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did-you-know-that-antibacterial-soaps-are-no-more-effective-than-regular-soap-and-water-in-reducing-bacteria-count-during-a-typical-handwashing

Did you know that antibacterial soaps are no more effective than regular soap and water ?

14 Φεβρουαρίου, 2025

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Coronavirus outbreak. Flu season nears peak. People are frightened and mostly unaware of what is really happening and how they can protect themselves. There is no need to panic. A recent study examined the effect of triclosan (the active ingredient in common over-the-counter antibacterial soaps), on 20 strains of bacteria. Researchers tried to determine whether antibacterial soap containing 0.3% triclosan was more effective than regular soap in removing bacteria from human hands during a typical 20-second handwashing. The results showed that there was NO significant difference between antibacterial and regular soap in reducing bacteria count or removing bacteria from human hands. On the contrary, the study suggests that the risks associated with long-term, daily use of antibacterial soaps may outweigh the benefits, as there are indications that certain ingredients in these soaps may contribute to bacterial resistance to antibiotics, and may have unanticipated hormonal effects that are of concern. Apart from those concerns research has also shown that triclosan may be harmful to the environment too. Since it’s in so many products, a great deal of the chemical enters the sewer system and eventually rivers and streams, where it may be interfering with algae photosynthesis. The greatest irony about the alarmism driving sales of antibacterial soaps is that, regardless of which active ingredient they contain, these soaps are all completely ineffective at killing viruses beyond what soap and water is capable of. So what should consumers do?According to FDA just wash your hands with a plain, all-natural soap and water. That’s still one of the most important steps you can take to avoid getting sick and to prevent spreading germs.

The study was published in the Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy.