The Truth About Hand Sanitizers

When you are looking for the safest and most effective way to sanitize your hands, you will find that there are many schools of thought out there.  Some people believe that simple soap and water is the best way to eliminate germs, while others swear that hand sanitizer is the truly effective option. So, are hand sanitizers good for your skin or bad?

There is no simple answer to the debate between soap and water versus hand sanitizer, but there is certainly a great deal of information as to whether hand sanitizer is good or bad for you. In truth, it depends on how you use it. When possible, it is recommended to use soap and water. Hand sanitizer removes the top layer of oil from your skin, and when you use it too often, you can actually cause skin damage. 

There is no hard and fast rule regarding how often you can use hand sanitizer. Ideally, if your hands are dirty and you are not near soap and water, it is a good idea to go ahead and rub some onto your skin, especially if you have been exposed to anyone who is sick. The goal is essentially to avoid using hand sanitizer too many times per day when it is not necessary. Soap and water can be much gentler on your skin than hand sanitizer and can provide you with equal, if not better, germ protection, which is what you should be aiming for.