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How irritant is alcohol?

H Löffler1, G Kampf, D Schmermund

  • 1Department of Dermatology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA. harald.loeffler@med.uni-marburg.de

The British Journal of Dermatology
|June 21, 2007
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

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Alcohol-based hand sanitizers cause less skin irritation than soap and water washing. Ethanol hand rubs may even protect skin after washing, reducing irritation.

Area of Science:

  • Dermatology
  • Infection Control
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Alcohol-based hand rubs are crucial for preventing healthcare-associated infections globally.
  • Understanding their dermatological impact is essential for effective hand hygiene practices.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare skin irritation from alcohol-based hand sanitizers versus detergent washing.
  • To evaluate the effects of alcohols (ethanol, propanols) and detergents on skin hydration, erythema, and barrier function.

Main Methods:

  • Conducted patch tests and wash tests on 15 volunteers using various concentrations of alcohols and sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS).
  • Assessed skin hydration, erythema, and transepidermal water loss (TEWL) to measure skin irritation and barrier disruption.

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Main Results:

  • Alcohols alone did not significantly alter skin barrier or erythema but decreased skin hydration.
  • Alcohol application caused significantly less skin irritation than detergent washing (lower TEWL, improved hydration, less erythema).
  • Ethanol demonstrated a protective effect on skin, even after prior irritation or washing.

Conclusions:

  • Alcohol-based hand sanitizers are dermatologically preferable to soap and water for hand hygiene.
  • Alcohol rubs can reduce skin irritation post-washing by partially removing detergent residue.