Rank: Forum user 
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Have you got a COSHH assessment for your alcohol based hand wash if you're using it in your workplace? Personally, I use soap and water as it allows the natural protection to stay in place.
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Rank: Super forum user
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Chris Packham will, no doubt, explain to why your statement about soap and water is not correct. If you look at the COSHH regs, you will se that any substances that can pose a risk to health should be assessed under the regs and that alcohol handwash no exception: just because it does not come under CLP does not mean that it is outside the scope of COSHH. If someone does wash their hands, using whatever product, for work on a regular basis then some sort of risk assessment and establishing some ensuing controls is in order.
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 1 user thanked A Kurdziel for this useful post.
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Rank: Super forum user
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Has the original post been deleted? For the record, our esteemed colleague Chris Packham has explained that soap and water is nowhere near as good or harmless as alcohol based gels. Soap and water remove the protective layer of moisture from your hands, which must be replaced with a barrier cream. Also water a major culprit of contact dermatitis. I am sure he can explain it far better than me.
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Rank: Super forum user
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To provide a detailed explanation would require a very long post. However, to put it as simply as possible: Hand washing is the least effective means of hand decontamination (with two minor exceptions). Studies have shown that frequent hand washing can actually increase the level of transient micro-organisms on/in the skin. Hand washing removes the very thin (2-3μm) layer of emulsion in the surface layer of the skin that enables the skin to retain the moisture it needs to function properly as a barrier. It makes the skin less resistant to colonisation by transient (pathogenic?) micro-organisms. It can also lead to irritant contact dermatitis (common in the healthcare sector). 'Official' guidance omits to mention this and what one should do to prevent it, merely emphasising hand washing. For most occasions alcohol (preferably ethanol) sanisiter is the more effective and, being buffered with an emollient does not damage the skin. Indeed, it has been shown to actually improve skin condition. It is not a skin cleanser but a decontaminant. It should not be used on skin visibly soiled be organic matter. It is the NICE accredited recommended method for hand decontamination for NHS England. I would never use a ‘barrier cream’. For me (and also for the HSE) there is no such thing. The skin loses moisture deliberately (trans-epidermal water loss = TEWL, not sweat) in a controlled manner. A thick cream can prevent this leading to hyperhydration. A lotion (oil-in water formulation), applied sparingly, is much better. If anyone needs more on the PM me your e-mail address and I will respond.
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1 user thanked chris.packham for this useful post.
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Rank: Super forum user
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Does this add to the discussion? “The results from the 1932 assessments collected show that traditional handwashing is a risk factor for dryness and irritation, whereas the use of alcohol-based hand rub causes no skin deterioration and might have a protective effect, particularly in intensive use.” - A prospective multicenter study evaluating skin tolerance to standard hand hygiene techniques, Chamorey E, et al, Am J Infect Control, 2011, 39, 6-13 “Numerous subsequent studies have confirmed that 60% to 70% alcohol solutions reduce bacterial counts on the hands of healthcare workers significantly better than washing hands with plain soap and water and are as effective or more effective than hand washing with anti-microbial soap.” – Boyce JM, Using Alcohol for Hand Antiseptic: Dispelling Old Myths, Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology, July 2000 ‘In everyday hospital practice, alcohol-based disinfectant is more effective and better tolerated than non-antiseptic soap, soap is at risk of spreading contamination and skin comfort strongly influences the number and the quality of hand hygiene procedures.’ – Winnefield M, Richard MA, Drancourt M, Grob JJ, Skin tolerance and effectiveness of two hand decontamination procedures in everyday hospital use, British Journal of Dermatology, 2000
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Rank: Super forum user
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James - just to add that during the pandemic there have also been scare stories about the flammability of alcohol based sanitiser which have been thoroughly debunked by authoritative voices on both sides of the Atlantic. This flammability issue has been discussed on these Forums before.
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Rank: Super forum user
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Another myth about alcohol sanitiser is that when people start using it they encounter a stinging sensitation that they interpret as the sanitiser damaging the skin. The reality is that they are applying it to skin already damaged from hand washing and wearing of occlusive gloves and that the alcohol has thus reached the nerves in the dermis. Continued use of the sanitiser almost always in the skin condition improving and this sensation soon disappearing.
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