Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a very common virus that can lead to health problems like genital warts and cancer. HPV spreads through sexual contact, so there is a lot of interest in ways to prevent transmission. Some people wonder if using hand sanitizer can kill HPV and stop it from spreading. This article will examine the evidence on whether hand sanitizers are effective against HPV.
What is HPV?
HPV stands for human papillomavirus. There are over 100 different types of HPV, and around 40 of them can infect the genital areas. HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection. Most sexually active people will be infected with HPV at some point.
In most cases, HPV goes away on its own without causing health problems. But sometimes HPV does not go away and can cause cells in the body to become abnormal. When this happens, it can lead to:
– Genital warts
– Cervical cancer
– Anal cancer
– Cancers of the penis, vagina, vulva, throat, and mouth
There are vaccines available that protect against some of the most high-risk types of HPV, such as Gardasil and Cervarix. But there is no cure for HPV. Once infected, the virus stays in the body.
HPV is spread through skin-to-skin sexual contact. This includes vaginal, oral, and anal sex. Using condoms reduces the risk of getting HPV but does not eliminate it completely. HPV can be transmitted even when no penetrative sex occurs.
Can Hand Sanitizer Kill HPV?
Hand sanitizers are alcohol-based products that are designed to kill bacteria and viruses on hands. They have become very popular in recent years, especially with concerns around viruses like flu, SARS-CoV-2, and monkeypox.
Some major ingredients in hand sanitizers include:
– Ethyl alcohol or isopropyl alcohol – These kill microbes by breaking down their cell walls and denaturing proteins.
– Benzalkonium chloride – This disrupts microbial cell membranes.
– Triclosan – This stops bacteria from making fatty acids they need to survive.
So can using hand sanitizer stop HPV transmission?
Unfortunately, the answer seems to be no. Hand sanitizers are not very effective at killing HPV.
There are a few reasons for this:
1. HPV is highly resistant to alcohol and drying agents
HPV has a tough outer shell that protects it from alcohol, desiccants, and detergents. The capsid surrounding the virus genome is sturdy and not easily broken down by standard sanitizing agents.
In lab studies testing different disinfectants against HPV, researchers found that HPV was extremely tolerant. High concentrations of alcohol over prolonged time periods were needed to inactivate the virus.
This resilience makes HPV much harder to kill than things like influenza viruses, coronaviruses, and bacteria.
2. Hand sanitizers may not reach HPV on the skin
For a hand sanitizer to work against a virus, the antiviral ingredients need to come into direct contact with the virus particles.
But HPV can hide deep in skin cells and tiny crevices on skin. The outer layer of dead skin cells may protect underlying HPV from the effects of alcohol-based rubs.
Unless the sanitizer can penetrate into the deeper layers of skin, it will not reach the HPV virus to destroy it. Simply using a dab of hand gel on the surface of hands may not be enough.
3. Using hand sanitizer has limited impact after HPV exposure
Hand sanitizers work by disinfecting hands to prevent viral transmission. But they have minimal effect if HPV has already infected an area.
Once HPV gets into cells, no amount of hand cleaning will remove it. The virus inserts its DNA into the host cell nucleus and replicates. External disinfectants cannot reach these protected viral particles inside body cells.
So if someone has HPV on their genitals from a prior infection, using hand sanitizer will not help eliminate it or stop transmission through sexual activity.
Research on Hand Sanitizers and HPV
While lab studies show HPV can be hard to kill with alcohols, researchers have still investigated whether hand sanitizers can reduce HPV infections in real-world settings.
Several clinical trials have looked at the effects of hand hygiene on HPV transmission:
College Campus Study
A study published in Sexually Transmitted Diseases followed 1950 college students for 6 months. Students were randomized into:
– Hand sanitizer group – Given alcohol-based hand sanitizer and promotion of hand hygiene.
– Control group – Given usual health education materials.
| Group | HPV Infection Rate |
| Hand Sanitizer | 16.2% |
| Control | 15.5% |
The hand sanitizer group did not have a lower rate of new genital HPV infections compared to the control group. Researchers concluded hand hygiene has little usefulness for preventing genital HPV transmission.
