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Is Hand Sanitizer Effective Against HIV And STD Viruses?
Question: Question;
I saw this on the internet. I saw in a few posts were it said that handsanitizer can increase the risk of hiv and other STDs
1. I assume they mean when used on genitals and can't believe they would mean hands? They said it was because it dried the skin out and caused inflammation, once again I assume they menat genitals and not hands.
2. Some one said the alcohol can be absorbed into the skin, could that bring the HIV with it?
I ask this because officiate wrestling and have a lot of blood exposures. I use hand sanitizer and alcohol mat side to clean my hands because you cant run to a sink every time there is blood.
I ask this because even today I had a small blood exposure (from a scratching a wrestler when we was going out of bounds, I didn't see any blood) but I wiped my hands with sanitizer then dipped my finger in alcohol to kill anything, did I actually do more harm than good?
I saw this on the internet. I saw in a few posts were it said that handsanitizer can increase the risk of hiv and other STDs
1. I assume they mean when used on genitals and can't believe they would mean hands? They said it was because it dried the skin out and caused inflammation, once again I assume they menat genitals and not hands.
2. Some one said the alcohol can be absorbed into the skin, could that bring the HIV with it?
I ask this because officiate wrestling and have a lot of blood exposures. I use hand sanitizer and alcohol mat side to clean my hands because you cant run to a sink every time there is blood.
I ask this because even today I had a small blood exposure (from a scratching a wrestler when we was going out of bounds, I didn't see any blood) but I wiped my hands with sanitizer then dipped my finger in alcohol to kill anything, did I actually do more harm than good?
Brief Answer:
Hand sanitizers are not to be used over genitals.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome to HCM
Thanks for posting your query.
STD organisms are highly fragile and they can not withstand dryness, heat and atmospheric oxygen and even weak antiseptics or soaps. Because of these factors they prefer to be transmitted through sexual route.
Hand sanitizers contain alcohol as a vehicle. Bacteria can not withstand against alcohol. HIV and other virus can not be assured to be killed with all hand sanitizers. If the alcohol content of the product is above 64% you can expect HIV can not withstand or survive.
Hand wash is meant for washing skin over hands. It should not be used to clean genitals as genital covering is different from that of hands.
Genital dermatitis, (balanoposthitis, vulvo-vaginits) and any inflammation caused by chemicals like hand sanitizers can facilitate HIV transmission into multi-fold.
Dr S.Murugan
Hand sanitizers are not to be used over genitals.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome to HCM
Thanks for posting your query.
STD organisms are highly fragile and they can not withstand dryness, heat and atmospheric oxygen and even weak antiseptics or soaps. Because of these factors they prefer to be transmitted through sexual route.
Hand sanitizers contain alcohol as a vehicle. Bacteria can not withstand against alcohol. HIV and other virus can not be assured to be killed with all hand sanitizers. If the alcohol content of the product is above 64% you can expect HIV can not withstand or survive.
Hand wash is meant for washing skin over hands. It should not be used to clean genitals as genital covering is different from that of hands.
Genital dermatitis, (balanoposthitis, vulvo-vaginits) and any inflammation caused by chemicals like hand sanitizers can facilitate HIV transmission into multi-fold.
Dr S.Murugan
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
SO There is no problem using hand sanitizer or rubbing alcohol on hands. It will not cause inflammation on the hands or under the finger nails. It is perfectly safe correct?
Using hand sanitizer on hands will prevent HIV infection if virus is on hands.
It is only problematic if someone uses it on genitals correct
Using hand sanitizer on hands will prevent HIV infection if virus is on hands.
It is only problematic if someone uses it on genitals correct
Brief Answer:
Hand sanitizers can rarely be a cause for hand allergic dermatitis.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome back.
Normally hand sanitizers will not cause dermatitis. At the same time we can not rule out a rare possibility of contact allergy to hand sanitizers with certain individuals. We came across a very few instance.
Hand sanitizers are not indicated to clean genitals. Transmission of HIV /STD through sanitizers or sharing of the same is unheard. Viral killing power of sanitizers depends on the strength of its alcohol content.
Dr S Murugan
Hand sanitizers can rarely be a cause for hand allergic dermatitis.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome back.
Normally hand sanitizers will not cause dermatitis. At the same time we can not rule out a rare possibility of contact allergy to hand sanitizers with certain individuals. We came across a very few instance.
Hand sanitizers are not indicated to clean genitals. Transmission of HIV /STD through sanitizers or sharing of the same is unheard. Viral killing power of sanitizers depends on the strength of its alcohol content.
Dr S Murugan
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Kampana
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