By Mark DaCosta- It is no secret that Guyanese like to follow and emulate North American trends and habits – and Guyanese would be the first to acknowledge the fact. The advent of the internet has accelerated the trend. One of those habits that we seem to have adopted is the use of antibacterial soaps to wash out hands and shower.
The days when Guyanese used a cake of soap appear to be on the way out; antibacterial soaps are now becoming increasingly popular and widespread. However, some valid questions may be, are they worth the additional cost, and, most importantly, are they safe and effective?
The short answer to those questions were issued by the United States Food and Drug administration (FDA). The FDA said, “There isn’t enough science to show that over-the-counter (OTC) antibacterial soaps are better at preventing illness than washing with plain soap and water. To date, the benefits of using antibacterial [hand] soap haven’t been proven. In addition, the wide use of these products over a long time has raised the question of potential negative effects on your health.”
In other words, there appears to be no health related advantage in using the more expensive antibacterial soaps. Furthermore, long term exposure to the antibacterial ingredients – such as triclosan – in such soaps has not been studied. As such, the FDA says that there may be unknown risks to the health and wellbeing of people.
The FDA raised another concern as well. The FDA said that, “Laboratory studies have raised the possibility that triclosan contributes to making bacteria resistant to antibiotics. Some data shows this resistance may have a significant negative impact on the effectiveness of medical treatments, such as antibiotics.”
Experts have expressed yet another major concern based on observations.
In animal experiments, it was found that triclosan and other chemicals used in antibacterial soaps affected the way that hormones work. It is unknown how such chemicals may affect humans. Following such observations 19 chemicals used in antibacterial soaps – including triclosan – were banned in the United States.
So what should Guyanese do to be safe? The FDA makes the following recommendation:
“Wash your hands with plain soap and water. That’s still one of the most important steps you can take to avoid getting sick and to prevent spreading germs.”
