The Benefits of Alcohol Free Hand Sanitizer

When choosing a hand sanitizer, there are usually two options, alcohol-based and alcohol-free varieties. Often times it appears that the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommend the alcohol-based formulas for situations when soap and water are not available. However, the alcohol-free hand sanitizer formulas have many benefits over the alcohol-based kinds that are acknowledges and recommended by the CDC.

Alcohol-based hand sanitizers have a longer standing tradition than those without alcohol, but the effectiveness does not differ. The CDC issued a memorandum in September 2009 stating that since many schools and other “clean” facilities ban alcohol products, including sanitizers, alcohol-free is equally effective. A government would not make such a statement during one of the most publicized pandemics in modern history if it was not valid.

While the CDC verifies the efficiency of alcohol-free hand sanitizers, the American Association of Poison Control Centers prefers alcohol-free over alcohol-based for safety reasons. In a 2007 report, they estimated that approximately 12,000 people suffered alcohol poisoning that was directly attributed to hand sanitizers. This can be brought on simply by placing hands in or near the mouth after application, or preparing food. Also, children are common users of hand sanitizers and are more apt to ingest the substance. Most alcohol-free hand sanitizers are non-toxic. However, if a child does ingest the substance, contact the Poison Control Center.

Another safety issue with alcohol-based hand sanitizers is the flammability of the product. The FDA, the CDC, the EPA, and several other government run agencies all mandate that warnings must be inserted into the product warning caution and dictating the proper usage. Alcohol-free hand sanitizers do not necessitate safety instructions.

Studies recognized by the CDC have compared alcohol-based and alcohol-free hand sanitizers in terms of their effect on germs and the effect on skin. Most notably, the alcohol-based formulas cause dry skin in the area it is applied to. While this may seem primarily cosmetic, this can pose a health risk. If the skin becomes overly dry, small cracks that may not be caught by the eye provide entrances to germs. Alcohol-free hand sanitizers do not dry out the skin, and many formulas even add moisture.

Another discovery of alcohol-based hand sanitizers is that the effectiveness is lost within seconds of application. The alcohol is the main germ fighting agent, but it evaporates quickly. Because alcohol-free hand sanitizers utilize organic compounds that have greater longevity, the productivity continues past the point of application to continue protecting against germs and infection.

The CDC may commonly recommend alcohol-based hand sanitizers, but increasing studies and discoveries are opening the door to alcohol-free hand sanitizers replacing them. The most important aspect to remember is that they exist for the purpose of maintaining good health. Both have the potential to destroy the germs that have the potential to destroy health.