Antibacterial soap has been one of the staples in the market for years. You will find that more than 70% of the soap products marketed out there today are labeled antibacterial. However, there have been recent movements in different areas that are trying to outlaw antibacterial soap products. Why do these people consider antibacterial body soap to be bad for you? It mostly lays on the ingredient Triclosan and how it affects the body.
Reason #1 – Triclosan Kills Everything
Not every bacterium is bad yet Triclosan is known for being a very potent antibacterial ingredient. It practically kills everything it comes in contact with. Unfortunately there are a lot of bacteria that is beneficial to the body and some are even responsible for improving the body’s immune system. Without them the body is more susceptible to diseases.
Reason #2 – Some Bacteria Develop Immunity
Because Triclosan does not change its behavior, a lot of bacteria tend to adapt to its nature. When this happens, the bacteria that Triclosan normally kills will suddenly develop shields that prevent them from being affected. This pretty much defeats the purpose of using antibacterial soap in the first place.
Reason #3 – Toxicity
Did you know that there have been several cases where antibacterial soap has been identified as a toxin? The most common studies have shown that it highly affects a human’s sex hormones and even the body’s immune system, crippling it to a point where the body is susceptible to any common disease. There have even been cases where it has affected a person’s muscles and skeletal integrity.
Reason #4 – Skin Irritation
Antibacterial body soap has shown to be a major cause for skin irritation. People with sensitive skin, most notably women, tend to end up with skin rashes and mild red spots that can be itchy and disruptive. When scratched they can lead to severe skin damage and fungal infection. For many this is the major reason why people prefer baby soap because it is mild in nature.
Reason #5 – No Big Difference
Studies have shown there are really no big differences between antibacterial body soap and regular body soap. Soap works very simply: the base and acidic mixture, when combined with water, attracts all the dirt and bacteria stuck on the body and thus makes them easier to wash out during a bath. Antibacterial body soap does improve on this a little bit but the effect is so minimal that it doesn’t even register as a notable difference. And besides – antibacterial body soap should be on the body for at least two to three minutes before rinsing but so many are not that patient therefore the added value of the soap is not even realized.
Should you rely on antibacterial body soap? It does have its benefits, especially for surgeons who need to be completely bacteria free when in the operating room, but for the average person taking a shower and washing their hands before meals it might have more risks than substantial benefits. For the most part, you might want to step away from antibacterial soap and instead turn to mild baby soap or natural soap instead.
