Daily Dose: Can too much hand sanitizer make your hands red?

In this edition of Daily Dose, Dr. Lacy Anderson answers a viewer's question about if hand sanitizer can make your hands turn red if used too much.

Anderson said using hand sanitizer too frequently can cause skin irritation, leading to dryness, cracking, redness, discoloration, and flaking. The alcohol content in hand sanitizers, which helps kill germs, is also a common cause of irritation—an issue many people reported during the COVID-19 pandemic.

To minimize irritation, Dr. Anderson recommends applying hand sanitizer primarily to the palms and between the fingers, as these areas harbor the most germs. The backs of the hands are more prone to dryness and irritation, so avoiding sanitizer in that area can help maintain skin health.

An exception applies to medical personnel performing sterile procedures, where thorough application is necessary. For most situations, however, using hand sanitizer on the palms is sufficient.

To prevent excessive dryness, applying a hand cream once or twice daily, especially in winter, can help keep hands moisturized and healthy.