What You Need to Know About Hand Sanitizer With Moisturizer

You already know that keeping your hands clean is one of the best ways to keep yourself and others around you healthy.

“Hand sanitizer remains important because it helps remove germs from your hands, so that they do not end up on your face,” says Jeffrey Cohen, MD, MPH, a board-certified medical dermatologist and assistant professor of dermatology at Yale School of Medicine in New Haven, Connecticut. And keeping germs away from your face may help reduce your risk of illnesses like the common cold or flu.

But this hygiene product can also come with an unpleasant side effect: dry, cracked skin. That’s why many people follow their hand sanitizer with a moisturizer.

Now, thanks to a host of new products in drugstores, you may be able to take this hygiene routine from two steps to one — or at least use less moisturizer after sanitizing.

How Moisturizing Hand Sanitizers Can Help

With overuse, hand sanitizers can disrupt the skin barrier. The alcohol in hand sanitizers can have a drying effect on the skin, says Joshua Zeichner, MD, associate professor of dermatology and director of cosmetic and clinical research in dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City.

The good news: More and more hand sanitizers hitting the shelves contain lotions or other moisturizing ingredients to help keep your skin barrier strong.

“The latest generation of hand sanitizers are truly a hybrid between skin care and disinfectants,” Dr. Zeichner says. “They contain the same types of hydrating ingredients found in traditional hand moisturizers, to protect the skin barrier from the ingredients that are necessary to kill microorganisms that spread infections.”

If you have or suspect you might have any allergies, you may want to find an unscented hand sanitizer with lotion, to avoid developing or worsening contact dermatitis. (More on this later.)

Tips for Choosing a Quality Moisturizing Hand Sanitizer

To pick a product that cleans and restores moisture to the skin, turn your attention to the ingredients list and follow these expert tips.

Even if you choose a hand sanitizer with moisturizer, though, Zeichner recommends keeping a traditional moisturizer handy as well.

“While it’s less likely you’ll develop dryness and irritation when using moisturizing hand sanitizers, I still recommend exercising caution and using traditional hand moisturizers,” he says.

Find Products With Moisturizing Agents

In terms of inactive ingredients, look for squalene, glycerin, and coconut oil — “all of which help attract water and maintain moisture,” says Karan Lal, DO, a board-certified dermatologist at Affiliated Dermatology in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Glycerin is the main ingredient to look for in these hand sanitizers, says Nazanin Saedi, MD, department cochair of the Laser and Aesthetics Surgery Center at Dermatology Associates of Plymouth Meeting in Pennsylvania.

Check the Alcohol Type and Concentration

“I always look for ethyl alcohol, which is more effective than isopropyl alcohol at killing microorganisms,” says Dr. Lal.

Sticking to a sanitizer on the lower end of that scale may be better for your skin: “I would avoid very high concentrations (more than 85 percent) of alcohol because they are more drying,” Lal says. “All you need is [at least] 60 percent ethyl alcohol.”

Also, be wary of potentially harmful ingredients, such as methanol, in certain sanitizers.

“Methanol is toxic, and its absorption can have serious health consequences, including blindness and death,” Lal says.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has a list on its website of products to avoid.

Consider Benzalkonium Chloride

If you have sensitive skin, you might want to consider a sanitizer without alcohol. One option is a sanitizer that contains benzalkonium chloride.

Vaseline Clinical Care Hand Sanitizer Lotion is one that both Dr. Saedi and Zeichner recommend.

“This hand sanitizer uses FDA-cleared benzalkonium chloride to keep the hands disinfected but helps keep the skin hydrated and protected with glycerin and tapioca starch, forming a breathable seal over the skin,” says Zeichner.

If you’re not sure whether a sanitizer without alcohol would be right for you, talk with a healthcare professional or a specialist like a dermatologist. They can give you advice based on your individual situation.

Avoid Fragrance

This tip is key for people with eczema and anyone managing sensitive skin, as fragrance can be irritating, says Saedi.

It goes back to the compromised skin barrier that Zeichner mentioned earlier.

“Fragrances can be irritants,” Saedi says, “and with the compromised barrier, you can be prone to exacerbating eczema.”

The Takeaway

• When choosing a hand sanitizer, consider ones with moisturizing agents like squalene, glycerin, and coconut oil to help maintain skin hydration and protect the skin barrier from the drying effects of alcohol.
• For effective germ-killing properties, opt for sanitizers with an alcohol concentration between 60 and 85 percent. For skin protection, you might want to stick to the lower end of that range.
• Be cautious of sanitizers containing methanol or fragrances, as these can pose health risks and irritate sensitive or dry skin. Check with your healthcare professional if you are unsure which product is suitable for you.