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Home > Health News > 7 Reasons Why You Should Stop Using Antibacterial Soap

7 Reasons Why You Should Stop Using Antibacterial Soap

July 8, 2022 - Updated on September 15, 2022
5 min read
By Sarita Sanke, MD | Dermatology

In this article:

  • Reasons to Ditch Antibacterial Soap
  • What Is Antibacterial Soap and What Does It Contain?
  • What Else Can Be Used Instead of Antibacterial Soap?
  • Final Word

Antibacterial soaps are thought to be more effective than regular soaps in killing infection-causing germs on your skin. However, there isn’t enough scientific evidence to prove this claim, as has been pointed out by the FDA.

why you need to stop using antibacterial soaps

On the contrary, it has been found that the long-term use of antibacterial soaps may give rise to some adverse side effects. (1)

Reasons to Ditch Antibacterial Soap

Antibacterial soap leads to the following undesirable effects:

1. Disrupts the endocrine system

using antibacterial soaps can disrupt the endocrine system

The triclosan/triclocarban present in antibacterial soaps is known to mimic a natural hormone and thereby disrupts the endocrine system. The body perceives it to be a real hormone and gets overstimulated.

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Even low doses of this chemical can trigger various hormonal fluctuations that can significantly affect your physical, mental, and biological functioning over time. (2)(3)

2. Increases cancer risk

Recent studies suggest that triclosan can cause hormonal imbalances and inhibit the production of fatty acids, both of which can contribute to the development of cancer. More extensive research is needed to confirm this claim. (4)

3. Contributes to bacterial resistance

Triclosan does not work against all strains of bacteria. Some are naturally resistant to it, while some may become resistant over time after repeated exposure to low concentrations of the substance. (5)(6)

4. May cause skin allergies

antibacterial soaps can lead to skin allergies

Chemical antiseptic agents such as triclosan can trigger allergic skin reactions that manifest in the form of dryness, irritation, itching, and even cracking and bleeding. (7)

5. Makes you gain weight

Exposure to triclosan has been linked to the higher incidence of overweight and obesity among US population, but the underlying mechanism which leads to this is still unclear. (8)(9)

6. May be unsafe for pregnant women

According to one study, the hormonal fluctuations triggered by triclosan exposure may hamper proper fetal development and even cause spontaneous abortion or miscarriage. (10)

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However, further research is required to properly assess the merits of this claim.

7. Harms the environment

The triclosan used in antibacterial soap and other personal care products is bad for the environment, which will inadvertently harm humans, animals, and aquatic life in the long run. (11)

What Is Antibacterial Soap and What Does It Contain?

A study published by Harvard University found that antibacterial soaps have almost the same composition as regular soaps, except for one chemical ingredient called triclosan or triclocarban.

Triclosan is known to curb the proliferation of bacteria to prevent infections. However, it does not work against viruses or other microbes.

Nowadays, most antibacterial soaps contain triclosan as their main active ingredient and are usually preferred over regular soaps for keeping your skin germ-free and reducing the risk of infection.

With the rise of COVID-19, more and more people are opting for antibacterial soaps in the hopes of avoiding sickness. However, research shows that soaps that contain triclosan deliver almost the same results as regular soaps when it comes to fighting or preventing infections. (12)

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What Else Can Be Used Instead of Antibacterial Soap?

possible alternatives to antibacterial soap

Considering all the potential side effects mentioned above, it is better to look for a safer alternative to antibacterial soap that can provide you with the extra sanitizing effect without compromising your overall health or damaging the environment.

Luckily, you don’t have to look further than essential oils to meet these requirements. These concentrated extracts are derived from medicinal plants that contain various bioactive compounds that give them therapeutic properties.

Different essential oils are known for different healing properties, and some of them are credited with strong antimicrobial effects.

One study found thyme, lemon, oregano, and lavender essential oils to be quite effective against some of the most common strains of infection-causing bacteria including Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, E. coli, and Klebsiella pneumoniae. (13)

Thus, these essential oils can be used as a safer and natural alternative to triclosan-containing antibacterial products.

