This episode is sponsored by BodyCafé. BodyCafé is an organic lifestyle wellness brand that is based on authentic and traditional beauty practices.

Visit BodyCafé and use the coupon code HI15 for the best quality hand sanitizers and other beauty products.

Coupon code: HI15

What is a hand sanitizer?

It is a liquid, gel or foam used to reduce infectious agents in on our hands.

Hand wash is usually preferred as hand sanitizers cannot kill certain kinds of germs and it cannot remove harmful chemicals. But during certain situations, it is handy to use hand sanitizer over hand wash.

Effective hand sanitizer has over 60% of alcohol content. It is usually a combination of isopropyl alcohol, ethanol (ethyl alcohol) or n-propanol from 60% to 95% concentration.

It works with many microorganisms but does not have much effect in spores (a primitive usually unicellular often environmentally resistant dormant or reproductive body produced by plants, fungi, and some microorganisms and capable of development into a new individual either directly or after fusion with another spore).

Glycerol can be added to reduce drying of the skin. Fragrances can be added but it can lead to allergic reactions.

There are non-alcoholic hand sanitizers but are mostly ineffective. Alcohol-free sanitizers use povidone-iodine, benzalkonium chloride or triclosan.

Alcohol's antiseptic properties have been put into use since the 14th century but in the modern world, alcohol-based hand sanitizer became a fixture from the 1980s.

Hand sanitizers were introduced to the healthcare setting in 1966 and were popularised in the 90s.

Hand sanitizer not effective on greasy, oily surfaces. It cannot remove heavy metal and pesticides like contaminants.

Hand sanitizers are recommended only if hand wash is not available.

It is flammable so has to be handled with care.

It does not affect the beneficial microorganisms but removes the outer oil layer from the skin.

Cases of ingestion have caused deaths. During the pandemic, the scarcity of alcohol leads to nine alcoholics in New Mexico to drink hand sanitizer. They were severely injured and three died.

How to use it?

Apply product to the palm of one hand.

Rub hands together.

Rub the product over all surfaces of hands and fingers until hands are dry.

Do not go near flame or gas burner or any burning object during applying hand sanitizer.

Listerine:

Founded in 1879 by Joseph Lawrence

Named after John Lister

Kill germs that cause bad breath

Joseph Lister demonstrated in 1865 that using carbolic acid on surgical dressings drastically reduces the chance of post-surgical infection. His demonstration was inspired by Louis Pasteur's study of microbial infection.

It was promoted to the dentist as an oral care product from 1895. Finally released as over the counter mouthwash in the US from 1914.

It started as a powerful surgical antiseptic, the distilled form was sold both as a floor cleaner and as a cure for gonorrhoea.

It was not successful until the 1920s when it was promoted as a solution for chronic halitosis (bad breath).

(Mention the advertisement.)

From the 1920s-1970s it was also marketed as a preventive measure for sore throat and cold. (did not work at all)

Listerine cigarettes were also marketed in 1927.

From the 1930s - mid-1950s it was also advertised as a preventive measure for infectious dandruff.

Safety concerns were raised saying acidic mouthwash increases the chances of oral cancer but was cleared as no evidence was found to support it.

The active ingredients listed on Listerine packaging are essential oils which are menthol (mint) 0.042%, thymol (thyme) 0.064%, methyl salicylate (wintergreen) 0.06%, and eucalyptol (eucalyptus) 0.092%.

Dettol vs Savlon:

Dettol was released in 1933 as an antiseptic liquid for the treatment of cuts and wounds. It remained like that for the next 50 years.

Now it has hand wash, liquid antiseptics, body wash, plater, soap and shaving cream with 50% of market sh

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.