There are many different types of hand gel on the market. These provide hygienic care of the hands without the use of water or soap. In addition, when used properly, most viruses and bacteria are destroyed by the hand gel. How does this work and does every hand gel work against viruses and bacteria? Can you use hand gel for other purposes?
Use of hand gel
When you use this hand gel, put a small amount of gel (the size of a pea) on your hands. You rub your hands together and over each other to spread the gel. This is how you clean your hands. Handy for on the road, during a day out with the whole family or a visit to the petting zoo or playground. In short: anywhere where you do not have a tap nearby. The gel is supplied in a tube or in a pump bottle. The tube is most convenient to keep in your handbag or glove compartment.
Does hand gel always work for all bacteria and viruses?
The bactericidal and virucidal hand gel destroys all pathogenic organisms, not only bacteria and viruses but also fungi and yeasts. Dangerous bacteria such as MRSA (hospital bacteria) are also killed by the hand gel. To achieve this, the hand gel must contain at least 60% alcohol. According to the KCT (Kinetic Challenge Test), most alcohol hand gels kill all harmful bacterial strains within one minute.
Some bacteria form spores. The alcohol has no effect on spores and these can develop into bacteria on your hands. Hand gel does not help against spore-forming bacteria, even if it contains more than 60% alcohol.
How does hand gel destroy bacteria and viruses?
This destruction of bacteria and viruses is done by the alcohol (source 3). Alcohol settles between the molecules of the cell membrane of bacteria and viruses. This cell membrane, which consists of proteins and fats, is smoothed out when the alcohol molecules penetrate the membrane. This destroys the cell membrane.
However, the hand gel must be used properly to achieve this. You should rub the hand gel into your hands until they feel dry. Alcohol needs time to work properly on the microorganisms.
Brands of hand gel
- Herome
- Kenosept
- Toly
- Roof sept
- Hygicare
- Durable
- Kruidvat and HEMA also have their own brand of hand gel.
Athlete’s foot
If you are very sensitive to athlete’s foot, it is not a bad idea to thoroughly rub your feet with this gel after a visit to the pool. The gel also kills Trichophyton rubrum and Trichophyton mentagrophytes. These fungal infections are responsible for athlete’s foot and fungal nails. In any case, it is not a bad idea to rub your feet with this gel if you have been to a location where several people walk around barefoot. For example, think of a gym locker room.
Hand gel as an alternative to washing hands?
According to the Ministry of Health, people who wash their hands often are less likely to become infected with the influenza virus. It is recommended to wash your hands at least 6 times a day for at least 20 seconds and in any case after every visit to the toilet and before every meal. When there is no water nearby, hand gel is a good alternative.
The RIVM also advises using hand gel when you want to wash your hands and do not have water nearby. Especially during the Corona outbreak, it is wise to have hand gel in the car, so that hands can be cleaned if there is a lack of water. According to American research (source 5), the coronavirus can live for up to 72 hours on, for example, the handle of a shopping cart. Then it is a nice idea to be able to clean your hands before you drive home with the groceries.
Ingredients
Ingredients of the hand gel are generally: aqua, alcohol, propylene glycol, triisopropalonamine, PEG-60 almond, glycerines, acrylates/C10-30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymer, perfume.
A good bactericidal hand gel therefore contains alcohol. This can dry out the skin, despite the glycerin that is often added to hand gels. If you quickly have dry skin, it is best to use a hand cream immediately after the hand gel to prevent dehydration. Nowadays there are also hand gels on the market without alcohol. These contain the ingredient Benzalconium chloride. This germicidal agent helps against many bacteria, but has a less extensive bactericidal effect than the agents containing alcohol. It certainly does not help against viruses.
Don’t let it swing
To prevent incorrect use of hand gel, it is useful not to leave the tube lying around. Children can accidentally drink the drug with all its consequences. Several teenagers in America have already been hospitalized after drinking hand gel. They wanted to get drunk this way (the drug contains more than 60% alcohol), but ended up in the hospital instead.