Washing your hands is one of the best things you can do for your health, and although before the pandemic we didn't feel the need to do it as frequently, we're all washing our hands a lot more now. One good alternative to soap and water is hand sanitizer.
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But although the demand for it is currently through the roof and it is great to have when you're out and about, it's important not to rely on it too heavily.
Handwashing is a good thing, but bear in mind that your skin is one of the most sensitive organs of your body. If you disinfect it too much, you can disrupt its ph.
And if your hands' ph is altered, they become more vulnerable to infections and bacteria, which can enter the body through small wounds and compromise your health.
Another reason not to use too much hand sanitizer is that it makes your skin very dry. The best way to resolve this issue is to moisturize your hands after using hand sanitizer.
And last but not least, excessive use of hand sanitizer causes the skin on your hands to adapt and, in a way, start to depend on it. As a result, it'll be less resistant to bacteria and viruses, which would ultimately render hand sanitizer useless.