When my kids were little I used to force them to use antibacterial wipes and or antibacterial soap at least three times a day. That was in addition to cleaning my house top to bottom with antibacterial products that claimed to get rid of germs. They never did get less sick and it wasn’t until both of my kids became basically resistant to amoxicillin that something clicked and I decided to look into antibacterial products and figure out if they actually provided any value.
Think about how many people are sick with new viruses. We have so many antibacterial products that you would think we would be germ and virus free. But doesn’t it seem like we are getting more sick, with new, strong, strange bugs?
Most antibacterial products contain triclosan, an ingredient added to many consumer products to reduce or prevent bacterial contamination. It’s very important to know that triclosan does not get rid of viruses and does indeed help superbugs to develop. “One study found that use of triclosan encouraged the growth of bacteria that were resistant to amoxicillin, a common antibiotic. Other research into antibiotic use has found that widespread use of antibiotics and antibacterial agents does indeed help superbugs to develop, which has alarmed many public health experts.”
Check out more studies on triclosan. ”Animal studies have shown both of these chemicals can interfere with hormones critical for normal development and function of the brain and reproductive system. Triclosan has been associated with lower levels of thyroid hormone and testosterone, which could result in altered behavior, learning disabilities, or infertility.” You can read more here: http://www.nrdc.org/living/chemicalindex/triclosan.asp
I was surprised to find out that many antibacterial soaps contain triclosan that comes with so many health risks. The good news? Plain soap is as effective as antibacterial without the risk.
http://www.fda.gov/forconsumers/consumerupdates/ucm205999.htm
http://phys.org/news106418144.html