Selecting Best Hand Sanitizers, Antimicrobial Soaps and Antiseptics | Dr. Denise Tropea

The Disinfection Dilemma: Selecting the Best Hand Sanitizers, Antimicrobial Soaps and Antiseptics

COVID19 taught us that hand sanitizers can literally be a matter of life and death. We began with a severe shortage of hand sanitizers. Big problem. Now we’re faced with the opposite: A confusing, overabundance of hand sanitizer choices. Also a problem. How can you select the best quality, most effective hand sanitizer, antimicrobial soap or antiseptic from the confusing myriad of choices available? Even the best hand sanitizer is ineffective or even harmful if improperly applied. So what’s the proper method for using hand sanitizer safely and effectively? Did you know that some hand sanitizers contain harmful chemicals? Fortunately, there are natural oil and herbal hand sanitizer solutions. This webinar will help you learn how to select and safely and effectively use hand sanitizers, antimicrobial soaps and antiseptics.

In This Webinar You Will Learn…

How to distinguish various hand sanitizers, antimicrobial soaps and antiseptics by name.
How to decipher the technical terms that are used on the labels.
How to determine the situations for which each type of product is best suited.
The ingredients in the various products and the effects these ingredients can have on our skin.
How to compare alcohol based vs. non-alcohol based hand sanitizers.
Whether handwashing with soap and water is still the best option.

Benefits of Attending This Webinar

Ability to face a supermarket shelf full of various hand sanitizer, antimicrobial soaps and antiseptics and make the best choice for your needs.
Understand the power of the good bacteria present in and on our bodies for our protection against pathogens (disease causing bacteria and viruses).
Know how hand washing with soap and water and the action of rubbing your hands will indeed reduce the bacterial count and help prevent the spread of infection.

Who Is Dr. Denise Tropea, DPM?

Dr. Denise Tropea is a board-certified foot surgeon and has maintained a private practice in Las Vegas for 25 years. She is originally from the New York / New Jersey area and completed her studies at the Scholl College of Podiatry in Chicago. She then went on to complete a 2-year residency in surgery and orthopedics in Salt Lake City before opening her practice in Las Vegas. In 2016 she closed her practice in Las Vegas to follow her passion in health and wellness. Her knowledge of medicine, treatment of chronic conditions, the importance of supplementation and exercise, along with her extraordinary skill as a health educator give her the cutting edge in assisting people in creating their optimal mind, body and soul health. It’s all about wellness with Dr. Tropea. She combines nutrition, exercise and supplementation, which is the foundation to a successful transformation. Every one of us has the power to be the person that we dream of. Her knowledge of medicine, treatment of chronic conditions and the importance of supplementation gives her the cutting edge in assisting you in creating optimal health. The tools that Dr. Tropea utilizes has been proven to guide your mind, body and soul. This is what health is all about and the vast majority of people seek the knowledge so they can heal themselves. An initial consultation is the first step to find out what your needs are and how to start the journey.

Webinar Slides

Webinar Notes

THE DISINFECTION DILEMMA : A DISCUSSION ON HAND SANITIZERS, ANTIMICROBIAL SOAPS AND ANTISEPTICS.

BY DENISE TROPEA , D.P.M.

FOOT AND ANKLE SPECIALIST, WOUND CARE SPECIALIST

DEFINITIONS

Hand Sanitizer – liquid, gel or foam used to decrease the number of infectious agents on hands. A sanitizer is ineffective if the alcohol concentration is too low.
Disinfection – process of cleaning something with a chemical in order to destroy viruses or bacteria. Also heat, UV light and radiation can disinfect.
Sterilization – process of making something free of microorganisms such as surgical instruments and supplies.

WHAT ARE THE SITUATIONS WHERE THESE AGENTS WOULD BE THE MOST APPROPRIATE?

Hand sanitizer best when soap and water is not readily available.
Disinfecting agents usually applied to the surfaces of inanimate objects and it is a 2-step process
1. Clean soiled area
2. Spray disinfectant and the directions will explain for how long it should be on the surface before wiped off.
Antiseptics should be used in cases of minor cuts and scrapes in which to destroy microorganisms on tissue. i.e. Betadine, Hydrogen peroxide

SANITIZER AND DISINFECTION INGREDIENTS

Ethyl or isopropyl alcohol must be 60 to 95 % range.
- 70 % isopropyl has been shown to kill coronavirus on surfaces.
- Drying agent and can irritate skin and strip away our natural oils on our skin.
- Can rid the good bacteria on our skin and open an invitation for harmful bacteria.
- Iodine (Betadine) used for many years in the hospital setting to decrease the amount of bacteria on your skin to prep for a procedure.
- Chlorohexidine Gluconate (Hibiclens) alternative for people allergic or sensitive to iodine.
- Both can be drying and irritating to skin.

ALCOHOL BASED VS NON – ALCOHOL BASED

Alcohol-Based

Toxic
Skin irritations
Kills germs

Non-Alcohol Based

Non-Toxic (if not synthetic chemicals)
Not strip away natural oils on skin
Kills germs
Important to read label of active ingredient

NATURAL BASED SANITIZERS

Oils such as eucalyptus, thyme, tea tree and lemon.
Active ingredient is Thymol which is derived from thyme. The EPA has approved Thymol as a proven disinfectant against SARS-CoV-2 (COVID 19 ).
These are natural antibacterial, antifungals and antivirals.

WHICH SOAP IS BEST REGULAR OR ANTIBACTERIAL ?

Studies have shown that anti-bacterial soap is not more effective than regular soap.

Regular soap will not kill healthy bacteria.

Triclosan is a chemical additive found in soaps, toothpaste, detergents and deodorants.

This chemical is linked to health issues such as cancer and hormone disruption.

HANDWASHING VS. HAND SANITIZERS

Nothing can replace a good hand washing and only 5% of people properly wash their hands.
80% of communicable diseases are transferred by touch.
30% of people do not use soap when washing their hands.
Anywhere between 10K and 10 million bacterial species live on each hand.
October 15th is Global Handwashing Day.

HAND SANITIZER SUMMARY

We have options and become smarter consumers of these agents.
We can limit our use of hand sanitizers.
Handwashing is still the Gold Standard with soap! The friction from rubbing your hands and the soap which then will foam reduces the amount of germs on your hands.