Why You Should Skip Antibacterial Soap

“There was no significant difference in bactericidal activity between plain soap and antibacterial soap at either test temperature”.

Researchers found that the chemical triclosan is one of the most common ingredients in antibacterial soaps and generates $1 billion sales annually in the United States, as reported by Malay Mail Online.

The authors believe that the very nature of hand washing makes it improbable for triclosan to work in soap.

Inspired by a proposed regulation by the Food and Drug Administration in 2013 that would have forced companies to actually prove their antibacterial soaps are safer and more effective than plain soap and water at preventing illness and/or the spread of infection, the researchers first decided to pit twenty commonly seen strains of bacteria against a soap product containing 0.3 percent triclosan, the maximum concentration generally accepted in countries across Europe, China, Canada, and Australia, as well as against the same soap formulation without triclosan.

The samples were heated to 22 or 40 degrees Celsius, which simulated exposure to warm or hot water for 20 seconds which is the advised duration for hand-washing given by the World Health Organisation.

Hands washed with antibacterial soap weren’t cleaner.

Many of us choose antibacterial soap thinking we are taking extra measures to protect ourselves from germs.

To evaluate triclosan’s germ-killing abilities, the team placed 20 risky bacteria strains, including Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella enteritidis in petri dishes with either antibacterial or regular soap. Participants were then instructed to wash their hands for 30 seconds using either antibacterial or regular soap.

Fear sells, and marketers know it. But as far as hygiene goes, proof is mounting that you don’t need to buy anti-bacterial soap to protect yourself against the germs of others. After nine hours of exposure, the antibacterial soap performed significantly better. But who would want to wash their hands for 9 hours?

In response, Rhee wrote in his research, most soap manufacturers have simply pulled triclosan from their antibacterial products; according to a survey Rhee performed in July 2014, only 13 out of 53 antibacterial soaps still contain triclosan.

Writing in the Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, the researchers report that there is no significant difference between the effects of plain soap and antibacterial soap when used under “real life” conditions.

Jul 27, 2011 – The main compounds in antibiotic wipes, creams and soaps – triclosanand triclocarban – have been added to chopping boards, refrigerators, …