- January 27, 2022
- Posted by: Firstgrade Incorporated
- Category: Personal Care
You’re in the drugstore trying to decide which bottle of liquid hand soap to buy: One’s says on the ingredients, it’s “antibacterial,” and the other doesn’t. Does it matter which one you choose?
Pretty soon, you won’t have to make a choice. The FDA has decided that soaps and other antiseptic wash products made with triclosan can no longer be marketed in the U.S. That rule goes into effect in September 2017, so until then, you may still see some antibacterial products with triclosan in stores.
In the meantime, if you choose the antibacterial soap, you probably hope that it will give you extra protection against germs. Unfortunately, there isn’t a lot of science to back that up. And the active ingredient in many antibacterial products, triclosan, has some potential drawbacks.
What Is Triclosan?
First made as a pesticide, triclosan has been around since the 1960s. In recent years, it made its way into a wide range of personal care items.
Triclosan is best known for its germ-killing power. That’s why it has been used in so many hand soaps and body washes.
In water-based products like aftershave and makeup, it is a preservative. It also helps fight odour, which is why it’s in deodorants and body sprays.
Your toothpaste might have triclosan, too. Colgate Total is the only American Dental Association-approved toothpaste with this ingredient. The FDA approved it after reviewing data showing that it prevents gum disease.
Does It Work?
Even though triclosan kills lots of bacteria, scrubbing with it instead of ordinary soap won’t make you less likely to catch whatever bug is going around.
In 2013, the FDA asked antibacterial hand and body wash makers to provide data proving that these products were safe and effective and that they were better at preventing infection than regular soaps and washes.
The Personal Care Products Council and the American Cleaning Institute, which represents manufacturers, has long maintained that triclosan is safe and effective. But the FDA now says that “manufacturers did not provide the necessary data to establish safety and effectiveness” for 19 active ingredients, including triclosan.
The FDA confirms that there is “extensive evidence” showing that triclosan in Colgate Total toothpaste prevents gum disease. It will remain on the market. But the agency doesn’t see an advantage for triclosan in other products.