To limit the spread of the coronavirus, the authorities insist on the need to wash your hands regularly with soap or, failing this, using an alcohol-based hydroalcoholic gel solution. But you still have to know how to choose it. Today at Review and Shop we will tell all the Dos and Don’ts while choosing the hand sanitizer.

We wear them several times a day in the face, squeeze those of our colleagues or our friends regularly … You will understand, the hands are real vectors of contamination. So to curb the spread of Covid-19, health authorities have placed handwashing at the heart of all awareness campaigns. “Each woman and each man must become an active participant in this fight, this fright. And for that, that means having in mind very simple things to do but which are essential: wash your hands every hour for twenty at thirty seconds […] either with a hydroalcoholic gel or with soap “, Health Minister recommended last Monday.

The choice of these gels, also called antibacterial gels, is sometimes difficult as the supply is large. In 2009, as part of the influenza A (H1N1) v epidemic, the world Agency for the Health Safety of Health Products (Afssaps) guided consumers when making their choices. Here are their recommendations:

NF standard must be present

The labels of the gels must mention the standard NF EN 14476. “The reference to this standard indicates that the product has been the subject of tests demonstrating its activity on naked viruses (therefore on viruses more resistant than enveloped viruses)”, explains Afssaps in a press release. Otherwise, if this standard is not indicated, the product must contain at least one of these three alcohols: ethyl, propyl or isopropyl.

 

To limit the spread of the coronavirus, the authorities insist on the need to wash your hands regularly with soap or, failing this, using an alcohol-based solution. But you still have to know how to choose it.
The alcohol concentration should be between 60 and 70%
For the product to be effective, the optimal concentration of alcohol must be at least 60%. And to avoid skin irritations, the latter should not exceed 70%. You will find these rates on the labeling of your product.

Triclosan gels should be banned

Present in many cosmetics, triclosan is a toxic compound, suspected of causing resistance to antibiotics, causing breast cancer and causing hormonal disturbances.

If the European Union allows its use, it is however regulated at 0.3% in soaps or kinds of toothpaste. It is, therefore, possible that it is part of the list of ingredients in your gel. Better to avoid it.

In 2018, Que Choisir magazine pointed out the toxicity of two hydroalcoholic solutions containing triclosan: The Antibacterial action – Hydroalcoholic hand gel and Microdis Hand gels – Hydroalcoholic antiseptic gel.

The hydroalcoholic gel does not replace hand washing

As a reminder, the use of hydroalcoholic solutions and gels must be done in the absence of an available water point. If they have antibacterial properties, they do not clean their hands. These products should, therefore, be used in addition to regular hand washing.

Covid-19 coronavirus is spread through salivary droplets emitted during coughing or sneezing, but it can also be spread through contaminated objects. Apart from using the Hydroalcoholic gel to combat the spread of the virus, the government has issued recommendations:

• Wash your hands regularly
• Cough and sneeze into his elbow
• No more shaking hands
• Use single-use tissues
• Wear a mask when you are sick

When the coronavirus began to spread in World, the outlets were quickly emptied of their stock of anti-bacterial solutions. These products sold in bottles are sanitizing and skin solutions which are used to disinfect the hands. Because of the shortage of hydroalcoholic gels, their price had increased sharply, but the government decided to introduce fixed costs: $2 for the 50ml bottle and $3 maximum for the 100ml bottle. They will be maintained until May 31, 2020.

 

How to properly use hydroalcoholic gels?

First thing: do not use hydroalcoholic gel on wet hands. More importantly, apply them on dry hands. These solutions are not a substitute for washing with hot water and soap, as they do not completely clean your hands. But in the absence of water or soap, they can be useful.

Can we make our own sanitizing solution?

Here at Review and Shop, we will tell you how to make your own hand sanitizer in this coronavirus epidemic. To compensate for the absence of hydroalcoholic gels in our pharmacies or our supermarkets, you can make them in a few steps:

• Remember to disinfect your bottle and utensils with alcohol at 70°C, to eliminate any germs.
  Then pour into your container, 3 tablespoons of alcohol at 70°C
• 3 tablespoons of glycerin.
• 3 tablespoons aloe vera gel.
• 46 drops of lavender essential oil (essential oils being very allergenic, remember to test them upstream on a small part of your skin).
• 18 drops of tea tree essential oil

For this hydroalcoholic gel recipe, you will need a small container of about 75 ml. Do not forget to note the date of preparation, since the solutions made by hand do not keep for more than three months.