I came across an article in the Washington Post about antimicrobial soaps that I wanted you to know about.
Our country has an obsession with cleanliness, and some of that obsession is fed by the companies (and their marketing) that sell household products.
In fact, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), our country spends almost $1 billion annually on antimicrobial products. And the leading antimicrobial product is hand washes that contain the bug battling chemical triclosan.
But do antibacterial agents like triclosan work and are they safe?
Some researchers say there is no evidence the antibacterial agents are any better than regular soap and water. In fact, a 2004 study in the Annals of Internal Medicine studied 228 New York households that were randomly divided into two groups: One used regular soap and water and the other used antimicrobial soap. The results showed there were no health differences between the two groups.
The New York study’s lead author, Elaine Larson of Columbia University did say that antibacterial soaps may offer benefits when there are medically vulnerable people in the house: someone who is ill, has an immune disease, or an elder.
Dr. Shmeul Shoham, an infectious disease specialist at Washington Hospital Center says, “For general use, antibacterial soaps are not superior to cleansing with regular soap and water.” His view is backed by the conclusions of an advisory panel to the Food and Drug Administration, which voted 11 to 1 in 2005 that, when it comes to keeping us healthy, antibacterial soaps and washes are no more effective.
And while the arguments continue over whether antibacterial soap does any good, there’s a second concern over whether it may actually do harm.
One of the problems is that antimicrobial soaps kill both the bad and good bacteria. And when good bacteria are killed, it increases your risk of getting sick.
Also, there is speculation that chemicals used in antimicrobial soaps may be causing bacteria to become more resistant to commonly used antibiotics. This is essentially the same scenario that is happening from the overuse of antibiotic medications.
Also a “germ free” environment may actually weaken our immune systems.
The “Hygiene Hypothesis” is a theory that children build their immune systems from infancy by putting in their mouths toys and objects that have germs and bacteria on them.
A number of studies have linked the development of allergies, asthma and skin problems in children to their having been raised in environments that are too sterile. According to many, you need a little dirt to train your immune system correctly!
So here’s the takeaway message: If you are worried about sanitation, getting a cold, getting the flu, or even E. coli for that matter, you already know that you should wash your hands thoroughly.
And regular soap and water will work just as good as antibacterial soaps.
Helping your reach YOUR Vibrant Potential,
Dr. Chris Frykman
Shakopee, MN.