Reports of Adverse Effects of Hand Sanitizer Increased During COVID

Key TakeawaysSince the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and poison control centers throughout the United States have been getting more reports of adverse events related to using hand sanitizer.Most of the fifty reported cases were in adults (though four occurred in children). The symptoms of nausea, dizziness, and headache were mild and mostly occurred after a person used a product in a poorly ventilated space.While the best way to keep your hands clean is to use soap and water, if you do use hand sanitizer, read the product label carefully and make sure that you are using it in a well-ventilated space. You should also check the FDA’s “do not use” list of hand sanitizers before buying a product.

Key Takeaways

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and poison control centers throughout the United States have been getting more reports of adverse events related to using hand sanitizer.Most of the fifty reported cases were in adults (though four occurred in children). The symptoms of nausea, dizziness, and headache were mild and mostly occurred after a person used a product in a poorly ventilated space.While the best way to keep your hands clean is to use soap and water, if you do use hand sanitizer, read the product label carefully and make sure that you are using it in a well-ventilated space. You should also check the FDA’s “do not use” list of hand sanitizers before buying a product.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)has seen an uptick in reportsfrom consumers regarding the adverse events of accidentally being exposed to hand sanitizer vapors.

Most of the symptoms were mild and included nausea, dizziness, and headache. In most cases, the symptoms resulted from using the products in poorly ventilated areas such as in rooms with closed windows.

When it comes to preventing COVID-19, hand sanitizer is not a substitute for vaccination, wearing a face mask when appropriate, and taking other precautions. However, in a pinch, it can be better than nothing.

“When you don’t have easy access to soap and water, hand sanitizer can be an effective additional step in helping to potentially reduce transmission of some viruses including flu and the coronavirus,”Aaron Glatt, MD,the chief of infectious diseases at Mount Sinai South Nassau Medical Center in Hewlett, NY and a spokesperson for the Infectious Diseases Society of America, tells Verywell.

The FDA reported—but didn’t specify—that some of the patients with adverse effects from using hand sanitizer needed treatment (which Dr. Glatt says included recommendations such as pain reliever for headache and over-the-counter medications for nausea).

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Adverse Effects of Hand Sanitizer Use Increased During COVID

According to the FDA, people experiencing adverse effects of hand sanitizers likely inhaled vapors when using the products in enclosed spaces such as a car with closed windows, or in areas with poor air circulation.

Courtney Rhodes, an FDA spokesperson, tells Verywell that the agency “received increasing reports of these side effects since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Fifty cases of serious adverse events after applying alcohol-based hand sanitizers were reported to the agency FDA between January 1, 2010, and December 31, 2020. All of them were reported after March 2020, which coincided with the marked increase in hand sanitizer use during the pandemic.

Most of the fifty cases of hand sanitizer-related adverse effects reported occurred in adults, but four occurred in children.

Poison control centers throughout the United States also saw an increase in the number of reports of adverse events from hand sanitizer, according to the FDA.

In the three years between January 1, 2018, and December 31, 2020, 299 cases of adverse events were reported. There was a significant increase after March 2020 during the pandemic. Most cases were in adults, with children 5 or younger accounting for 12% of the cases reported.

Washing Your Hands Is Best

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the best way to clean your hands is with soap, and water, if available.

The agency also recommends the following practices:

Safe Hand Sanitizer Use

If soap and water are not available and you are going to use hand sanitizer, the CDC recommends that you:

Safe Storage

The FDA also points out that there are steps you should take to properly store hand sanitizer to prevent accidental poisoning—particularly if there are kids in your home.

Always store hand sanitizers, along with all other medical products, out of children’s reach and sight.Swallowing even a small amount of hand sanitizer can cause alcohol poisoning in children, which may cause serious illness or death.

Check the FDA’s “Do Not Use” List

The FDA maintains alist of hand sanitizers that consumers should not useand continually updates it. Checkthe listbefore buying a hand sanitizer brand that you haven’t purchased before.