Couples Study
Another clinical trial provided heterosexual couples with hand sanitizers, soap, and education about hand hygiene. Over 16 months of follow-up, hand cleansing did not reduce genital HPV infections compared to couples who received only health education.
HIV Clinic Study
A study in an HIV clinic had participants use hand sanitizer after every clinic visit for 1 year. They were tested for HPV before and after. The year-long hand hygiene intervention did not lower genital or anal HPV rates in the subjects.
Overall, the clinical research agrees with lab studies showing limited efficacy of alcohol hand rubs against HPV. Promoting hand cleansing does not seem to reduce new HPV infections.
Why Might This Be?
There are a few reasons why hand sanitizers may not work well to block HPV transmission:
– As discussed earlier, HPV’s physical properties make it highly tolerant to the ingredients in hand sanitizers.
– HPV transmission occurs through direct sexual skin-to-skin contact. Hands are not the main body part involved in transmission.
– If genital areas or hands have small HPV-infected lesions, hand sanitizer cannot reach the virus buried under skin cell layers.
– While gel or wipes can disinfect surface skin, they cannot kill off HPV already present deeper in the epithelium or mucous membranes.
– People may not use hand sanitizers thoroughly enough or frequently enough to have a major impact.
– If someone touches a HPV-infected area then touches another body part, hand rubbing in between may be too late to stop viral transfer.
– HPV could be transmitted to hands even after using hand sanitizer (before it dries).
Overall, hand sanitizers seem ineffective because they act superficially on the hands while HPV infects deep in genital epithelium. The virus has tough physical properties protecting it from alcohol damage.
Proper Hand Hygiene Still Recommended
While hand sanitizers may not stop HPV transmission, regular hand hygiene is still recommended. Washing hands with soap and water:
– Removes dirt, body fluids, and contaminants.
– Reduces bacteria and viruses that cause non-HPV illnesses.
– Is part of good hygiene practice.
Proper hand washing involves:
– Wetting hands with clean water.
– Lathering soap and scrubbing for at least 20 seconds.
– Rinsing off soap under running water.
– Drying hands well with a clean towel.
Hand sanitizer can be used as an adjunct when soap is unavailable. But for maximum hand cleansing, regular hand washing is preferred, especially:
– Before/after sexual activity
– After going to the bathroom
– Before eating
– After coughing, sneezing, or touching high touch surfaces
Though it does not target HPV itself, good hand hygiene helps reduce spread of other pathogens, promoting overall health.
Preventing HPV Infections
Since hand sanitizers seem ineffective against HPV, what other prevention methods can reduce risk of infection?
1. HPV vaccination
Getting vaccinated with Gardasil or Cervarix is highly protective against the specific cancer-causing HPV strains covered by the vaccines. The CDC recommends HPV vaccination for boys and girls starting at age 9 to 12 years old. Catch-up vaccination is also recommended for older teens and young adults who did not complete the full vaccine series earlier.
2. Use condoms
Condoms act as a barrier preventing skin-to-skin HPV transmission. While not 100% protective, condoms significantly lower HPV exposure risk. They provide protection against other STIs as well.
3. Limit sexual partners
Having new sexual partners increases the chance of encountering a high-risk HPV type. Maintaining a mutually monogamous relationship is safer.
4. Don’t smoke
Smoking harms immune function and makes it harder for the body to clear an HPV infection. Smoking also increases the risk of HPV-caused cancer.
5. Get screened
Women should follow cervical cancer screening guidelines by getting regular Pap tests. This allows early treatment of any abnormal cervical cell changes caused by HPV.
The Bottom Line
Evidence clearly shows that alcohol-based hand sanitizers do not adequately prevent or treat HPV infections. While proper hand hygiene has health benefits, it does not significantly impact HPV transmission.
Instead of relying on hand gel or wipes, getting vaccinated, using condoms, limiting partners, avoiding smoking, and screening are far more effective strategies to reduce HPV risk.
Since HPV is so common, being proactive and getting screened is key. But hand sanitizer alone should not be seen as a way to prevent HPV infection.