The demand for supplies to fight COVID-19 continues to rise as the number of confirmed cases grows. Because hand sanitizer was one of the very first things to fly off the shelves, it’s now almost impossible to find it online or in stores. This unexpected demand has pushed many people into attempting to create their own hand sanitizer by using various DIY recipes on social media, but there’s a dangerous cost to it.

Although making hand sanitizer isn’t a complex process, some recipes on the internet have left people boggled. After a child in New Jersey was allegedly burned, questions concerning whether DIY hand sanitizer was actually safe, let alone effective, surged. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that a hand sanitizer be made up of at least 60% ethanol or 70% isopropanol alcohol. So yes, while making sanitizer at home is possible, it’s important to use caution to avoid injuries and ensure efficacy. 

 “As long as the alcohol content is at least 60%, then it’s effective at properly cleansing the hands. As the alcohol percentage increases, so do the chances of developing irritation from using the product,” stated Corey L. Hartman, MD, a dermatologist at Skin Wellness Center in Birmingham and Chelsea, Alabama. 

Despite this simple requirement, not fully understanding how these percentages will be represented in the final mixture can skew the effectiveness of the product. The finished sanitizer product must be at a 60% alcohol content after you mix all the ingredients together. With that being said, if you use 60% alcohol, you cannot mix it with anything else or it’ll be diluted below the recommended level to be deemed “effective.” This is why experts say that making your own hand sanitizer isn’t as safe or foolproof as throwing alcohol or aloe together in a small bottle.

           Hadley King, MD, a Manhattan-based dermatologist suggests to “minimize contamination by using sterile utensils and containers.” All calculations have to be done precisely to determine the best way to mix all the ingredients, which commonly include hydrogen peroxide, alcohol, aloe vera, and essential oils. 

If the alcohol percentage is too high or you’re not regularly using moisturizer, your hands may become dry, cracked, red, scaly, and inflamed. If you have dermatitis or sensitivity, make sure to replenish the lost moisture with hydrating products and to avoid sanitizers with essential oils or fragrances, because those can irritate your skin even more. 

With all the inconveniences that come with making hand sanitizer at home, carefully consider if creating this is an absolute necessity and take care selecting which recipes to use. You can always ditch the hand sanitizer, after all. The best way to protect yourself from germs is to wash hands for at least 20 seconds, using soap and warm water. 

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