It is no secret that good hand hygiene is crucial for stopping the spread of germs and viruses, including COVID-19. Obviously, washing your hands for 20 seconds with warm water and a good antibacterial soap is the most effective form of killing germs present on your hands. However, we don’t always have access to a sink, warm water and soap!

3 Tips to get the most from your hand sanitiser:

1. Use the right amount – when applying hand sanitiser you need to ensure you are using enough product to cover the entire surface area. The general rule is a ‘dime-size’ amount (about the size of a 5c piece) – but if you feel that’s not enough, apply more until you have effectively covered the entire area.
2. Rub the product in thoroughly – it is recommended you rub hand sanitiser into the skin until your hands feel dry. Using the same method as washing, ensuring you get in between each finger, under the nails and around the thumb, this should take about 20-30 seconds.
3. Ensure your hands aren’t visibly dirty or greasy – residue such as dirt and oils will prevent the sanitiser from penetrating the skin and therefore effectively killing germs. If your hands are visibly dirty or greasy and you don’t have access to a sink and soap, try wiping your hands with a towel first, to remove any oils or dirt.

How hand sanitisers work:

Most sanitisers contain alcohol, which destroy the germ cells and kill them on contact. COVID-19 is known as an enveloped virus which means they are wrapped in a coat of lipids and proteins to hold the cells together. These lipids and proteins are dissolved by alcohol which essentially breaks apart the germ cells and kills them.

Natural Hand Sanitisers

A lot of hand sanitisers contain harsh chemicals and toxins that can be extremely drying and strip the skin of its natural oils. When picking a hand sanitiser, try using a natural one free off skin damaging toxins. Ingredients to avoid include benzalkonium chloride, tricoslan, parabens and fragrances. Sanitisers with ingredients such as glycerin prevent transepidermal water loss, ensuring your hands stay hydrated and aren’t stripped dry.