Tag: hand sanitizer tips

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Hand Sanitizer

Dry Skin Relief Tips from Using Hand Sanitizer

Dry Skin Relief From Hand Sanitizer

Frequent hand washing and sanitizing is an important method for preventing the spread of bacteria and viruses. However, they can also be extremely drying to your skin, which is not only uncomfortable but can lead to a weakened barrier for bacteria and viruses to penetrate. Germ prevention and skin care can go hand in hand. We’ve put together some tips to relieve the dry skin caused by frequent hand sanitizer use.

Understand What Causes Dry Skin

Washing or sanitizing your hands can also strip the natural and protective oils from your skin. These oils often help retain moisture, which alcohol based sanitizers strip away. 

Avoid Harsh Ingredients

One way to prevent dry skin is to use soaps and sanitizers free from harmful chemicals and synthetic fragrances and dyes. These ingredients often lead to skin irritations which can worsen into rashes or flaking skin. Moisturizing soaps with ingredients like glycerin, lanolin, or hyaluronic acid will get rid of the germs while countering the drying effects of the cleaning. “Natural” soaps and hand sanitizers with ingredients like coconut oil, avocado oil, aloe vera, shea butter, or jojoba oil have a similar protective effect.

Moisturize, Moisturize, Moisturize

Make applying moisturizer a part of your daily routine. Moisturizers work by replacing surface oils, thus helping your skin retain moisture from within. After every hand washing or sanitizing, apply a thick moisturizer to your slightly dampened hands. Look for ingredients like petrolatum, mineral oil, glycerin, or lanolin for natural moisturizing effects.

Hand sanitizer still has the same level of effectiveness when it contains ingredients that add moisture back into your skin too. When selecting a hand sanitizer look out for one that contains hydrating ingredients, along with 60% alcohol, so your hands do not become dry and brittle. Choose products that contain pure vegetable glycerin and antifungal essential oils such as tea tree or lavender.

To prevent dry hands, refill your Signitizer with a moisture based sanitizer that boasts gentle ingredients. The mechanisms of the dispenser can work for sanitizer, soap, and lotion. You may also wish to provide an adjacent Signitizer filled with moisturizer to battle the effects of daily sanitizer use. Contact us today at 416-640-4477 or info@thesignitizer.com for more information.

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Hand Sanitizer

How To Properly Apply Hand Sanitizer

Properly Using Hand Sanitizer

It appears things are returning back to normal! With more and more guidelines being lifted, it’s a perfect time for a reminder on how to get the most out of your hand sanitizer. While washing your hands with soap and water is still the best defense against germs, hand sanitizer is a close second. After all, you may not always have access to soap and water. But for hand sanitizer to be effective, it must be applied properly. Using hand sanitizer the right way involves choosing the right formula, using the right amount, and applying it correctly.

Choose The Right Formula

All hand sanitizers are not created equally. The CDC recommends using alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains a minimum of 60% alcohol. Studies have shown sanitizers with an alcohol concentration between 60% and 95% are more effective at destroying germs than ones with an alcohol concentration under 60% or those that are not alcohol-based. 

Use The Appropriate Amount of Sanitizer

Some automatic dispensers do not provide enough hand sanitizer in one squeeze. While individual users may accidentally pour too much sanitizer in their hands. As recommended by the World Health Organization, you should apply a “coin sized” amount of gel to your palm. Similar to soap, you need enough hand sanitizer to cover both sides of your hands and between your fingers.

Apply Hand Sanitizer Correctly

The gel should be thoroughly rubbed onto the back and front of your hands, including the thumbs and between the fingers. This should take around 20 seconds. When you’re done, your hands should be dry and you shouldn’t need to wipe or rinse off the gel. And remember! Hand sanitizer can work in a pinch, but if you notice grease and grime on your fingers, you need to wash your hands.

Other Things To Consider

Make sure you store your hand sanitizer in a cool, dry location. Sanitizer should not be exposed to direct sunlight or heat. You should also pay attention to the expiration date, as the alcohol content drops the closer the expiration date approaches. NEVER ingest hand sanitizer, and keep hand sanitizer out of the reach of children in addition to supervising their use.

Curious about how the Signitizer can help your clients use hand sanitizer correctly? Contact us today at 416-640-4477 or info@thesignitizer.com.

