Alcohol Hand Sanitizers INCREASES exposure to H1N1, says manufacturer

Nearly all off-the-shelf liquid hand sanitizers and hand wipes are alcohol based. Over-use of hand sanitizers cause more health problems than they prevent. Alcohol dries the skin causing cracks that open a direct pathway to the human bloodstream.


One Louisiana-based company indicates their research department urges caution in over-use of cheap alcohol based hand sanitizers. The company offers safe and effective non-toxic hand sanitizers.

Hand sanitizers can cause more health problems than they prevent. Nearly every off-the-shelf hand wipe and liquid hand sanitizer is alcohol based. Alcohol dries the skin causing cracks -- opening a direct pathway for disease to the human bloodstream. When a hand sanitizer includes an alcohol or a petroleum by-product, that hand wash also presents a real possibility for toxic exposure, whether it includes organic ingredients or not.

With the word 'Pandemic' being tossed about daily it is no wonder people are taking precautions. Recent news reports indicate that retail stores are seeing a dangerous reduction in the inventory levels of hand sanitizer. As more people become concerned and flock to the stores to stock up on alcohol-based hand sanitizers, a bigger crisis is being created.

Imagine the general population walking around with open pathways to disease at the tips of their fingers, naively cloaked in a false sense of security because they think they are safe. The very convenience of hand sanitizing gels and over-use can be dangerous.

Here's the rub, literally. Did you know that alcohol-based sanitizers work by stripping away residue from the hands, and unfortunately that includes the natural oils produced by our body?

This constant stripping away of moisture and protective oils from your skin cause the surface to dry out. The result from repeated, constant use of this alcohol based product is the development of fine cracks and fissures in the skin that are made worse by movement during normal daily activity.

To make matters worse, people tend to over-use instant products, and avoid actually washing their hands.

If this becomes a habit, individuals may consistently have unclean hands and potentially spread germs or contract illnesses through contact with bacteria or viruses. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) states that 30% to 40% of all healthcare associated infections (or HAIs) are due to contaminated hands, and they recommend using a moisturizer to reduce incidence of dry, cracked skin, because moisturized, hydrated skin cuts down the risk of cross-contamination. The alcohol dries out your skin, which causes cracks to form, then they split open and become raw.


This exposure of sub dermal layers leads to an increased susceptibility to invasion of contagious diseases like Influenza a H1N1 Swine Flu.

Alcohol based hand sanitizers are only effective to a certain extent. Alcohol stays active on your hands for only up to 5 seconds, and it dries and cracks your skin, making you more susceptible to contracting the virus. You are more at risk from constant use of alcohol-based hand products because opening fissures in the skin of your hands actually creates a shortcut for harmful pathogens to enter your bloodstream. Now germs simply enter directly in through your hands, no need to touch your eyes or mouth to transmit harmful pathogens to the body.