Issue link: https://www.ascpskindeepdigital.com/i/1263242
44 ascp skin deep july/august 2020 As any entrepreneur knows, when something is not available in a regular way, you have two choices. You can get innovative or get left behind. It may be more comfortable to wait for more products to become available, but it will also come at a cost. Price gouging has been rampant during the pandemic, and hand sanitizer has been no exception. Waiting also prohibits you from getting back to work—and ultimately, back to "normal"—sooner. DO IT YOURSELF If you cannot find an ample sanitizer supply, consider sourcing your needs from another resource. Sometimes that requires thinking outside the box (or bottle in this case). If you feel you've exhausted all your options, step back, look at the supply chain, and see what's going into that production line to make the product itself. The ingredient makeup of hand sanitizer is quite simple. Isopropyl alcohol, aloe vera gel, and essential oils form the foundation of this highly coveted (and low-cost) sanitizing solution. It is easy to make after understanding the basics. The coronavirus, like many other viruses, has enveloped virions, or virus particles. It is in these envelopes that you see the unique crownlike appearance of the coronavirus pathogen in photos. Those glycoproteins are what identify and bind to receptor sites on the host's membrane, which ultimately allows the virus to enter and infect the person (host).1 Studies have shown the envelope for this virus is particularly sensitive to alcohol, which makes hand sanitizer a great combatant in killing the virus. Simply using alcohol to sanitize your hands would likely be effective, but end up being incredibly painful, as it is immensely drying. To circumvent the drying effects, chemists have added aloe vera gel for its hydrating and healing properties. To effectively kill the virus, the solution must contain at least 60 percent alcohol. That means the rubbing alcohol you purchase (also called isopropyl alcohol) must be 99 percent, because you will dilute the concentration with the aloe. Adding in essential oils can be refreshing to the senses, and some can also have antimicrobial properties. Some choices include eucalyptus, lavender, lemon, oregano, rosemary, tea tree, and thyme. Remember, the critical ingredient is alcohol. The more ingredients you add to the solution, the more you're diluting the alcohol, so maintaining at least 60 percent alcohol is the sweet spot when making your own effective hand sanitizer. What we've experienced in 2020 is unprecedented. The COVID-19 outbreak has changed the way Americans and those around the world will live their lives for the indefinite future. While it's difficult to say exactly where we'll be a year from now, there are certain things that will require your efforts as you get back to work, and one of those is providing peace of mind for your clients through visible sanitation efforts. Note 1. Encyclopaedia Britannica, "Coronavirus," last modified April 2020, accessed May 2020, www.britannica. com/science/coronavirus-virus-group. expertadvice INGREDIENTS DIY Hand Sanitizer 2/3 cup 99 percent rubbing alcohol or ethanol (grain alcohol) 1/3 cup aloe vera gel 6–8 drops essential oil Mix ingredients and pour them into a clean container with a pump or spray nozzle. Post a sign in your treatment room: "Curious About Cleanliness? We are taking every precaution possible to sanitize and disinfect after each client. You can expect clean sheets, surfaces, and facial implements every time you come in. Ask us for more information."