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Hand Sanitizer

Hand Sanitizer vs Soap and Water

Our lives have undoubtedly changed over the last two years. Many of us have not only ramped up our cleaning and hand washing routines, but have even incorporated more portable hand sanitizers into our lives as well. As such, dermatologists have begun to notice an increase in skin sensitivity issues. Including dryness, itchiness, and, in some cases, eczema. While these conditions can often be caused by regular allergies and stress, consistent use of chemical based products on the skin appears to be a common factor.

Are These Issues Related To Hand Sanitizer Use?

For many people, the increase in washing and sanitizing is a drastic change from the hygiene routine from even a few years ago. The sudden change in routine can be disruptive to the skin barrier. While we certainly want to continue being mindful about personal hygiene, we also want to be aware of the impacts this can have on our skin. 

Both alcohol based sanitizers and harsh cleaning products can have an affect on our skin. But not everyone. Some people have a higher tolerance to alkaline and chemical based products, but other people are especially sensitive to the repeated exposure. If you’ve noticed changes in your skin this year, consider the type of hand sanitizer and cleaning products you are using and how often you touch your face after application. It could very well be the reason that your skin is itchy and dry. 

Ingredients Causing Skin Irritation 

Repeated exposure to high alcohol levels can make your skin more susceptible to infection, allergic reactions, dryness, and other skin conditions such as eczema. However, many hand sanitizers include other ingredients to help moisturize the outer layer of skin. . But it is most likely the combination of hand sanitizer in addition to these harsh household cleaners causing the irritation. The ingredients in those products can include lye, sulfuric acid, ammonia, and other harsh chemicals that may dry or damage your skin. 

Solutions for Protecting Your Skin 

While we certainly don’t want to stop washing our hands, using hand sanitizer, or cleaning, there are a few smart solutions that may help protect your skin. Be sure to use warm water – opposed to hot – when washing your hands, and keep a trusted moisturizer nearby for reapplication throughout the day. You can also use a vinegar based hand sanitizer, which is just as effective but less severe than alcohol based sanitizers


Need clean hands in a pinch? A Signitizer, filled with moisturizing hand sanitizer, is your solution. Contact us at 416-640-4477 or info@thesignitizer.com for more information.

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Hand Sanitizer

Hand Sanitizer vs Soap and Water

Hand Sanitizer vs Soap Water

There is an age old debate surrounding hand sanitizers and good old fashioned soap and water. A debate that recently has been thrust back into the spotlight! So we have decided to break it down for good and for all. Which is better between using hand sanitizer and washing our hands with soap and water? Which method will really help us stay healthy? The Signitizer presents: Hand Sanitizer vs. Soap and Water.

Pro Hand Sanitizer: It’s Portable!

One of the pros of using hand sanitizer is the portability of it. It’s extremely easy to find travel sized sanitizers at stores, and even easier to bring with you in public. What better, more convenient way is there to keep your hands germ free when you’re on the move? Hand sanitizers will instantly disinfect your hands, and they can effectively neutralize many types of bacteria, microbes, and viruses, including the coronavirus.

Pro Soap and Water: A Gentle and Thorough Clean.

Soap tends to effectively kill germs and viruses in a gentler manner than alcohol based sanitizers. Soap and water is also able to effectively destroy pathogens and parasites that hand sanitizers can’t – such as Giardia and C. difficile. Soap and water is also able to remove dirt; which hand sanitizers tend to rub around on the skin.

Con Hand Sanitizer: It’s Sticky.

While not all, some hand sanitizers leave users feeling residual stickiness on their hands. And for those of us with sensitive skin, hand sanitizer can be irritating, drying, and too harsh. 

Con Soap and Water: Not Always Accessible

While you could always carry a bottle of soap around with you, you may not always be near running water. Soap alone is not enough to kill germs and viruses; it must be lathered using warm water to be effective. An additional con of soap and water is that it takes a bit more time and diligence to work compared to hand sanitizer. You not only need to lather properly, but for the correct amount of time, followed by drying your hands enough to not easily pick up more bacteria.

What’s The Verdict?

Both hand sanitizer and soap and water get the job done when it comes to destroying bacteria and other pathogens. However, you should always opt for soap and warm water when available. It’ll be the best for your skin, microbiome, and overall health long term. But in those moments when soap and water are unavailable, hand sanitizer is an excellent choice.

