Coming Clean: Why You Don’t Need Antibacterial Soap

These days, many people are understandably worried about spreading germs. From concerns about Staphylococcus skin infections to viruses to salmonella on food, people are experiencing increased anxiety about infectious disease. To avoid spreading germs, it’s important to wash your hands; but if you think using antibacterial soaps or products will be safer and more effective, think again.

Washing your hands is the single most important factor in preventing the spread of infection. Daniel Shin, M.D., a Camino Medical Group (CMG) physician specializing in infectious diseases, advises patients that regular hand washing for 30 seconds is "safer and more effective than using antimicrobial soaps."

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the American Medical Association report that soaps and lotions with antibacterial agents have "no added benefit" over ordinary soap and water. Studies have also shown that using antimicrobial chemicals such as triclosan may cause skin irritation and dermatitis of the hands.

Triclosan – an "antibacterial" ingredient found in many household products, such as hand and dish soaps, toothpaste, lotions, household fabrics and even plastic – has multiple adverse effects. Using triclosan has been shown to boost bacteria’s ability to resist treatment. This is especially true of MRSA (methicillin resistant staphylococus aureus), which is occurring more frequently in hospitals and communities.

Once you wash your hands with it, triclosan goes into the wastewater stream and becomes pollution. It also forms chloroform and other toxic byproducts when mixed with chlorine-treated tap water, making it potentially harmful when you wash with it. Triclosan is biodegradable, but when broken down, its products include dioxins, which are very potent carcinogens.

Remember to wash your hands for 30 seconds, but look for a plain soap that contains no synthetic dyes, perfumes, ethoxylate surfactants or antibacterial agents. It will be healthier for you and the environment. For more information see "Wash Your Hands of Infectious Disease"

Information provided by Cindy Russell, M.D., a CMG physician specializing in plastic surgery at the CMG Sunnyvale Center.