CHOOSE RESPONSIBLY

I could not be prouder of Africology’s formulation at a time when the entire world is facing the biggest health threat in a decade. On the other hand, I’m deeply concerned and saddened by the lack of scruples and prevalence of cheaply-produced, sub-standard hand sanitizer’s out there, as these poses so many dangers that most users might be unaware of. 

There isn’t much that can be done to stop the madness – apart from helping customers to educate themselves.

Therefore, I’d like to highlight some key factors to consider when choosing a hand sanitiser to ensure your and your family’s safety and overall health down the line.

It’s important to understand that while we’re all trying to prevent the coronavirus from spreading, we can’t do it in ways that create other potential health problems, and harm the human biology in different ways. That’s why it’s so important to be mindful of the safety of the ingredients of the sanitiser you choose.

A key concern is the safety profile of the alcohol used in the formulation as there are many types of alcohol, which all have various effects on the body.

Isopropyl alcohol is the most common type that’s used in sanitisers. At Africology, we’ve elected to use ethanol, as it appears to be the most effective choice against viruses (whereas propanols have a better bactericidal activity than ethanol).

For more information about these, visit www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK513254 a very enlightening analysis of alcohol sanitisers by the National Center for Biotechnology Information in the US. Other concerning ingredients found in cheap sanitisers include triethanolamine and carbomers. Triethanolamine helps to balance pH levels, especially when a carbomer (used as a thickener) is also one of the ingredients of a formula.

Carbomers are completely synthetic and bear no resemblance to anything in nature. Triethanolamine is an amine produced by reacting ethylene oxide (considered highly toxic) with ammonia (another known toxin).

When triethanolamine is absorbed into the body over a long period of time, it can be toxic, and according to The Derm Review (thedermreview.com), even short periods of exposure may cause allergic reactions. They also state that, despite FDA approval, it should never be used long-term, as it’s been proven that it has harmful eects on the human skin and immune system and has been classified as a respiratory toxicant.

Adding this toxic ingredient to hand sanitisers that already contain alcohol and perfume creates a toxic overload, especially at a time when everyone should be focussed on strengthening their immune and respiratory systems.

Kinder, more natural alternative ingredients that will serve you well are: ethyl alcohol (ethanol), water, cornstarch, vegetable glycerin (glycerine), Vitamin E, aloe vera, an anti-viral plant extract like Artemisia, and a pure natural anti-viral essential oil like eucalyptus. 

It’s important to avoid colourants and make sure that the sanitiser you choose guarantees a test certificate as well as dermatological testing to protect your skin, as well as the health and well being of your biology.

As we navigate this ongoing health crisis, we need to be more informed and aware than every before. Each of us should safeguard our health, and this includes avoiding ingredients and products that harm us instead of protecting us and helping to build up our strength and resilience when we need it most.