Need clean hands in a pinch? A Signitizer, filled with moisturizing hand sanitizer, is your solution. Contact us at 416-640-4477 or info@thesignitizer.com for more information.

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Hand Sanitizer

How Long Does Hand Sanitizer Last?

How Long Does Hand Sanitizer Last
How Long Does Hand Sanitizer Last

While many experts stand by hand-washing being the best option for reducing the transmission of germs, hand sanitizer is much more convenient and practical. And these days, when practical removal of pathogens is imperative, hand sanitizer has become quite the popular demand. As more and more people hop on board, more and more questions have come up. What exactly IS hand sanitizer? How long does it actually work for? Luckily, the team at Signitizer is here to answer all of those questions for you.

What Is Hand Sanitizer?

Also called hand antiseptic, hand sanitizers are formulas applied to the hand to expel disease-causing organisms. They are available in gel, liquid, or foam forms. These hand rubs are widely recommended for use in highly populated settings – from schools to daycare centers and health care clinics to grocery stores. While sanitizers are great at managing disease transmission, this effectiveness is based largely on alcohol percentage, contact time, and whether or not your skin was dirty before use. That being said, alcohol based sanitizers of at least 60% are found to be the MOST effective against bacteria and viruses.

How Long Does Hand Sanitizer Last After Application?

Make sure you are sitting down for this. Hand Sanitizers effectiveness is only good for two minutes after application. A recent survey found that over 50% of the American population mistakenly believed that hand sanitizers were still active after one hour! Despite the short life span, hand sanitizers are still optimal for using in a quick pinch. Those two minutes are imperative after, say, touching a door knob or shaking a hand.

Does Hand Sanitizer Expire?

Absolutely. Alcohol naturally begins to evaporate when exposed to air. And while many manufacturers work hard to create airtight containers, eventually the alcohol “escapes” over time. As this happens, the efficiency of the hand sanitizer is reduced. While reputable hand sanitizers will display an expiration date, if you can’t find one, expect the hand sanitizer to be no good after three years.

We hope you enjoyed these fun facts about hand sanitizer! To learn more about how the Signitizer can protect you from disease, contact us at 416-640-4477 or info@thesignitizer.com.

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Hand Sanitizer

Do’s And Don’ts Of Using Hand Sanitizer

DOs and DONTs of Hand Sanitizer

With the COVID-19 pandemic still in full swing, you want to keep your hands as germ-free as possible. While washing your hands is still the best way to remove germs, hand sanitizer is an excellent alternative where soap and water aren’t readily available. However, you have to use the right product the right way for good results. Here are our 7 Do’s and Don’ts of Using Hand Sanitizer!

1. DO Use An Alcohol Based Sanitizer

Your hand sanitizer should contain at least 60% alcohol. This is because non-alcohol-based sanitizers may keep germs from multiplying, but won’t kill them.

2. DON’T Use A Sanitizer That Has Been Recalled

You can check the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s recall page to see if your hand sanitizer is on the list. Some hand sanitizers have been found to use methanol. Methanol, also known as wood alcohol, can cause blindness or death if absorbed through the skin.

3. DON’T Make Your Own

In today’s DIY world, it can be tempting to make your own hand sanitizer. However, homemade hand sanitizers may not be effective and can sometimes be harmful if mixed improperly.

4. DO Check Your Hands For Dirt

If your hands are visibly dirty or greasy, hand sanitizers may not work well. Stick to tried-and-true handwashing in this case!

5. DON’T Rely On Hand Sanitizer To Remove Harmful Chemicals

If you’ve come in contact with pesticides and heavy metals, wash your hands carefully with soap and water. Depending which chemicals you were exposed to, you may need to call a poison center.

6. DO Take Your Time

Use enough sanitizer to cover all parts of your hands and fingers. Rub your hands together until they feel dry, this should take around 20 seconds. There is no need to rush! Hand sanitizer may not be as effective if you rinse or wipe it off before your hands are dry.

7. DO Be Careful Around Kids

Keep hand sanitizers out of the reach of young children, who might mistake them for food or candy. In 2020 alone, U.S. poison centers received nearly 25,000 calls about hand sanitizer exposure in kids 12 and younger.

Curious about how the Signitizer can help your clients use hand sanitizer correctly? Contact us today at 416-640-4477 or info@thesignitizer.com.