Methanol-Free Hand Sanitizers
Do you know about methanol-free hand sanitizers? Methanol is a type of alcohol and you don't want it in your hand sanitizer - yep, as if the COVID Pandemic isn't enough, now we're learning that we need to worry whether there is methanol in the hand sanitizers we trust. Even after the COVID chapter, germs have come out from hiding and alcohol-based hand sanitizers are part of the new normal to reduce transmission of the novel coronavirus, cold and flu viruses and the 'who knows what's next virus'! As part of our new germ-aware normal, we need to also think about the type of alcohol in a hand sanitizing product to be sure that it's safe. I'll explain why.
You need to know if your hand sanitizer contains methanol because methanol, a type of alcohol, is toxic.
The FDA has recently warned us that methanol is present in some hand sanitizers and you need to avoid those. Methanol is toxic and can be absorbed through skin - like when you use your hand sanitizer.
What are the symptoms of methanol toxicity from using methanol hand sanitizers:
- nausea,
- vomiting,
- headache,
- blurred vision,
- permanent blindness,
- seizures,
- coma,
- permanent damage to the nervous system
- death.
The bottom line is that methanol can be absorbed through skin, it is toxic, it's even life-threatening, and it should NOT be in your hand sanitizer. - Dr. Bailey
The FDA is also warning us that,
children ingesting hand sanitizer products contaminated with methanol ... has led to recent adverse events including blindness, hospitalizations and death.
Anyone using methanol hand sanitizers is at risk though the biggest risk for methanol toxicity comes from ingesting the products – meaning don’t drink hand sanitizer and keep an eye on children around hand sanitizers. As a new grandmother of a toddler, I am again reminded how quickly these precious young ones put things in their mouth! We need to be sure the hand sanitizers in our homes are methanol-free!
What is methanol?
- Methanol is an alcohol that is also called wood alcohol and methyl alcohol.
- It comes from living things, including fossil fuels.
- Methanol is a widely used and versatile alcohol with many uses including as a fuel, and ingredient in solvents and antifreeze.
- Fruits and veggies contain minute and harmless amounts – adulterated hand sanitizer is another issue.
- It is poisonous to humans and should not be ingested.
Even worse, hand sanitizing products claiming to contain ethanol (also called ethyl alcohol) have tested positive for methanol!
This means that you can't even entirely trust the labels!!
But, wait there’s more……
You also need to know about 1-propanol in hand sanitizers
- 1-propanol contamination is another toxic ingredient to avoid. It should not be in your hand sanitizer.
- This is even more confusing than methanol because 2-propanol is actually OK (2-propanol is also called isopropanol or isopropyl alcohol). Thus 2-propanol is OK, 1-propanol is NOT.
What are the toxic side effects of 1-propanol in hand sanitizers?
It is a central nervous system depressant much more potent than 'recreational' alcohol and side effects include:
- Confusion
- Decreased consciousness
- Slowed pulse and breathing
For the FDA’s very long list of hand sanitizers found to contain methanol and 1-propanol click here
What to do about hand hygiene during COVID and cold and flu seasons?
- The CDC recommends washing your hands for 20 seconds with soap and water as your first choice for decontaminating them.
- If soap and water are unavailable, use a 60% or higher ethanol containing hand sanitizer. (Ethanol is also called ethyl alcohol)
Beware because labels are not telling the truth so trust your source as being reputable and honest.
What do I recommend as a physician, dermatologist, mother and grandmother?
I know that an ethyl alcohol-containing hand sanitizer made without fragrance is the best way to sanitize hands between washing.
Still, repeated exposure of your hand skin to alcohol during the day will definitely damage your skin barrier.
I recommend washing with soap and warm water and applying a hand cream in place of alcohol hand sanitizers when possible. Find my dermatologist-approved hand care products on my Hand and Foot Care Product Collection Page.
Keep an easy-rinse hand soap next to your sinks alongside a highly therapeutic hand cream. My trusted and proven Dry Skin Hand Cream is non-greasy and the ideal hand cream to use throughout your day.
All of Dr. Bailey's products that I've purchased have been amazing, but this hand cream might be my favorite. I'm totally obsessed! It's deeply hydrating and makes my hands feel so incredibly soft. What I love most is that I've never found a hand cream before that is so completely non-greasy, I can't even tell I have it on. It's like wearing with weightless, invisible gloves. I can truly say, with confidence, that this is the best hand cream I've ever tried. Go ahead and buy it... you won't be disappointed! P.J.
