In addition to continuously washing our hands with soap and water, the use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers has become a tool for preventing coronavirus. However, continuous use of products containing ethyl alcohol can cause many problems for all skin types, but especially for those like me, who have sensitive skin...
There are numerous studies that recommend avoiding the use of alcohol in cosmetic products as it greatly dries out the skin and, in high concentrations, can alter the hydrolipidic film that protects the most superficial layers of the epidermis. It's no surprise then that in this "new normal" we have seen an increase in cases of dermatitis on the hands due to the excessive use of hand sanitizers, which often contain between 60% and 90% ethyl alcohol. The reason is that ethanol (or ethyl alcohol) at high percentages, in addition to killing germs and deactivating viruses, also eliminates key skin lipids, hence common comments today such as "my hands are ruined."
To make matters worse, there are also studies indicating that alcohol inhibits collagen biosynthesis in fibroblasts and alters the skin's protein structures, which translates into accelerated skin aging.
How to counteract the effects of alcohol on the skin?
To try to mitigate the skin problems caused by ethyl alcohol, in addition to not overusing hydroalcoholic gels, you should hydrate your hands with moisturizing creams at least 3 times a day. I recommend using a hand cream rich in active ingredients like allantoin and shea butter to restore lost softness, or aloe and mallow, which are very soothing and hydrating. In addition to the ingredients I just mentioned, I also really like saccharide isomerate, because it is a sugar that binds strongly to the amino acids in the skin and lasts up to 72 hours despite repeated washes, ensuring continuous hydration. REWARDING BODY BALM is what I usually recommend from the Twelve Beauty collection.
A valid alternative to hydroalcoholic gels
If your hands are damaged by the continuous use of hydrogels, you want to prevent them from getting to that point, or you have doubts about their use on very young skin (the CDC warns that they can cause problems in the little ones1), it may be time to look for an alternative.
A virologist named Dr. Volha Teagle of BioScience Labs (Montana, USA) and her team selected a structurally similar strain to COVID-19, known as human coronavirus 229E, and tested an alcohol-free hand sanitizer, formulated instead with Benzalkonium Chloride against it. (Human coronavirus 229E was specifically identified as the only strain of human coronavirus that a government agency should use as a substitute for COVID-19, as not all laboratories worldwide have access to SARS-CoV-2 for testing2.) They found that Benzalkonium Chloride eliminated 99.9% of the virus in a 30-second test and showed persistent protection at 60 seconds and 120 seconds according to their report3.
Furthermore, in early February of this year, the Singapore government issued an official statement based on published scientific studies confirming Benzalkonium Chloride as one of the active ingredients capable of eliminating coronaviruses, the group of viruses to which SARS-CoV-2 belongs4. This makes it the perfect ingredient to keep hands disinfected without the need for alcohol, an active ingredient incorporated into the CLEAR BEGINNING HAND SPRAY.
My idea behind CLEAR BEGINNING HAND SPRAY was to create something effective yet gentle on hands that are totally stressed, and I wanted to avoid alcohol, known for dehydrating biological tissues (like skin). It's an ingredient that, for someone like me who prioritizes skin health, I couldn't use, and that's why I looked for a valid alternative, or rather, several active ingredients known for their high efficacy against all kinds of microorganisms.
Its ingredients include Propanediol, a natural and sustainable ingredient compared to glycols, which increases antibacterial capacity; Lactobacillus Ferment, a probiotic capable of minimizing bacterial growth in two ways (through acidification where it is found and by producing antibacterial peptides called bacteriocins). It is also moisturizing. Another ingredient is Cetrimonium Chloride, which, in addition to being conceived as a skin conditioner, can also inhibit the growth of bacteria and germs. It also includes Benzalkonium Chloride. As repairing and moisturizing ingredients, it contains Panthenol and rice derivative.
In my opinion, it is a very valid solution that, in this new world, is very much welcome.
Bibliography:
1 https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/66/wr/mm6608a5.htm#T1_down