The FDA Finally Reviews the Safety of Antibacterial Soaps

By: Dr. Joseph Mercola

A Food and Drug Administration(FDA) advisory panel has met to
examine the safety and effectiveness of antibacterial soaps.

Could Cause Problems

The American Medical Association (AMA), and a number of
scientists, have cast doubts on the use of antibacterial soap.
They point out that there is no evidence that these products
stop infection any better than regular soap, and they worry that
increased use of antibacterial products might lead to
antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

Alcohol-Based Sanitizers are Safer

Some at the FDA's meeting recommended the use of alcohol-based
hand sanitizers for this reason, rather than the antibacterial
additives triclosan (for liquid soaps) and triclocarban (for
hard soaps).

Industry Denies There is a Problem

The AMA's Council on Scientific Affairs suggested in 2002 that
consumers stop using antibacterial soaps. Promoters of the soaps
say that studies have shown antibacterial soaps cause no
increase in bacterial resistance to antibiotics, although the
studies quoted did say that long-term use of the products could
be problematic and should be studied.

Yahoo News October 18, 2005USA Today October 20, 2005

Dr. Mercola's Comment:A growing number of critics, including
me, believe antibacterial soaps are no better than regular soaps
in reducing infections.

You see, yourstandard non-bacterialhousehold soap separates
bacteria fromyour skin so germs go down the drain or get
attached to towels when drying your hands. On the other hand,
antibacterial soaps kill germs on the spot. At least, most of
them ...

The few that survive, with the help of antibacterial compounds
-- synthetic chemicals like triclosan -- create germs resistant
to soaps and antibiotics over the long haul.

It used to be that antibacterial soaps were used mainly in
clinical health care environments, like scrubbing up prior to
surgery. Now, antibacterial soaps are used in households across
the country where they amount to a $16 billion-a-year industry.
Some 72 percent of all liquid soap sold in the United States now
contains antibacterial ingredients.

But studies have shown that people who use antibacterial soaps
and cleansers develop cough, runny nose, sore throat, fever,
vomiting, diarrhea and other symptoms just as often as people
who use products that do not contain antibacterial ingredients.

Further,increasing numbers oftraditional medicalexperts now
accept the hygiene hypothesis, which centers on the idea that
children exposedto bacteria in early childhoodactually
havestrongerimmune systems. Children who are not exposed to
common bacteria, which areeliminated by excessive use ofsoap,
may actually be more prone to allergies and asthma.

Even the American Medical Association (AMA) does not recommend
antibacterial soaps.

So why do they persist?

Simple --the manufacturers have relied on using fear to convince
people that they need to use them to stay healthy. So, avoid
being duped by these companies. All you need to use is a plain,
chemical-free soap that you can pick up in your local health
food store, as washing with plain soap and water will get rid of
most all bacteria.

Many of you also understand that it is not lack of washing your
hands that actually gets you sick but rather a weakened immune
system, which results from poor lifestyle choicesregarding
foods, sleep, exercise and sun exposure.

Yes, you can decrease your risk of getting coughs and colds by
washing your hands (with regular soap), but you can virtually
eliminate your risk by following the Total Health Program and
not washing your hands. The key is optimizing your immune
system, not decreasing your exposure to infectious agents.

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