Antibacterial soaps have long been favored by consumers as the result of marketing. According research by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, people buy antibacterial soaps because of a perceived protection offered to the user. The H1N1 flu outbreak of 2009 and 2010 led to further concern about transmitting germs. An increased focus on hand washing led to many people finding security in antibacterial soaps; however, research by the CDC found that the soap's antibiotic was no better at killing germs than regular hand soaps.
Skin Dryness
The most widely found effect of antibacterial soap is dry skin. The American Skin Association advises people with dry skin to avoid antibacterial soap. The powerful antibiotic agent in the soap, triclosan, strips the skin of its hydrating oils, according to the Mayo Clinic. Results can vary, ranging from mild itching and redness to irritated and flaking.
Hormonal Imbalance
Research shows that antibacterial soap can change the hormonal makeup of human and animal cells in laboratory tests. University of California, Davis scientists found that triclosan "increased gene expression that is normally regulated by testosterone," and caused glands that rely on testosterone, including the prostate, to grow larger. As a result, the scientists concluded that antibacterial soap is an endocrine-disrupting substance.
Triclosan Absorption
One of the skin's functions is to release and absorb elements. "The Los Angeles Times" quotes a Food and Drug Administration survey showing that out of 2,517 participants of a urine study, 75 percent tested positive for triclosan. The FDA is unsure of triclosan's impact on internal organs, but laboratory animal tests show distortions in thyroid hormones. Infertility was also evident, as levels of testosterone and estrogen in the body were diminished. On April 8, 2010, the FDA announced a formal inquiry on the safety of triclosan.
No Effect Whatsoever
A growing body of evidence shows that antibacterial soaps are no better at killing germs than regular soaps. An FDA Consumer Update also published on April 8, 2010, reported that there was no "evidence that triclosan in antibacterial soaps and body washes provides any benefit" when compared to soaps that do not carry an antibacterial label.
References
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Antibacterial Household Products
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration: Triclosan Consumer Update
- PubMed.gov: Lancet: Effect of Hand Washing on Child Health; S.P. Luby, et al.; July 16-22, 2005
- ScienceDaily: Antibacterial Chemical Disrupts Hormone Activities, Study Finds
- "Los Angeles Times"; FDA Is Reviewing the Use of Antibacterial Products Containing Triclosan; Jill Adams; April 19, 2010
