Are We Using Too Much of Hand Sanitizer?

While the coronavirus pandemic has ensured that hand sanitisers are here to stay for the foreseeable future, their judicious use is also essential. Overuse of hand sanitisers can lead to dryness and irritation of skin, hypersensitive irritant dermatitis and skin inflammation. “Don’t use sanitisers [without good reason] every 15 minutes or every half hour; use them when you have touched an unclean surface or item, or anything that others may have touched as well,” says Dr Praveen Gupta, director and head of Neurology at Fortis Hospital in Gurugram. There are even potential long-term consequences of overusing sanitisers, somewhat similar to the overuse of antibiotics. Although sanitisers are required in our fight against coronavirus, it is important to use it intelligently—when possible, wash your hands with soap instead.