The Burning Question: Is It Safe to Use Antibacterial Soap?

Two experts, two slightly different views of the question:

Nancy Snyderman, MD. Chief medical editor for NBC News and author of Medical Myths that Can Kill You:

     Yes, if used in moderation.

     There are times when it's crucial—say, when there's a risk of transferring bacteria from patient to patient, such as if you're a health-care worker, visiting the hospital, or at the doctor's office. It's also good to keep it in the kitchen for use after handling raw meat.
     Its invention was a health breakthrough. The introduction of antibacterial soap was a wonderful step forward in public hygiene, especially in making hospitals and surgical suites safer, thanks to its ability to destroy health-endangering microbes.
     It helps you keep clean, within reason. We've gone a little cuckoo with the idea that everything—from countertops to every inch of our body—has to be sterile. But if people feel safer using it to wash their hands, that's fine.


Michael F. Roizen, MD. Chief Wellness Officer at the Cleveland Clinic and co-author of YOU: The Owner's Manual:

     No, use regular soap instead.

     Plain soap and water work just fine. Regular soap kills some bacteria by destroying their cell walls, and the rest are washed away. Removing germs is enough—you don't have to destroy them.
     It could create drug-resistant bacteria. Most antibacterial soaps contain triclosan, an antibiotic. When antibiotics are used often and unnecessarily, bacteria can become resistant to them, making it harder for us to fight diseases.
     It may mess with your hormones. We don't yet know how triclosan affects us for sure; its safety is under Food and Drug Administration review. But animal studies suggest it may disrupt the endocrine system—possibly causing problems with development and reproduction.

The Takeaway:
Opt for regular soap and water, unless you’re at a hospital or doctor's office, where it's best to use antibacterial soap. But if you're out and about and antibacterial soap is the only kind around, it's fine to wash with it—and it's worth keeping in the kitchen to use after handling raw meat.

Become a Fan of Newby Realty on Facebook	Newby Realty - Manufactured Home Sales
Newby Realty provides sales of new and used manufactured (mobile) homes throughout Florida in Bradenton, Clearwater, Debary, Edgewater, Ellenton, Englewood, Fort Pierce, Hudson, Lakeland, N. Fort Myers, New Smyrna Beach, Ocala, Orange City, Palmetto, Port Charlotte, Port Richey, Sarasota, Winter Springs, Zephyrhills.