A hand sanitizer is
often used as a substitute for cleaning hands when soap and water are not
available. It comes in the form of gel, foam or liquid. It mainly consists of
ethanol/ethyl alcohol (60 per cent) and other chemicals along with ingredients
like glycerine, fragrance, essential oils of plants and water. Non-alcohol
based hand sanitizers are also available.
A dollop of hand sanitizer is enough to remove germs from your hands without the use of water. The high concentration of alcohol in the sanitizer kills the bacteria present on the surface of the hand. It simultaneously strips away the outer layer of oil on the skin, thus preventing the growth of new bacteria. Non-alcohol based sanitizers use a chemical called benzalkonium chloride instead of alcohol. However, the effectiveness of a hand sanitizer is a matter of debate. Studies indicate that it kills most bacteria, fungi and some viruses, but only if its alcohol content is at least 60 per cent. Moreover, it takes about 30 seconds for the alcohol to take effect—if it evaporates before, then your hand is not germ-free. A hand sanitizer cannot clean a dirty hand either.
