Eeeww!!! GERMS!!!

Every time going out to restaurant or hawker stalls or wherever to hunt for food, after ordering food and settling down, I will say "Let's go wash hands~". I just can't stand not washing them.

Wash your hands, wash your hands, wash your hands. Never ending hand washing. Before eating, we wash our hands; after eating, wash them again. Personally, I have a habit of washing or wiping my hands every time before eating or after doing something. Don't you think it's SO GROSS not washing your hands from time to time? A 3-year-old also would know that germs are EVERYWHERE.

Yet sometimes when my hands are dirty but there's NO WHERE to wash them. I will go nuts. You may think I'm a germophobic, but it makes me itch. But THANK GOD some geniuses created the wonderful, indescribable, the great ON-THE-GO hand sanitizer~

A sample of hand sanitizer, product of Dettol, which has just been sold in market.

A hand sanitizer is also known as a healthcare personnel hand wash or a hand antiseptic( Don't ask me why because this is according to the latest FDA definition). People usually use it as an alternative, just like me, when there's no where possible for us to wash our hands. Well, basically the most important ingredient in a hand sanitizer is ALCOHOL. Alcohol is 99.9% effective in killing germs and bacteria. Scientists claimed that hand sanitizing product that contains a 60% concentration of alcohol is most effective.Of course, it has to work with other agents such as isopropanol, carbomer, triclosan, glycerine, to make a sanitizer a better alternative for hand washing.

Hand sanitizers are particularly pretty helpful in reducing the amount of bacteria on your hands, which can lead to illness or cause infections. I found in a website saying the use of hand sanitizers can reduce the risk of developing respiratory or gastrointestinal illness or maybe flu. This is awesome because we do not know what's on our hands so the best way to ensure that our hands are clean and free from bacteria is to use hand sanitizers when there's no choice(But it's best to use it after proper hand washing to double cleanse our hands). It is so simple to be used. Just simply rub the sanitizing gel on the hands for about 30 seconds, instantly it will eliminate different forms of bacteria and also viruses(NOT ALL, just some. But good enough to maintain the cleanliness). Hand sanitizing has been proven to be very effective against some dangerous forms of bacteria, like methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), which can cause the deadly and frightening flesh-eating bacteria. (WOW! factor. How cool with sufficient concentration of alcohol can lead to a healthier life?).

Gel hand sanitizer on the palm.

Now let's get into details regarding the ingredients. The active ingredient in hand sanitizers may be isopropanol. It is used in personal hygiene products when good absorption through the skin is desired(So, I reckoned it is also being used in hand lotion). The inactive ingredients in hand sanitizer typically include a thickening agent such as carbomer for alcohol gels, humectants such as glycerin which a solvent that when added to water and softens the skin. Besides, some also uses triclosan to kill germs. Basically, there's nothing much about the ingredients we can discuss about but from those I've listed down, they are usually related to killing germs.

Steps to cleaner hands by using sanitizer.

Personally, I think hand sanitizer is essential to keep our hands clean (safe from bacteria) at all time. However it should not replace hand washing in any setting. We are recommended to use hand sanitizer after hand washing because in general, hand sanitizer provides the best results when used after we thoroughly wash our hands. This is particularly true after we use the bathroom. So, take it as an alternative but not depending on it.

In summary, the ability of hand sanitizer to provide some protection from common cold and flu viruses should be given merit. Now I've found an alternative, and I'm glad to have a chance to share this to the others. Everyone does know about H1N1 and it is crucial to keep our hands clean. The great on-th-go HAND SANITIZER, our best partner in keeping hands clean.

P/S: God bless everyone. Hope none of us will become the victim.