How Often Should Sanitize Your Hands?
Hand sanitizing has become an essential part of our daily routine, especially during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. However, with so many hand sanitizers on the market and conflicting advice on how often to use them, it’s natural to wonder: how often should I sanitize my hands?
The Importance of Hand Sanitizing
Hand sanitizers contain antiseptic ingredients that help kill germs, bacteria, and viruses on your skin. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend using hand sanitizers containing at least 60% ethanol or 70% isopropanol to protect against the spread of infectious diseases.
WHO Recommends:
- Sanitize your hands frequently, especially after using the bathroom, before eating, and after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing.
- Sanitize your hands immediately after coming into contact with someone who is sick or has been in contact with someone who has been sick.
- Sanitize your hands before caring for someone who is sick.
How Often Should You Sanitize Your Hands?
While there is no one-size-fits-all answer, here are some guidelines to help you determine how often to sanitize your hands:
- Before and after healthcare activities: If you work in the healthcare industry or provide care for someone who is sick, the CDC recommends sanitizing your hands immediately before and after each patient interaction.
- After using the bathroom: Aim to sanitize your hands 1-2 times after using the bathroom, especially if you didn’t wash your hands with soap and water.
- Before eating: Sanitize your hands 1-2 times before eating, especially if you’ve been handling food or have come into contact with someone who is sick.
- After blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing: Sanitize your hands immediately after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing to prevent the spread of germs.
- When soap and water aren’t available: If soap and water aren’t available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% ethanol or 70% isopropanol.
Additional Tips:
- Choose a hand sanitizer that contains ingredients like aloe vera or vitamin E to help moisturize your skin.
- Apply the hand sanitizer liberally and rub it into your skin until it’s fully absorbed.
- Don’t rinse your hands with water after using hand sanitizer. This can reduce its effectiveness.
- Use hand sanitizers in combination with soap and water to maintain good hand hygiene.
Conclusion:
Sanitizing your hands frequently is an effective way to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. While there is no one-size-fits-all answer to how often you should sanitize your hands, following the guidelines outlined above can help you stay safe and healthy. Remember to choose a hand sanitizer with the right ingredients, apply it liberally and correctly, and use it in combination with soap and water to maintain good hand hygiene.
