Can antibacterial soap make you sick. Doctors are confirming that two chemicals in antibacterial soap are making people sick and affecting their thyroid and other glands. It is not only the antibacterial soaps, but there are over 140 different types of products that have these antibacterial chemicals in them that can make you sick.
2016 Update: The FDA Bans Triclosan
The FDA has recently banned the use of triclosan in all soaps including body washes and hand soaps. The FDA is citing health concerns about this chemical and the fact that antibacterial soaps do not work any better than regular soap. Companies will have one year to remove these products.
There is an ingredient called triclosan in antibacterial soap that is actually making some people sick. Doctors have confirmed that this ingredient in antibacterial soaps can affect your thyroid gland and other areas of your health.
This chemical is also found in at least 140 products including soap, toothpastes, cosmetics, clothing and even children’s toys.
The Overuse of Antibacterial Soap
Antibacterial soaps have been used in hospitals to prevent the spread of bacteria, which is a good thing. But manufactures decided that they could make and sell these antimicrobial products and antibacterial soaps to the general public.
With the threat of flu epidemics and new types of flu, these antibacterial soaps became very popular. Even though the flu is a virus and antibacterial soaps have nothing to do with a virus. Still these soaps have been widely used for years now.
The overuse of antibacterial soaps has caused bacteria to mutate into stronger strains and become more immune to antibacterial soaps. Just like the over-prescribing of antibiotics has caused the same problem.
Some of the antibacterial soaps go after some of the same bacteria and germs that antibiotics go after, making this a double threat for creating super germs.
Health Problems Associated With Antibacterial Soap
Since the day we are born, we are surrounded with all kinds of bacteria and microbes, which is actually a good thing. Our bodies learn how to deal with this by building our immune systems.
Our body learns, remembers and builds defenses for all of this. It is thought that one health problem to our antibacterial lifestyle is the rise in allergies since we never give our bodies a chance to build a stronger immune system to these microbes and bacteria that float around us.
New studies and confirmation from doctors are showing that a certain ingredient in the antibacterial soaps is causing some people to become sick. This ingredient is triclosan.
Antibacterial Soap and the Thyroid Gland
There are actually two ingredients in these antibacterial products to be aware of, triclosan and triclocarban. You can get triclosan and triclocarban by ingesting it using toothpaste and mouthwash or you can get it through your skin with antibacterial soaps, cosmetics and many other products.
Some people have become overly fatigued and were diagnosed with hypothyroidism. Doctors are asking their patients if they use any of these antibacterial products and when they answer yes, the doctor asks them to stop using the product that contains triclosan.
Many times when these patients stop using the antibacterial soaps that do contain triclosan, they feel better and their thyroid conditions improve and some have even been able to reduce their thyroid medicine, all because they stopped using the antibacterial soap or other products containing triclosan.
Some doctors are concerned that if triclosan is damaging the thyroid, what it could be doing to other organs of the body.
Triclosan is thought to be what is called an endocrine disruptor that can interfere with normal thyroid function and can interfere with proper development of the nervous system and the brain of infants and children.
Triclosan and Hormone Disruption
Scientists at the University of California have found that triclosan can accumulate in our body. A 2007 study found that triclosan interferes with the signals that cells use in the brain, heart and to communicate with other cells [1].
This study also found that triclocarban disrupts hormone activity associated with the reproductive system and can artificially amplify hormones like estrogen and testosterone which could lead to prostate or breast cancer.
Tests with male rats showed that triclocarban caused the prostate gland to grow abnormally large [2].
According to the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), triclosan has been found in the urine of 75% of the people tested and is being found increasingly in breast milk [3].
Where Triclosan is Found
Triclosan was first registered with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as a pesticide in 1969 and is a known toxic chemical.
Not only is it approved and used in antibacterial soap, body soap and toothpaste it is also has industrial uses including ice-making machines, fire hoses, conveyor belts and commercial HVAC coils as an antimicrobial pesticide [3].
Antimicrobial means germ-killing and has the ability to stop the growth of bacteria, fungi and mildew. Triclosan was first used in operating rooms and hospitals as a scrub or soap. Once its patent expired it started appearing in all kinds of consumer products.
It is reported that triclosan is in 76% of liquid soap and 29% of bar soaps. Other products you might find it in include:
- Body washes
- Acne medicine
- Toothpaste
- Cosmetics
- Mouthwash
- Countertops
- Knives
- Cutting boards
- Dishwashing soap
- Shaving gels
- Shoes
- Socks
- Workout clothes
- Children’s toys
Triclosan in the Environment
Since these triclosan-containing products have become so popular with the public, it is now one of the most commonly found chemicals in rivers and streams.
Conclusion
The American Medical Association concludes that these antibacterial soaps do not do a better job than normal soap and hot water. Save the triclosan and antibacterial soaps for the hospitals and stick to normal soaps.
Like we have to do with our food, read the ingredients of your personal hygiene products and stay away from the triclosan-containing products. If you don’t have soap and water, use the alcohol-based hand sanitizers like Purell since most of these do not have triclosan.
Rep. Edward Markey (D-Mass.) wants the FDA to ban all products that contain triclosan from children’s products or any product that comes into contact with food like knives and cutting boards.
The FDA is preparing a new report on the health dangers of triclosan in antibacterial soaps in the next few months. But so far the FDA has been delaying any decision on this chemical.
Antibacterial Product Update
Minnesota recently became the first state to ban triclosan effective January 1, 2017 not only in antibacterial soaps, but it all products.
Numerous manufacturers like Proctor and Gamble and Johnson & Johnson have stopped using triclosan in their products.
Sam Montana is a certified Food Over Medicine instructor from the Wellness Forum Health Center and certified in optimal nutrition from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
Copyright © February 2011-2019 Sam Montana
Resources:
[2] PubMed Endocrinology. Chen J, Ahn KC, Gee NA, Ahmed MI, Duleba AJ, Zhao L, Gee SJ, Hammock BD, Lasley BL. Triclocarban enhances testosterone action: a new type of endocrine disruptor? Endocrinology. 2008 Mar;149(3):1173-9. doi: 10.1210/en.2007-1057. Epub 2007 Nov 29. PMID: 18048496; PMCID: PMC2275366.
[3] Center for Disease Control - Triclosan Fact Sheet
[4] EPA Triclosan Facts
[5] The Washington Post
