Oct. 6, 2011  5  US 2011/0245219 Al  [0065]  It has been found that in a further preferred variant  the disinfectant additionally contains at least 5 wt. % of water.  More preferably it contains at least 10 wt.%, in particular at  least 15 wt.%, of water. Quite especially preferably, it con› tains 16-25 wt. %, in particular 18-22 wt. %, of water. In  particular, this better ensures that all components of the dis› infectant are present essentially dissolved and homogenously  distributed.  [0066]  In principle however, it is also possible to dispense  with water and instead of this for example to use solubilizers  should these be necessary.  [0067]  More preferably, the disinfectant comprises at least  one additional skin care component, where as a skin care  component moisturizing agents, agents for increasing the  suppleness of the skin and/or vitamins are in particular  present.  [0068]  As additional skin care components for example one  or more substances from the following group are suitable:  glycerol or glycerin, propan-1,2-diol, butan-1,3-diol, sorbi› tol, dexpanthenol, allantoin, bisabolol, tocopheryl acetate,  octyldodecanol, dodecanol, tetradecanol, hexadecanol, octa› decanol, lanolin alcohol, cetearyl alcohol or cetylstearyl alco› hol, cylomethicone, dimethicone, isopropyl myristate, iso› propyl palmitate, cetearyl ethylhexanoate, octyl stearate,  octyl octanoate, ethyl ethylhexanoate, jojoba oil, sea buck› thorn oil, wool wax or lanolin, paraffin oil, vaseline, heptam› ethylnonane or isohexadecane, cholesterol, partial glycer› ides, triglycerides and alkoxylated glycerides.  [0069]  Here alkoxylated monoglycerides and/or alkoxy› lated diglycerides have been found to be particularly advan› tageous as additional skin care components.  [0070]  Among the vitamins, vitamin A (retinal), vitamin  B2 (riboflavin), vitamin B7 (biotin) and/or vitamin B9 (folic  acid) are particularly suitable. Such vitamins are good for the  hair and nails, promote skin renewal and/or protect against  skin inflammation.  [0071]  In principle, however, additional skin care compo› nents can be dispensed with. This can be advantageous, for  example for economic reasons.  [0072]  Particularly preferably, glycerin, in particular with a  content of 0.2-1.5 wt. %, is contained as a skin care compo› nent. Glycerin, which is also referred to as glycerine or glyc› erol, has been found to be an especially suitable additional  skin care component, since no significant compatibility prob› lems with the other components of the disinfectants could be  observed. Moreover, disinfectants containing glycerin have a  skin moisturizing action and increase the suppleness of the  skin.  [0073]  Here contents of 0.2-1.5 wt. % of glycerin are par› ticularly advantageous. With lower contents than 0.2 wt. %,  the effect of the glycerin decreases rapidly, while contents  higher than 1.5 wt. % yield practically no additional benefit  and are thus uneconomic.  [0074]  In addition, an auxiliary agent for regulating the  material consistency is advantageously contained. In this  context, the term material consistency relates in particular to  the material cohesion, adhesion, stickiness, plasticity and/or  the viscosity of the disinfectant. The material consistency can  for example be determined by mechanical tests known per se  and/or by haptic tests, i.e. via the sense of touch. Particularly  in the use of the disinfectant for the disinfection of the hands,  the material consistency has a decisive effect on the skin feel,  which can be important, above all with frequent and regular  use.  [0075]  Depending on the use purpose, different material  consistencies can be advantageous. For example in the use of  the disinfectant for the disinfection of the hands, very mobile  and scarcely adhering disinfectants can be difficult for the  user to handle, as there is the risk of uncontrolled dripping.  Very viscous and strongly adhering disinfectants are less of a  problem in this respect, but on the other hand require vigorous  rubbing in order to achieve an even distribution of the disin› fectant on all areas of the hand, which is also not optimal.  [0076]  Hence regulation of the material consistency of the  disinfectant is advantageous inmost cases. In principle, how› ever it is possible to dispense with additives for regulating the  material consistency.  [0077]  As additives for regulating the material consistency  waxes and/or polymers are particularly suitable. Such com› pounds can be deliberately modified in their chemical struc› ture ( chain length, chemical composition, functional groups)  and hence enable deliberate regulation of the material con› sistency of the disinfectant. Possible examples are polyethyl› ene glycol and/or hydroxyethylcellulose. The content of addi› tives for regulating the material consistency is dependent on  the nature of the additive itself and must be adjusted depend› ing on the desired material consistency of the disinfectant.  [0078]  Polyethylene glycol has been found to be particu› larly advantageous as an additive for regulating the material  consistency. Namely, it was surprisingly found that polyeth› ylene glycol in the disinfectants according to the invention  protects human and animal skin, particularly in the region of  the hands, at least partly from the effects of the at least one  acidic compound. This without significantly impairing the  virucidal action of the disinfectant. Specifically, with the use  of disinfectants containing polyethylene glycol, significantly  less skin reddening and skin irritation occur. With other addi› tives for regulating the material consistency, this advantage  was not observed and/or the virucidal action was sometimes  significantly reduced. Thus with regard to the purpose  according to the invention, polyethylene glycol acts synergis› tically together with the alcoholic main component, the at  least one acidic compound and the urea. Such disinfectants  are both active against many different pathogens and also  have good skin tolerance and are storage-stable long-term,  i.e. over several months.  [0079]  A polyethylene glycol with an average relative  molecular weight of 2500-5000, in particular 3500-4500, is  advantageously present as the additive for regulating the  material consistency. According to generally usual nomen› clature, polyethylene glycols are often designated with the  expression PEG together with a numerical value which essen› tially corresponds to the average relative molecular weight. In  this context, PEG 4000, i.e. polyethylene glycol with an aver› age relative molecular weight of ca. 4000, has been found to  be ideal. Thus PEG 4000 can be metered relatively easily and  hardly impairs the virucidal action of the disinfectant. In  addition, polyethylene glycols have also been found particu› larly suitable with regard to the aforesaid protective action  relating to the at least one acidic compound.  [0080]  In principle, however, polyethylene glycols with  relative molecular weights of less than 2500 or more than  5000 can also be used.  [0081]  Advantageously, the content of the polyethylene  glycol is 0.1-5 wt.%, particularly preferably 0.5-1.5 wt.%.  Such contents improve the material consistency of the disin› fectant, in particular as regards the disinfection of the hands.  In particular, the stickiness and the adhesion of the disinfec-