September 9, 2016
1516
Q: With the kids going back to school, should I be using an antibacterial soap to keep the germs away?
A: There are many brands of antibacterial soap out there and their use is becoming as widespread as that of common soap.
People use antibacterial soap in the hopes that they are helping to reduce the spread of germs but, unfortunately, there is no scientific data to support that they are any more effective than the use of regular soap and water. In fact, their use is swiftly becoming very controversial.
In the United States, antibacterial soap and washes that contain triclosan and triclocarbon (which are the most-commonly-used ingredients in this type of soap) will no longer be allowed to be marketed. This comes after a recent study showed a decrease in thyroid hormone levels after exposure to high doses of triclosan.
Your thyroid hormone is considered the ultimate regulator within your body. It is intimately involved with many functions, including your metabolic rate, your temperature, your cardiovascular system and your emotional state of mind. Hence, alterations in its levels can have major effects on your well being. Triclosan is also the same ingredient that has previously been linked to the possibility of increasing the resistance of bacteria to various antibiotics.
In Canada, a study done in 2012 showed that triclosan found in wastewater can interfere with plant and animal growth and reproduction in lakes and streams. When all these concerns regarding the unwanted and damaging effects of these antibacterial cleansers are coupled together with the lack of evidence that they actually work any better at preventing infections, there is no role for these products in most households (they are, however, still essential in a health care setting).
In fact, it is important to point out that it's the technique involved in the washing process, itself, that helps ward off unwanted germs from your hands rather than the ingredients involved. As such, a quick reminder of the steps for proper hand washing seems in order:
There are times when soap and/or running water are not readily available. In these situations, using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60-per-cent alcohol, can be beneficial. Keep in mind that it will reduce the germ population on your hands but will not eliminate them. They are also not great to use when your hands are visibly filthy or greasy. Also, be cautious with their use in children as alcohol-based hand sanitizers can cause alcohol poisoning if swallowed.
The fundamental key to infection prevention is to wash your hands regularly (although not with an antibacterial product). Among the many facts and figures that we could throw at you, perhaps the most staggering is that experts in London recently predicted that if people washed their hands routinely, a million deaths could be prevented annually. That’s a lot of needless suffering we can actually prevent, for a change.
For more information about this or any other health-related questions, contact the pharmacists at Gordon Pharmasave, Your Health and Wellness Destination. Also check the website at www.gordon-pharmasave.com/ and the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/GordonPharmasave/?fref=ts
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