Which is better: Soap or hand sanitizer? Soap vs Hand Sanitizer.
Your hands are anything but smooth. With
peaks and valleys, folds and rifts, there are plenty of hiding places for a
virus to stick. If you then touch your face, the virus can infect you. But
there are two extraordinarily simple ways you can keep that from happening: soap
and water, and hand sanitizer.
So which is better? The corona virus that causes COVID-19 is one of many viruses whose protective outer surface is made of a lipid bi-layer. These lipids are pin shaped molecules whose heads are attracted to water, and tails are repulsed by it. So in water-rich environments, lipids naturally form a shell like this, with the heads outside and the tails inside. Their shared reaction to water makes the lipids stick loosely together— this is called the hydrophobic effect.
And this is where soap comes in. A
single drop of any brand of soap contains quadrillions of molecules called
amphiphiles (a chemical), which resemble biological lipids. Their tails, which
are similarly repulsed by water, compete for space with the lipids that make up
the virus’s shell. But they’re just different enough to break up the regularity
of the virus’s membrane, making the whole thing come crashing down. Those
amphiphiles (a chemical) then form bubbles of their own around particles including
the virus’s RNA and proteins. Apply water, and you’ll wash that whole bubble
away.
Hand sanitizers work less like a crowbar, and more like an earthquake. When you surround a corona virus with water, the hydrophobic effect gives the bonds within the membrane their strength. That same effect also holds the big proteins that form corona virus’s spikes in place and in the shape that enables them to infect your cells. If you dry the virus out in air, it keeps its stability. But now surround it with a high concentration of an alcohol, like the ethanol or isopropanol (alcohol used solvent) found in most hand-sanitizers. This makes the hydrophobic effect disappear, and gives the molecules room to move around. The overall effect is like removing all of the nails and mortar from a house and then hitting it with an earthquake.
Fighting with Germs:-
The cell’s membrane collapses and
those spike proteins crumble. In either method, the actual process of
destroying the virus happens in just a second or two. But doctors recommend at
least 20 seconds of hand-washing because of the intricate landscape that is
your hand. Soap and sanitizer need to get everywhere, including your palms,
fingertips, the outsides of your hands, and between your fingers, to protect
you properly. And when it comes to a corona virus outbreak, doctors recommend
washing your hands with soap and water whenever possible. Even though both
approaches are similarly effective at killing the virus, soap and water has two
benefits: first it washes away any dirt which could otherwise hide virus
particles. But more importantly, it’s simply easier to fully cover your hands
with soap and water for 20 seconds. Of course, hand sanitizer is more
convenient to use on the go. In the absence of a sink, use the sanitizer as
thoroughly as possible and rub your hands together until they’re dry. Unfortunately,
there are billions of people who don’t have access to clean drinking water, which
is a huge problem at any time but especially during an outbreak. Researchers
and aid groups are working to provide solutions for these communities. One
example is a device that uses salt, water, and a car battery to make
chlorinated water that kills harmful pathogens and is safe for hand-washing. So
wherever possible, soap and water are recommended for a corona virus, but does
that mean it's best for every viral outbreak? Not necessarily. Many common
colds are caused by rhinoviruses that have a geometric protein structure called
a capsid instead of a lipid membrane. The capsid doesn't have nearly as many
weak points where soap amphiphiles can pry it apart, so it takes longer for
soap to be effective. However some of its surface proteins are still vulnerable
to the destabilizing effect of hand sanitizer. In this and similar cases, hand
sanitizer may be more effective, especially if you then wash your hands to
remove residual particles. The best way to know which to use for any given
outbreak is to do what's best for all things illness-related: follow the advice
of accredited medical professionals.
No worries......I use soap only
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