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Is it safe to use hand sanitisers that contain alcohol in the long term?

Hand hygiene plays a crucial part in the prevention of the spread of the new coronavirus.

According to the World Health Organization, research has shown that nurses who regularly used alcohol hand rubs had less skin irritation and dryness than those using soap and water.

As a result of the coronavirus pandemic, the United States’ Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has released temporary guidelines that allow for ethanol (also called ethyl alcohol) or isopropyl to be used as the active ingredient in manufacturing alcohol-based hand sanitiser.  

The FDA has warned against the use of hand sanitisers that contain methanol because of the risk of poisoning.

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