Hand Sanitizer Safety

Hand sanitizer is a great alternative to soap, however recently some have been found to be dangerous. According to the FDA “Methanol is not an acceptable active ingredient for hand sanitizers and must not be used due to its toxic effects.

When it comes to reducing germs on your hands, soap and water will always be the best choice. Always wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds. (Especially after going to the bathroom, before eating, and after coughing, sneezing, or blowing one’s nose). Antibacterial soaps, such as those containing triclosan, were found to be no more effective at killing germs than regular soap. If soap and water is not available, then one might utilize hand sanitizer. These hand sanitizers work well to reduce germs on your skin if used correctly (according to the label), and if they contain at least 60 percent ethanol. The proper use of hand sanitizer typically involves applying enough to cover the entire surface of both hands and rubbing your hands together until your skin is completely dry.

Recently the FDA has seen a sharp increase in hand sanitizers tainted with methanol. Methanol can be toxic when absorbed through the skin or ingested. Some symptoms may include depression, confusion, headache, dizziness, blindness, and the inability to coordinate muscle movement.

The FDA’s investigation of methanol in certain hand sanitizers is ongoing” the FDA said in a statement. The link to the FDA article and the list of contaminated hand sanitizers can be found in this link: https://www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-safety-and-availability/fda-updates-hand-sanitizers-methanol. At this time, there are currently 55 hand sanitizers found to be contaminated with methanol. These hand sanitizers should be avoided.