33249 Novel high-emollient hand sanitizer improves skin condition without compromising antiseptic efficacy

Abstract

The impact of frequent hand hygiene practices on the skin condition of health care workers has been studied extensively, however, there are little data available on normal consumer usage of hand sanitizers on skin health and the skin barrier. The objective of this research was to understand the impact to skin hydration, irritation, and barrier integrity between different marketed hand sanitizers in conjunction with normal handwashing hygiene. Participants provided informed consent to participate in a balanced, randomized, IRB-approved, double-blind 4-cell 2-week clinical study, with approximately 20 participants per cell. A new high emollient and 2 leading marketed alcohol-based hand sanitizers were included with instructions to use a minimum of 6 times daily, as well as a control cell of liquid handwash alone. The control liquid handwash was also used in each sanitizer cell to replace handwash products. Objective measurements of hydration and transepidermal water loss (TEWL) were obtained as well as expert visual assessment of dryness and erythema, and 3D imaging of texture with Antera measurements. When added to a routine of handwashing with a marketed liquid handwash, the high emollient sanitizer ameliorated the dryness evident from hand washing alone. Both handwashing alone and in combination with 2 leading marketed hand sanitizers resulted in increased skin dryness and markedly greater sensory irritation. The high-emollient sanitizer product also mitigated the damaging effects of liquid handwash, as demonstrated by TEWL. The results indicate that when deploying normal consumer hand hygiene practices, selection of hand sanitizers does matter for maintaining skin barrier health.