Does anyone not use hand sanitiser?

[Correlation]

I suffer with rhinitis on-and-off and I remember a few years ago I thought it was made worse whenever I used a hand sanitiser, so I avoided it. Since Covid I've used sanitiser almost everyday and I've realised that I've had quite bad rhinitis recently. I'd like to try and stay away from it again for a while to see if that helps but worried for obvious reasons. Is anyone else just focusing on not touching their face and washing their hands regularly rather than using sanitiser?

@TenDays

Our local £ shop sells little squirty bottles of liquid soap/water mixture which is just as good (or better than) sanitiser.

You could make some up yourself easily enough.

I couldn't use that, I'd have to wash the soap off, can't stand having any soap left on my hands.

I use soap and water whenever I can - I hardly ever use hand sanitiser.

But it is hard sometimes to walk past the hand sanitiser at the entrance to shops without getting disapproving looks.

@ProperlyPdOff

There is non-alcohol foam available that works against CV. If you don't use anything, it is not just about you accepting the risk. You are putting others at risk if you are unknowingly carrying the virus or moving it from one place to another.

I'm allergic to anything on my hands. So, that's also risky. If I put things on my hands and they then split and bleed then there are open wounds which can trap bacteria etc. I'm really sorry that I can't use what you think I should - but I'm not prepared to end up with my hands bleeding

I use it when getting off the bus. But I did read one that properly washing your hands is far more effective.

I use it very rarely and only when asked to when out. So yesterday we went for dinner and were asked to sanitise our hands on entry, no problem, but I went straight to the loo and washed throughly. I hate the feel of it and I'm allergic. Soap and water is best. But then I'm lucky enough not to be using public transport etc - on the rare occasions I do I sanitise as I get off.

No, never bought any, and never used any, It was farcical earlier on this year, when people were going to shops trying to buy 24 or so bottles of it all at once.

I don't use it. I don't like it. I don't think excessive sanitising does you any good so I just use soap and water as I normally would before eating and after using the toilet.

I have a puzzle... I wear gloves 9+ months of the year (cyclist, cold hands). If I were to sanitise hands... would I heavily sanitise gloves, take gloves off, sanitise hands, put gloves back on (sanitise again?) I wonder what the established "sanitising protocol" is for glove wearers.

A problem that will affect us all very soon!

ps: I just try not to touch many things. Like swimming pool visit - the only place I need to touch that isn't in the pool is the ledge where we put our clothes down (maybe). Most doors are automatic, so I guess that just leaves shopping trollies & public toilet latches nowadays.

DS is highly allergic/sensitive to all hand sanitisers - he has severe eczema anyway but his reaction to sanitiser is more extreme, he comes out in hives, big red itchy spots and his hands feel hot and painful for a long time afterwards (till the anti-histamine kicks in). So far we haven't experienced any problems - if asked to use it I answer that he is allergic but will happily wash his hands with soap and water.

For out and about - especially play grounds - we use soap flakes and carry a bottle of water and tea towel with us.

@PotatoHead2020

DS is highly allergic/sensitive to all hand sanitisers - he has severe eczema anyway but his reaction to sanitiser is more extreme, he comes out in hives, big red itchy spots and his hands feel hot and painful for a long time afterwards (till the anti-histamine kicks in). So far we haven't experienced any problems - if asked to use it I answer that he is allergic but will happily wash his hands with soap and water.

For out and about - especially play grounds - we use soap flakes and carry a bottle of water and tea towel with us.

Soap flakes? Can you point me in the direction? I'm allergic like your son with th hives , pain and it cracks and bleeds. Would be interested in how you've managed this!

I don’t, it really aggravates my eczema. I refuse it when shop staff try and foist it on me as well. I wash my hands regularly and that should be adequate.

@OpheliasCrayon sorry I got the name wrong - it's soap leaves Lifeventure Unisex's Soap Leaves x 50 Travel, White, Small https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0038PXRWM/ref=cmswwrcppapiii_u66yFbM97DKG7

Very effective. We carry a bottle of water, simply put a leaf on your hand, add some water and rub into a lather - it lathers up really nicely. When finished wash off with more water from the bottle and dry with a towel. Very effective.

DS uses prescription soap at home but his hands can handle using the soap leaves all day (if we are out) without any ill effect.

Me. I'm allergic to one of the ingredients commonly used in some hand sanitisers, also in various eye drops, nasal sprays, household cleaning sprays, plaster of paris, etc (it's an antibacterial agent & fairly effective preservative).

Unfortunately when the shops all started insisting on people using sanitiser, I went along with it for the first couple of weeks, my hands got really dry & cracked, then I picked up a fungal infection. And then it turned out I was allergic to the antifungal cream. I'm still battling the large patch of eczema a couple of months later.

So no, I don't. But I don't touch anything unless I'm buying it, or seriously considering it. And I'm a pathological hand washer. And I carry a squeezy bottle of soap in my bag for the inevitable public facilities that have run out.

That's interesting @SisyphusAndTheRockOfUntidiness DS is also allergic to various cleaning products - although he uses nasal sprays and eye drips regularly without issue. Do you know what the actual ingredient is?

Very rarely. I work in a school and wash my hands with soap and water when I arrive at 7.30, 9.00, 10.30, 10.45, 12.15, 12.45, 2.30.

Then I wash my hands when I get home.

I think that'll do it.

I don't - just wash my hands the normal amount, which is fairly regularly anyway

My DH has eczema on his hands and can't use hand santizer but found some anti viral
Foam from Boots. One squirt and you're done...no residue or weird smell it just disappears into your hands. Used it loads and has worked so far!

Me. I just wash my hands

I rarely use sanitiser - perhaps about once a week e.g. when forced to. Couldn't be using it multiple times a day.

@PotatoHead2020 - yes, it's benzalkonium chloride. It's in loads of things, very annoying.

I’m allergic so I can’t.

Causes me no end of grief on a cruise because I can’t sanitise my hands every five seconds

Although I'm not sure exactly what in the antifungal cream I am allergic to. Definitely allergic though, I thought I had a patch of it starting on my face (dreadfully itchy) so I dabbed a bit on before bed one night, just in case - woke up the next morning with that bit of my face absolutely bright red, swollen, & covered in tiny pustules. Doctor didn't believe me because of course I couldn't get seen. Took a month for it to go away.

I do but my understand is that soap and water is better. I've read it's more hygienic to properly wash your hands. Sanitiser should only be used if you don't have access to soap, water and somewhere to dry your hands. Please fact check this for yourself - I am NOT a doctor

[quote PotatoHead2020]@OpheliasCrayon sorry I got the name wrong - it's soap leaves Lifeventure Unisex's Soap Leaves x 50 Travel, White, Small [[https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0038PXRWM/ref=cm]]swwrcppapiii_u66yFbM97DKG7

Very effective. We carry a bottle of water, simply put a leaf on your hand, add some water and rub into a lather - it lathers up really nicely. When finished wash off with more water from the bottle and dry with a towel. Very effective.

DS uses prescription soap at home but his hands can handle using the soap leaves all day (if we are out) without any ill effect. [/quote]
Thank you so much I'll be trying this!

I use sanitiser all the time and carry a small bottle everywhere. Having got into the habit during the pandemic, I will probably keep using it in the future. I absolutely love the smell of surgical spirit, so I think I’m addicted to it.