Soap and water or antiseptic? What to choose and when

Soap and water or antiseptic? What to choose and when.

How to clean effectively your hands.

The hands are the most visible and exposed parts of the body. They are what mainly bring us in contact with other people, with objects and with ourselves. That is why we must take care to keep them clean.

Lately, meticulous and frequent cleaning of hands with either soap and water or with antiseptic has become our habit. Are both ways equally effective? What we do know is that in both cases the transmission of viruses and bacteria is reduced so washing our hands with soap and water or antiseptic protects our health.

But there are some differences and cases where one way of cleaning is better than the other. In more detail:

Soap and water

• Soap kills viruses and bacteria which are then washed and removed naturally with running water.

• Antibacterial soap does not seem to have any additional benefits.

• It is the most effective cleaning method when the hands are visibly dirty as well as after the use of chemicals.

Antiseptic

• To be effective and act against bacteria and viruses it must contain alcohol (ethanol or isopropanol) in a percentage of 60-80%.
• It is easier to use so it is convenient to have it with us when we are away from home especially in times when there is an epidemic.
• Excessive use may affect the normal flora of the skin, ie the good bacteria that are necessary for its proper functioning.

It is therefore preferable, in order to protect yourself from the transmission of pathogenic microorganisms, when you are at home or in the office to wash your hands with soap and water. When you are in a public place and do not have access to soap and water, antiseptic is essential for hand hygiene, especially if you use public transport, before eating or after grabbing common objects e.g. knobs or money.

The way you clean your hands also plays a role.

In any case, what plays a very important role is the technique you apply to clean your hands.

So when using soap, wet your hands and create enough foam to rub your palms on both sides as well as the spaces in between your fingers, the lower surface of the nails and the thumbs. Wipe and dry your hands well. Hand washing should take at least 20 seconds.

When using antiseptic, apply a sufficient amount on dry hands. Rub the palms together as well as behind them as well as between the fingers and around them. Rub all the surfaces of your hands until they are completely dry. And this process, as with soap washing, must take 20 seconds for the cleansing to be effective.

Because too frequent washing with either soap and water or antiseptic can cause dry skin and irritation, do not forget the products you choose to be enriched with emollients and moisturizing ingredients and not to contain fragrance or in case they do to be free of allergenic ingredients.

And do not forget

Complete the treatment of the skin of your hands with a moisturizing cream with a rich texture.

Christina Sakellariou, Chemist/Cosmetologist - HR Manager

The article was also publishen on Thrive Global Greece: https://www.thriveglobal.gr/arthra/sapoyni-kai-nero-i-antisiptiko-ti-na-epilexeis-kai-pote/