Are there any side effects of using hand sanitizer?
Are there any side effects of using hand sanitizer?
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Side-effects of hand sanitizer are short-term and often mild. The side effects are usually related to skin irritation, like cracking and bleeding, due to either irritation from the product or overuse and drying of the skin. It is important to always check the label to ensure safe use. Ingestion or use around the eyes and nose can cause irritation. Alcohol-based hand sanitizer should contain at least 60% alcohol to be effective. Hand sanitizer is a good way to clean hands when soap and water isn't available and is effective against the virus that causes COVID-19. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recently issued a warning on the increase in hand sanitizer products containing methanol, instead of ethanol. Methanol, or wood alcohol, is a toxic substance when absorbed through the skin or when ingested that can lead to blindness, hospitalizations, or death. On August 5, 2020, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported 4 deaths and 3 patients with visual impairments from drinking hand sanitizer. The FDA has recalled over 135 hand sanitizer products for safety reasons, and also warns against false labels claiming a hand sanitizer product is "FDA-approved" (because the FDA has not and does not approve any hand sanitizer products). Hand sanitizer products should be stored out of the reach of children to help prevent accidental ingestion. If you become exposed to hand sanitizer containing methanol and are experiencing symptoms, seek immediate treatment for potential reversal of methanol poisoning. _This entry was updated with new information on August 10, 2020._
Side-effects of hand sanitizer are short-term and often mild. The side effects are usually related to skin irritation, like cracking and bleeding, due to either irritation from the product or overuse and drying of the skin. It is important to always check the label to ensure safe use. Ingestion or use around the eyes and nose can cause irritation. Alcohol-based hand sanitizer should contain at least 60% alcohol to be effective. Hand sanitizer is a good way to clean hands when soap and water isn't available and is effective against the virus that causes COVID-19. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recently issued a warning on the increase in hand sanitizer products containing methanol, instead of ethanol. Methanol, or wood alcohol, is a toxic substance when absorbed through the skin or when ingested that can lead to blindness, hospitalizations, or death. On August 5, 2020, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported 4 deaths and 3 patients with visual impairments from drinking hand sanitizer. The FDA has recalled over 135 hand sanitizer products for safety reasons, and also warns against false labels claiming a hand sanitizer product is "FDA-approved" (because the FDA has not and does not approve any hand sanitizer products). Hand sanitizer products should be stored out of the reach of children to help prevent accidental ingestion. If you become exposed to hand sanitizer containing methanol and are experiencing symptoms, seek immediate treatment for potential reversal of methanol poisoning. _This entry was updated with new information on August 10, 2020._
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What our experts say
Side-effects of hand sanitizer are short-term and often mild. The side effects are usually related to skin irritation, like cracking and bleeding, due to either irritation from the product or overuse and drying of the skin. It is important to always check the label to ensure safe use. Ingestion or use around the eyes and nose can cause irritation.
Alcohol-based hand sanitizer should contain at least 60% alcohol to be effective. Hand sanitizer is a good way to clean hands when soap and water isn't available and is effective against the virus that causes COVID-19.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recently issued a warning on the increase in hand sanitizer products containing methanol, instead of ethanol. Methanol, or wood alcohol, is a toxic substance when absorbed through the skin or when ingested that can lead to blindness, hospitalizations, or death. On August 5, 2020, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported 4 deaths and 3 patients with visual impairments from drinking hand sanitizer. The FDA has recalled over 135 hand sanitizer products for safety reasons, and also warns against false labels claiming a hand sanitizer product is "FDA-approved" (because the FDA has not and does not approve any hand sanitizer products). Hand sanitizer products should be stored out of the reach of children to help prevent accidental ingestion. If you become exposed to hand sanitizer containing methanol and are experiencing symptoms, seek immediate treatment for potential reversal of methanol poisoning.
This entry was updated with new information on August 10, 2020.
Side-effects of hand sanitizer are short-term and often mild. The side effects are usually related to skin irritation, like cracking and bleeding, due to either irritation from the product or overuse and drying of the skin. It is important to always check the label to ensure safe use. Ingestion or use around the eyes and nose can cause irritation.
Alcohol-based hand sanitizer should contain at least 60% alcohol to be effective. Hand sanitizer is a good way to clean hands when soap and water isn't available and is effective against the virus that causes COVID-19.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recently issued a warning on the increase in hand sanitizer products containing methanol, instead of ethanol. Methanol, or wood alcohol, is a toxic substance when absorbed through the skin or when ingested that can lead to blindness, hospitalizations, or death. On August 5, 2020, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported 4 deaths and 3 patients with visual impairments from drinking hand sanitizer. The FDA has recalled over 135 hand sanitizer products for safety reasons, and also warns against false labels claiming a hand sanitizer product is "FDA-approved" (because the FDA has not and does not approve any hand sanitizer products). Hand sanitizer products should be stored out of the reach of children to help prevent accidental ingestion. If you become exposed to hand sanitizer containing methanol and are experiencing symptoms, seek immediate treatment for potential reversal of methanol poisoning.
This entry was updated with new information on August 10, 2020.
Context and background
The virus causing COVID-19 can spread from touching an infected surface, from exposure to respiratory droplets, and from airborne transmission. Person-to-person spread (i.e. not from touching surfaces) is the most well understood form of transmission, as well as the main transmission route for COVID-19. Hand sanitizer is one way to clean your hands after touching surfaces and/or interacting with people, particularly when hand-washing is not an option. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S. CDC) recommends soap and water for hand hygiene whenever possible and especially during cooking, after using the restroom, before eating, and when hands are visibly soiled. When using hand sanitizer, it is important to rub it over the entire surface of hands until dry.
The virus causing COVID-19 can spread from touching an infected surface, from exposure to respiratory droplets, and from airborne transmission. Person-to-person spread (i.e. not from touching surfaces) is the most well understood form of transmission, as well as the main transmission route for COVID-19. Hand sanitizer is one way to clean your hands after touching surfaces and/or interacting with people, particularly when hand-washing is not an option. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S. CDC) recommends soap and water for hand hygiene whenever possible and especially during cooking, after using the restroom, before eating, and when hands are visibly soiled. When using hand sanitizer, it is important to rub it over the entire surface of hands until dry.
Resources
- Safely Using Hand Sanitizer (U.S. FDA)
- Hand Sanitizer Use Out and About (U.S. CDC)
- FDA Updates on Hand Sanitizers with Methanol (U.S. FDA)
- FDA expands hand sanitizer recall to at least 75 brands across the U.S. (NBC News)
- C.D.C. Warns Against Drinking Hand Sanitizer (NYT)
- FDA updates on hand sanitizers consumers should not use (U.S. FDA)
- Safely Using Hand Sanitizer (U.S. FDA)
- Hand Sanitizer Use Out and About (U.S. CDC)
- FDA Updates on Hand Sanitizers with Methanol (U.S. FDA)
- FDA expands hand sanitizer recall to at least 75 brands across the U.S. (NBC News)
- C.D.C. Warns Against Drinking Hand Sanitizer (NYT)
- FDA updates on hand sanitizers consumers should not use (U.S. FDA)
