AbOuT AnTi-BaCtErIaL HaNd SoAp

Are We Making Ourselves Sick?

It is cold and flu season. All the authorities, from Mother to the Surgeon General, agree that hand washing is a priority in stopping the spread of germs. If we are coughing, sneezing, and blowing our nose we are undoubtedly spreading germs to everything we touch.

Recently we have seen a major increase in sales of antibacterial soaps for home use. Advertising suggests we need to kill the bacteria carried on our hands to prevent the spread of disease. Remembering what Mother taught us about hand washing and the spread of germs this sounds reasonable.

But then comes the question - can we be too clean? Can we wash too much? Can we kill too much bacteria? The answer may be yes.

Simple hand washing is beneficial when done correctly but antibacterial soaps do not add any real benefits and may cause some long-term problems. To understand the whole debate we first have to understand how soap works.

To make soap you need an acid and a base.

Decrease water's surface tension

Bind to dirt, oil and bacteria

So ordinary soap does get rid of bacteria. Antibacterial soap may get rid of more bacteria or it may not. That may be good or it may not. Read on to understand the conflicts.

A big part of effective hand washing is in the technique. The act of rubbing your hands together, creating a soapy lather, is the important part. The friction pulls the dirt and oily soils away from the skin, the lather suspends both the dirt and germs inside, and the water rinses both away.

Proper hand washing techniques are enough to keep common cold and flu germs under control. We are being told the antibacterial soaps will be more effective at keeping us clean and healthy. There are two main reasons this isn?t so.

One is in order for the antibacterial agents in the soap to be effective they have to be left on the surface of our skin for two minutes Very few of us would be patient enough to lather our hands for two minutes before washing.

There are theories that an over use of antibacterial soaps and other products may cause bacteria to develop a resistance to bactericidal agents over time. There are lab studies that suggest the overuse of antibacterial products may kill off the sensitive natural bacteria, leaving behind hardier, and more dangerous, bacteria such as E. Coli and staphylococcus aureus.