How Often To Apply Hand Sanitizer

In our daily activities and routines, we hold or touch a lot of things.

Are we aware, that it could be from the goods we hold can transmit various types of bacteria and germs that can cause various diseases?

However, these bacteria and germs can actually be prevented by our daily behavior and habits.

The effort we can do is to diligently wash hands using an antiseptic, or use a handrub, as explained by Dr. Ronald Irwanto, SpPD-KPTI.

"Hand hygiene is one of the main keys in the infection prevention and control program," he explained.

According to him, diligently washing hands with soap or using a hand sanitizer is powerful enough to prevent germs and viruses that cause disease from sticking to our hands.

Dr. Ronald also explained, actually we don't need to be afraid to wash our hands often or use handrubs.

"There is no limit to the number of times you have to wash your hands or use a hand sanitizer," he explained.

The doctor who practices at Pondok Indah Puri Indah Hospital, Jakarta, explained that hand washing soap and hand sanitizer will not disturb the balance of good bacteria in our hands.

"Using a hand sanitizer is also not a problem, because it can kill germs that cause disease more effectively than regular hand washing," he concluded.

Dangers of Using Hand Sanitizer Too Often: Can Be Poisoned
The use of germ killer liquid or hand sanitizer has long been believed as a shortcut to wash hands.

Lately, many people buy bottles of hand sanitizer as a preventative measure from exposure to the COVID-19 virus that is becoming a worldwide epidemic.

However, the use of germ-killing liquid is actually dangerous, especially if it is not true in using it.

Reporting from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or CDC, the use of hand sanitizers can increase the risk of poisoning. High alcohol content in it is often accidentally swallowed, especially in children.

This is evidenced by the fact that US poison control centers received nearly 85,000 calls for hand sanitization poisoning among children throughout 2011-2015.

Children like things that are fragrant, brightly colored, or attractively packaged, including germ-killing liquid.

To overcome this, adults are advised to keep hand sanitizers in a place that is out of reach of children. In addition, the use of germ-killing fluid must be under the supervision of adults.

Meanwhile, the use of germ-killing fluid in excess is also proven to be dangerous and make you sick.

Piedmont Healthcare wrote on its website that some researchers believe excessive use of hand sanitizers might cause children to lose the ability to build resistance to bacteria.

This is one theory that develops related to environmental sensitivity which is inversely proportional to the increase in allergies in children.

"By continuing to use hand sanitizers, you eliminate bacteria that help build your immune system, allow antibiotic-resistant insects to enter your system and make you very sick," said Samer Blackmon, MD, an internal medicine specialist at Piedmont Healthcare, supporting this theory.

As a child, the immune system is strengthened by daily exposure to germs. Basically, the body will always develop and adapt to environmental conditions.

When exposure to parasites, bacteria and viruses is limited early in life, children face a greater chance of not being able to fight this foreign agent.

Researchers believe this is leading to an increased tendency for children to have allergies, asthma, and other autoimmune diseases later in life.

On the other hand, using too often and too much germicidal liquid will also make the skin more sensitive. Natural oils and water vapor produced by the skin disappear after the use of hand sanitizers.

Reporting from Kyoto Report, hand sanitizer can make hands become drier and damaged. Hand skin with these conditions will be more prone to cracking, which makes it easier for viruses to enter the body.

Indeed, in fact, finding a sink and soap is more difficult than buying a bottle of hand sanitizer and taking it anywhere so you can wear it when necessary. Certainty so as not to damage the skin is to not wear it too often.

On the Piedmont Healthcare website, Dr. Blackmont said, the use of hand sanitizers would not be dangerous if not used frequently. It would be better if not accustom children to wear it every day.

Teach children to wash their hands with soap and water properly after touching foreign objects, before and after eating, going in and out of the bathroom, or when needed.

According to the CDC, hand sanitizers to be effective must be used properly. This can be interpreted by using the right amount and rubbing it on the surface of both hands until it is completely dry. After using it, do not wipe your hands or wash it.