How to use:

  • Mix a few drops of your preferred essential oil(s) into your liquid soap or body wash for extra antibacterial power.
  • You can also buy soaps and personal hygiene products that contain essential oils.

Final Word

Latest research shows that regular soaps are just as effective as antibacterial soaps when it comes to killing pathogenic bacteria on the skin, (14) but the latter has more side effects. The harmful effects of antibacterial soap can be traced back to its main active ingredients, namely, triclosan and triclocarban.

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The FDA even issued a rule to stop the marketing of any OTC antibacterial product that contains these chemicals since they are generally not recognized as safe and effective. You may opt for products containing natural antibacterial agents such as essential oils.

References
  1. Commissioner Oof the. Antibacterial soap? you can skip it, use plain soap and water. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/antibacterial-soap-you-can-skip-it-use-plain-soap-and-water.
  2. Dodson RE, Nishioka M, Standley LJ, Perovich LJ, Brody JG, Rudel RA. Endocrine disruptors and asthma-associated chemicals in consumer products. Environ Health Perspect. 2012;120(7):935-943. doi:10.1289/ehp.1104052.
  3. Endocrine disruptors. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. https://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/agents/endocrine/index.cfm.
  4. Dinwiddie MT, Terry PD, Chen J. Recent evidence regarding triclosan and cancer risk. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2014;11(2):2209-2217. Published 2014 Feb 21. doi:10.3390/ijerph110202209.
  5. Weatherly LM, Gosse JA. Triclosan exposure, transformation, and human health effects. J Toxicol Environ Health B Crit Rev. 2017;20(8):447-469. doi:10.1080/10937404.2017.1399306.
  6. Triclosan and antibiotics resistance. Triclosan: 5. Can bacteria become resistant to Triclosan? https://ec.europa.eu/health/scientific_committees/opinions_layman/triclosan/en/l-2/5-risk-resistance.htm#3.
  7. WHO Guidelines on Hand Hygiene in Health Care: First Global Patient Safety Challenge Clean Care Is Safer Care. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2009. 14, Skin reactions related to hand hygiene. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK144008/.
  8. Lankester J, Patel C, Cullen MR, Ley C, Parsonnet J. Urinary triclosan is associated with elevated body mass index in NHANES. PLoS One. 2013;8(11):e80057. Published 2013 Nov 21. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0080057.
  9. Li S, Zhao J, Wang G, et al. Urinary triclosan concentrations are inversely associated with body mass index and waist circumference in the US general population: Experience in NHANES 2003-2010. Int J Hyg Environ Health. 2015;218(4):401-406. doi:10.1016/j.ijheh.2015.03.004.
  10. Wang X, Chen X, Feng X, et al. Triclosan causes spontaneous abortion accompanied by decline of estrogen sulfotransferase activity in humans and mice. Sci Rep. 2015;5:18252. Published 2015 Dec 15. doi:10.1038/srep18252.
  11. Halden RU, Lindeman AE, Aiello AE, et al. The Florence Statement on Triclosan and Triclocarban. Environ Health Perspect. 2017;125(6):064501. Published 2017 Jun 20. doi:10.1289/EHP1788.
  12. Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects (DARE): Quality-assessed Reviews [Internet]. York (UK): Centre for Reviews and Dissemination (UK); 1995-. Consumer antibacterial soaps: effective or just risky? 2007. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK73515/.
  13. Man A, Santacroce L, Jacob R, Mare A, Man L. Antimicrobial Activity of Six Essential Oils Against a Group of Human Pathogens: A Comparative Study [published correction appears in Pathogens. 2019 Jul 25;8(3):]. Pathogens. 2019;8(1):15. Published 2019 Jan 28. doi:10.3390/pathogens8010015.
  14. Yu JJ, Manus MB, Mueller O, Windsor SC, Horvath JE, Nunn CL. Antibacterial soap use impacts skin microbial communities in rural Madagascar. PLoS One. 2018;13(8):e0199899. Published 2018 Aug 20. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0199899.

 

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