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Can Excessive Use Of Liquid Hand Washes And Hand Sanitizers

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Posted on Sun, 28 Oct 2018
Question: Can excessive use of liquid hand washes and hand sanitizers cause any side effects or do we really need to limit its use only when needed??

Please explain me more clearly so that I can take a call accordingly especially in case of kids. Also suggest for what we need to check for when buying a hand wash in the market.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Kampana (1 minute later)
Brief Answer:
As explained below.

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

Thanks for your query.

I have gone through the details. Yes, excessive use of hand sanitizers and liquid hand wash is dangerous as it can decrease the immunity by wiping out the good bacteria as well. Also by excessive use, there can be wear and tear of the skin as it will lose its natural quality.

So hand wash has to be limited to before eating and after using the bathroom to improve the immunity and also to prevent the bacteria to get resistant to the alcohol or antibiotic. Also, hand wash has to be by water and soap rather than a sanitizer. Only when there is no facility of a washroom can the sanitizer being used.

I hope this answered your query.

Regards,
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Kampana
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Kampana (1 hour later)
Thank you so much for your response.

The answer looks very generic. Can you please help me by explaining it in detail with more technicalities or with more proven solutions. Like what in those hand washes can actually cause what type of problems in using them excessively.

Try to be more specific like what in them is good and what in them is bad for us. Also need a comparative study of both hand washes and sanitizers.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Kampana (13 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
As explained below.

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

Most of the hand sanitizers have alcohol which itself is dangerous by overuse as it gets absorbed into the skin and gets into the blood. A measurable amount of alcohol has been found in the blood of users who are excessively using hand sanitizer. Alcohol is the one which can break the layer of skin on excess usage. Presence of alcohol absorbs all the ingredients used in the liquid along with it.

In case the hand sanitizer is using Triclosan instead of alcohol, that is also bad as it is an antibacterial and antifungal and unnecessary use of a broad-spectrum antibiotic can lead to antibacterial resistance by the microorganism leading to super bacteria.

Other ingredients such as:
-Parabens cause cancer, neurotoxicity, endocrine abnormalities, and skin irritation.
-Benzalkonium chloride kills the bacteria by dissolving its outer membrane and it does same to normal healthy cells and good bacteria again leading to skin irritation and cancer.
-Phthalates are used to give the sweet odor to the sanitizer which gets attached to the food particles and then into the body which causes membrane disintegration.

In small amount and rare occasions is okay.

I hope this answered your query.

Regards,
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Kampana
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Answered by
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Dr. Kampana

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :2011

Answered : 989 Questions

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Can Excessive Use Of Liquid Hand Washes And Hand Sanitizers

Brief Answer: As explained below. Detailed Answer: Hi, Thanks for your query. I have gone through the details. Yes, excessive use of hand sanitizers and liquid hand wash is dangerous as it can decrease the immunity by wiping out the good bacteria as well. Also by excessive use, there can be wear and tear of the skin as it will lose its natural quality. So hand wash has to be limited to before eating and after using the bathroom to improve the immunity and also to prevent the bacteria to get resistant to the alcohol or antibiotic. Also, hand wash has to be by water and soap rather than a sanitizer. Only when there is no facility of a washroom can the sanitizer being used. I hope this answered your query. Regards,