How Safe Is Hand Sanitizer

Besides the chemicals, hand sanitizers on the market today leave a lot to be desired, but yet we tolerate them. Why?

What are you tolerating from your hand sanitizer?

ineffective germ control 

chemicals being rubbed you’re your skin and absorbed in your blood system 

ingredients not safe 

rashes or burns

It makes you wonder who thought up hand sanitizers in the first place…

Big Pharma wants us to believe cures come in a bottle or in a pill; but could the answer to your germ problem areas be a whole lot simpler and healthier?  

Nowadays? It sure can be.

We can go all the way back to the ancient Egyptians who found out if they stored their water in copper vessels, the water didn’t get slimy.  Hmmm; pretty interesting they thought.  So, if it kept their water clean, why not coat the edges of their cutting tools and dip the ends of their swords in copper.  Yep, you guessed it.  Injuries and cuts caused by the coated tools didn’t get infected.  

Imagine what a miracle breakthrough that was!

The Greeks and Egyptians figured it out but didn’t know the science behind their discovery.  They just knew it worked. 

Even as recent as colonial times, copper became known as sanitary metal and was used for most cooking vessels. 

It is a natural antimicrobial metal killing germs on contact.  So, why did it go away as our “go-to” metal? 

Back to the late 1800s for that answer.  John D. Rockefeller was our country’s first billionaire – back when a billionaire was a LOT of money (it still kind of is).  He invested in pharma and used his wealth to fund politicians to pass laws stating insurance would only pay for prescription drugs – not natural remedies.  And that’s how copper was kicked to the curb!

So why should you be concerned about chemical-filled hand sanitizers?

1.    The alcohol content: The bottle says it kills all the germs on your hands. But there is a catch here. For it to act properly, the concentration of alcohol in the bottle needs to be above 60%. If it isn’t you might as well rub some sweet-smelling liquid on your hands. Since the rampant sale of this ‘miracle’, there have been a number of products that are cheaper and promise to give you the same effects. Beware, look at the ingredients and check for the percentage of alcohol. 59% is not good enough. 

2.   Not so good for kids: We all know that kids come with the increased liability of touching unclean things and putting their hands in their mouths. And helicopter moms have found the new age solution to their woes – hand sanitizers. But, if you have ever read the fine print behind the bottle you will see a warning telling you to keep it away from kids. That is because your child could be seriously harmed if he/she ingested it. There have been a number of reported incidences of alcohol poisoning in children due to hand sanitizers. While in the case of adults a person would need to swallow large quantities for something untoward to happen, for children a small amount is enough. Added to the risk is the fact that kids tend to put things in their mouths –  and the sweet, fruity odor only makes them want to consume it even more. So, keep your kids away from the stuff.  

3.  Can lower your child’s immunity: a study published in the Science Daily, carried out by the Northwestern Research Center  found that a child’s immunity is seriously affected by the use of hand sanitizers. They found that more kids were falling ill due to innocuous and preventable diseases after the long term use of the agent. The study specifically looked for the production of inflammatory products; called C-reactive protein (CRP) in the children’s urine samples. They concluded that ultra-clean environments during the early stages of a child’s life lower their immunity to such a level that their body’s defense mechanism is in a constant fighting mode, which leads to weakened immunity. This causes serious effects when they grow older as well, these adults have a weak immune system and an extremely sensitive inflammatory response that makes them vulnerable to various diseases as adults.  

4.   Triclosan in some sanitizers can wreak havoc on your health: Some hand sanitizers don’t have alcohol content and use triclosan instead. Triclosan is an anti bacterial and anti fungal agent and is commonly used in a variety of soaps and cleaning agents. But, did you know that it is an active ingredient in pesticides? Another thing to consider is the fact that the compound has been widely touted as an agent that causes the formation of superbugs or antibiotic-resistant bacteria.  Triclosan, as a component, is capable of quickly being absorbed into the skin and entering the bloodstream, once there, it is known to cause various side effects like cancer, allergies, hormonal and neurological ill effects and muscle weakness. More importantly, it is known to cause infertility. 

5.   What affects microbes can affect us too: One of the often used compounds in hand sanitizers is  Benzalkonium Chloride. Its main function is to dissolve the outer covering of the bacterial cells, in turn killing them. But this compound is about as bad for our cells as it is for the microbes.  The compound has been found to increase the irritation within the mucosal lining and can aggravate allergic reactions. According to some studies it is also highly toxic to fishes and birds as well. 

6.   That sweet smell can be highly toxic: That odor of sanitizers that you love so much is due to the inclusion of a compound called phthalates. These compounds easily leach into foods and then into your body. So, using a sanitizer instead of soap before your meal might not be that good an idea. Moreover, in a study conducted by the CDC (centre for disease control) it was found that children now showed 20 times more phthalate metabolite content in their bodies than any time in the past.  

7. Does not clean all residue: After using a hand sanitizer you might feel that your hands are clean, but it does not take off all the residue. Things like fats and sugar deposits do not get affected or cleaned without the use of soap. So using it as a method to clean your hands after eating that yummy cheese popcorn will do you no good. In fact, these residues tend to pick up more dirt, making your hands dirtier than before. 

8. Can damage skin: While most hand sanitizers do claim to have moisturizing effects, too much or continuous use of the agent can damage the skin. In some cases it may even cause your hands to become rougher than normal. 

9.  Methanol (wood alcohol )is hazardous to your health: The FDA advises consumers not to use any hand sanitizer with methanol (wood alcohol), a substance that can be toxic when absorbed through the skin or ingested.

We now have enough data at our fingertips to make wise buying decisions.  It’s always good to wash hands with soap and water; that’s a great first step.  But that’s just the first step in keeping you and your family free from germs that can cause some really nasty illnesses and disease. 

Over 130 years have passed but it’s time to go back to nature’s basics and kill germs the non-chemical way.

When I set out to create StayWell Products, I originally developed it to protect my loved ones from the kind of germs that nearly took my life when I contracted a deadly MRSA staph infection.  It didn’t take long to realize the needs were vast and for problems far more common than Staph infections. 

I also wanted to make sure my solution was chemical-free so germs could not become resistant. It’s hard for germs to resist or mutate when they’re dead.

Practical, easy to use, affordable, nonchemical, and a simple product that would last forever.

There was nothing like this on the market – I had no predetermined path to follow. I had to think outside the box and come up with something completely new.

That’s why StayWell Copper is different from anything else on the market, and we actually now have a company with folks who care as much as I do and a product designer who is massively talented and bringing more ways for your to keep your loved ones free from germs!

So if you haven’t given StayWell Copper a try yet, what are you waiting for?