol have excellent disinfection and sterilization functions, and their evaporation speed is relatively fast, which can fully demonstrate the characteristics of hand sanitizers, being quick and effective. Alcohol-free hand sanitizer can be said to be a hand moisturizing product with no effect, because the disinfection, sterilization and no-washing functions of the hand sanitizer itself come from alcohol. Without alcohol, the hand sanitizer is equivalent to only some moisturizing gel, which has no effect on hand cleansing. Therefore, it is better to contain alcohol.