Are Antibacterial Soaps More Harm Than Good?

Well, according to federal health advisors, the answer is yes. They say that people should stick to using regular soap which is just as effective. Furthermore, they said that manufacturers will have to prove that there is an actual benefit to using the soaps or they will not be allowed to market them.

Chairman of the panel, Dr. Alastair Wood, said that he felt there was no point to purchase the antibacterial soaps which generally cost more. The panel was also concerned about the risk the soaps pose to the environment. Many use synthetic chemicals that can pose a risk to the environment.

One of their main concerns is that the soaps will eventually end up making bacteria even stronger with resistance to these agents. Of course, consumers have latched on to the antibacterial products because they feel it is better to kill the bacteria than to just wash them off. However, the FDA claims that there is no decrease in household infections in homes where the antibacterial soap is used rather than regular soap and water.

In terms of the drug-resistant bacteria that are very slowly being created from the soaps, Dr. Stuart B. Levy says, "Bacteria are not going to be destroyed," he said. "They've seen dinosaurs come and go. They will be happy to see us come and go. Any attempt to sterilize our home is fraught with failure."