The best hand soaps and sanitizers to help you stay healthy
The ability to stay healthy has been challenging lately because of the raging pandemic called COVID-19. It is imperative for everyone to consistently wash their hands and/or use hand sanitizer.
Dr. La Touche-Howard, a Public Health professor at the University of Maryland said, “Our skin is actually the largest organ of our bodies and serves as a waterproof barrier between invaders (also known as pathogens) and our bodies. Our skin can be considered as our “first line of defense” against any invasion that is trying to make its way to our body.”
Here are some good products to use.
Hand Soaps
According to Business Insider, the best hand soap is Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day Liquid Hand Soap. According to the Insider, Mrs. Meyer’s is “made using 98% naturally derived ingredients” and “does not contain ammonia, chlorine or phosphates.”
The Insider also recommends Softsoap Fresh Breeze Liquid Hand Soap, Jergens Extra Moisturizing Cherry-Almond Hand Wash and Dial Original Gold Antimicrobial Soap.
Although the term antibacterial suggests that the soap contains a chemical that kills more germs than regular soap does, antibacterial soaps are not considered more effective than regular soaps, according to Blank Children’s Hospital’s UnityPoint Health.
Blank Children’s Hospital’s UnityPoint Health also suggests that the reason why regular soaps do not kill “bad” bacteria is because of people’s hand-washing techniques.
Here are five steps of a good hand-washing technique, as recommended by the CDC:
Wet your hands with clean running water, either hot or cold. Apply soap.
Lather your hands with soap by rubbing them together. Make sure to reach the backs of your hands, in between your fingers and under your nails.
Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds. A good timer is to hum the “Happy Birthday” song twice in its entirety.
Rinse your hands under clean running water.
Lastly, dry your hands with a clean towel or air dry them.
If used frequently, antibacterial soaps can leave the hands feeling very dry. Since September of 2016, the FDA has banned the chemical triclosan, which is found in household cleaning products, like antibacterial hand soap. They say that triclosan tends to remove helpful bacteria.
People are still allowed to use antibacterial hand soaps, but it isn't desirable to use them frequently.
If you would prefer not to use antibacterial soaps, Temidayo Moses, information science major at UMD, recommends Dove Hand Soap and Member’s Mark. Moses prefers these brands he said they work well in cleaning his hands.
Olushola Omomo, senior community health major at UMD, recommends CareOne Hand Soap.
The CDC has suggested that people wash their hands frequently and use sanitizers that have at least 60% alcohol.
If you would prefer to make your own hand soap, Live Simply has great DIY directions.
Hand Sanitizers
As for hand sanitizers, Purell Advanced Aloe Scent Hand Sanitizer is the best, according to Business Insider.
“This Purell gel formulation contains 70% ethyl alcohol as well as aloe, vitamin E, and other moisturizers to prevent excessive drying of the skin… The high level of alcohol kills germs quickly and the solution is 99.9% effective in killing the contagious microbes,” according to Business Insider.
Oluwalayomi Omolola, a junior public health major at UMD said that Purell is her favorite brand because their aloe scented sanitizer doesn't make her hands dry.
Omolola expanded upon the protection of hand sanitizer and said, “Skin is the first line of defense, the most important line in my opinion. It is the first line of defense in terms of bacteria trying to enter you. Hand sanitizer helps by destroying the bacteria so that it doesn't enter the body.”
Now more than ever, washing your hands is imperative to maintain optimum health. All of the recommended items are available for purchase on Amazon, at your local Walmart or at a pharmacy.
