Do Hand Sanitizers Really Work to Kill Bacteria?
Hand sanitizer dispensers kill bacteria through the active ingredient of alcohol. Alcohol makes up anywhere from 60 to 90 percent of the sanitizer, and anything less than 60 percent may not be effective in killing bacteria. The secret is when the active ingredient of alcohol is put onto a potentially bacteria filled area, it damages the particles. It will only work if the sanitizer is put into direct contact with the area infected. Hand sanitizer does work on the hands but does prevent bacteria that may be encountered on surfaces later. It will kill bacteria on contact, but is not effective after that. This translates that hand sanitizer must be constantly used, but the high alcohol content can dry out skin and even irritate it. Soap is very different than using a sanitizer. When an individual washes their hands with soap, bacteria particles are removed from the skin entirely. In contrast, sanitizers just neutralize the particles, they are not removed. So those particles stay on the sk
