Your skin is home to over 1,000 species of bacteria and plays a vital role in your overall health. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), there isn’t enough science to show that over-the-counter (OTC) antibiotic soaps are better at preventing illness than washing with plain soap and water. To date, the benefits of using antibacterial hand soap haven’t been proven. In addition, the wide use of these products over a long time has raised the question of potential negative effects on your health.
That’s why the FDA is issuing a final rule under which OTC consumer antiseptic wash products (including liquid, foam, gel hand soaps, bar soaps, and body washes) containing the majority of the antibacterial active ingredients—including triclosan and triclocarban—will no longer be able to be marketed.
Why? Because the manufacturers haven’t proven that those ingredients are safe for daily use over a long period of time. Also, manufacturers haven’t shown that these ingredients are any more effective than plain soap and water in preventing illnesses and the spread of certain infections. Some manufacturers have already started removing these ingredients from their products, ahead of the FDA’s September 2017 deadline.
In conclusion, skin is the first line of defense for your entire body. Keep washing with plain (chemical-free) soap and water. That’s still one of the most important steps you can take to avoid getting sick and to prevent spreading germs.
For more information regarding triclosan and triclocarban click on the FDA's website link: https://www.fda.gov
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