Products on the do not use list include those that contain too much alcohol, no alcohol, not enough alcohol, and/or contaminants that make them dangerous for use or if accidentally swallowed.

Ann Marie Pettis, RN, president of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control, tells Verywell that there are a few key points to keep in mind to ensure that you are using hand sanitizer safely.

“If you are using hand sanitizer in your car, open the window,” Pettis says. “If you or a family member experience unusual symptoms after applying hand sanitizer, contact your primary care practice or Poison Control. If someone is having difficulty breathing, contact 911 right away. Hand sanitizers can be deadly if swallowed; always keep out of reach of children.”

FDA Expands List of Potentially Dangerous Hand Sanitizers

Use Hand Sanitizer With Caution

While caution is advised when using hand sanitizers, their use can help prevent infections. That’s why knowing how to use these products safely is so important.

Kelly Krisna Johnson-Arbor, MD,a medical toxicologist at the Medstar Health System in Washington, DC, and co-director of the Washington DC Poison Control centers, tells Verywell that, anecdotally, reports of adverse events to the DC center have fallen in 2021 compared with 2020.

While that is good news in terms of accidental poisonings and other health effects, Johnson-Arbor is concerned that it might be because people are being less vigilant about using the products as the pandemic has started to ebb.

“The risk of contracting the virus is still here,” says Johnson-Arbor. “Use soap and water when you can, use hand sanitizer, safely, when soap and water are not available.”

What This Means For YouReports of adverse effects of using hand sanitizers have increased as more people are using the products amid the pandemic. While the best way to clean your hands is with soap and water, if you do need to use hand sanitizer, there are steps that you can take to ensure that you are doing so safely.Read all the labels on a product and if you have not purchased a particular brand before, check the FDA’s list of products that you should not purchase before you buy. Always make sure to use hand sanitizer in a well-ventilated area.If you have questions about a product, you can call poison control at800-222-1222(your call will be routed to the closest center). However, if someone is not breathing or is unconscious after using a hand sanitizer, call 911 immediately.

What This Means For You

Reports of adverse effects of using hand sanitizers have increased as more people are using the products amid the pandemic. While the best way to clean your hands is with soap and water, if you do need to use hand sanitizer, there are steps that you can take to ensure that you are doing so safely.Read all the labels on a product and if you have not purchased a particular brand before, check the FDA’s list of products that you should not purchase before you buy. Always make sure to use hand sanitizer in a well-ventilated area.If you have questions about a product, you can call poison control at800-222-1222(your call will be routed to the closest center). However, if someone is not breathing or is unconscious after using a hand sanitizer, call 911 immediately.

Reports of adverse effects of using hand sanitizers have increased as more people are using the products amid the pandemic. While the best way to clean your hands is with soap and water, if you do need to use hand sanitizer, there are steps that you can take to ensure that you are doing so safely.

Read all the labels on a product and if you have not purchased a particular brand before, check the FDA’s list of products that you should not purchase before you buy. Always make sure to use hand sanitizer in a well-ventilated area.

If you have questions about a product, you can call poison control at800-222-1222(your call will be routed to the closest center). However, if someone is not breathing or is unconscious after using a hand sanitizer, call 911 immediately.

The information in this article is current as of the date listed, which means newer information may be available when you read this. For the most recent updates on COVID-19, visit ourcoronavirus news page.

2 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.When and How to Wash Your Hands.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Show Me the Science: When & How to Use Hand Sanitizer in Community Settings.Additional ReadingCenters for Disease Control and Prevention.Hand Sanitizer Use Out and About.

2 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.When and How to Wash Your Hands.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Show Me the Science: When & How to Use Hand Sanitizer in Community Settings.Additional ReadingCenters for Disease Control and Prevention.Hand Sanitizer Use Out and About.

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.When and How to Wash Your Hands.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Show Me the Science: When & How to Use Hand Sanitizer in Community Settings.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.When and How to Wash Your Hands.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Show Me the Science: When & How to Use Hand Sanitizer in Community Settings.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Hand Sanitizer Use Out and About.

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