Antibacterial soaps better?

With the swine flu threat among us now, it is not surprising to see certain companies seizing the opportunity to promote their products. Antibacterial hand soaps and face masks are high in demand now. Though I have yet to see an advertisement for face masks, the telly has been overtaken by many commercials featuring antibacterial soaps. Hypermarkets also have these products featured prominently in many strategic locations.

Are antibacterial soaps really better than normal ones? Yes, the companies making them want you to believe that they do offer better protection compared to a normal non-antibacterial soap. The answer is actually no. According to an article published in WebMD (LINK) -

Allison Aiello, PhD, assistant professor of epidemiology at the University of Michigan, headed a group that analyzed several studies comparing people who washed their hands with regular or antibacterial soap. In all but one trial, she tells WebMD, “there was no difference between groups, either in bacteria on the hands or in rates of illness.” In a single study, people who used antibacterial soap did have fewer bacteria on their hands, but only if they washed for 30 seconds, 18 times a day, for five days straight.

They do prevent illness in health care settings, where patients are more vulnerable to germs. But the antibacterial ingredients in hospital-strength soaps are up to 10 times the concentration of store-bought soap, according to Aiello.

“Also, antibacterial ingredients don’t kill viruses, which cause the vast majority of minor illnesses people experience,” she adds. That includes colds, flu, and stomach bugs.

In fact the article goes on to talk about how Triclosan (present in many antibacterial soaps like Protex and Lifebuoy) is present in the bloodstream of many individuals who use antibacterial soaps, higher amounts are present in people from higher income bracket. Triclosan levels are also detected in streams and rivers, presumably from all the soap flushed down the drainpipes.

Dettol uses another antibacterial agent, chloroxylenol. Both triclosan and chloroxylenol are toxic to fish.

10 times more protection...? Hmm...

Personally I've used dettol before, but I've stopped using it since it made my hands very dry and cracked. Chloroxylenol is also a mild skin irritant, so people with sensitive skin and skin problems should actually avoid using antibacterial soaps which are harsh. Ironically, many people tend to think that their skin disease is caused by some infection and they need to use this strong products - which will make it even worse.

Here are some other links which compare antibacterial soaps to regular ones -
NY TIMES
NEWSWEEK

So if they are no better, why buy it? I guess we know how powerful advertisements can be, especially when they play on people's fear. Sometimes I do use antibacterial soaps as well, like when I am in KFC and I just finished my dinner plate...no choice...KFC outlets all have antibacterial soaps. So the bottom line is this, go for regular soaps...or if you have sensitive skin, try mild cleansers or moisturising ones. They work just as well as antibacterial ones.