Contents:
- Medical Video: Why Did The FDA Ban Antibacterial Soap?
- What is Triclosan?
- Danger of triclosan for the body
- 1. Dry and sensitive skin
- 2. Hormone disorders
- 3. Interfere with muscle function
- Is the important content of triclosan in the soap?
- Avoid products with triclosan content
Medical Video: Why Did The FDA Ban Antibacterial Soap?
When choosing personal hygiene products such as bath soap, hand washing soap, or hand sanitizer, You might be tempted to buy products that promise antibacterial. These products generally include triclosan as an antibacterial ingredient that is effective against germs and bacteria that cause disease. However, be careful because it turns out research shows that the content of triclosan in antibacterial products risks your health and your family. To find out more about how triclosan can affect the body, read on, below.
What is Triclosan?
Triclosan is an active chemical commonly found in care and personal hygiene products. Initially triclosan was used as a pesticide or pest killer in the 1960s. However, currently the content of triclosan in soap or hand washing is being investigated further to ascertain the dangers to humans.
Some countries in Europe have banned the use of triclosan in soap, hand washing, or hand sanitizer which are sold freely on the market. The United States also recently issued a ban on the use of triclosan content in various products. In Indonesia alone there are no clear rules regarding the use of this active ingredient so you can still find various products with triclosan content.
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Danger of triclosan for the body
Long-term exposure to triclosan content is feared to cause certain risks that are harmful to humans. Because, even though it is used on the surface of the skin, triclosan is apparently able to be absorbed by the body. A study in the United States in 2008 revealed that the content of triclosan can be found in urine (urine) 75% of people studied. The content of triclosan in the body risks causing the following disorders.
1. Dry and sensitive skin
Triclosan is a fairly hard chemical. However, the impact is not immediately felt on your skin. Regular use of soap with triclosan content for three to five years risks making your skin dry and becoming more sensitive. In fact, a study revealed that overuse of antibacterial products with triclosan content is at risk of causing skin cancer in animals. The trial has never been done in humans, but this can be a yellow light for you to be more aware of the dangers of triclosan.
READ ALSO: 9 Natural Remedies for Overcoming Dry Skin
2. Hormone disorders
The danger of triclosan which is the most frequent topic of conversation is the risk of hormonal disorders. A study published in the journal Toxicological Science revealed that in the body, triclosan will be trapped in cells and blood. As a result, the triclosan content will disrupt the endocrine system. This system is responsible for maintaining hormonal balance in the body.
Some types of hormones that are disrupted due to the content of triclosan in the body include thyroid hormone and estrogen. Disorders of both hormones risk causing various problems in your health, for example in endurance, fertility, pregnancy, and even the growth of cancer cells. So far, research has only been conducted on the subject of animals, not humans. However, you should remain cautious about that possibility.
3. Interfere with muscle function
A study conducted by experts at the University of California Davis showed that the content of triclosan is able to damage muscle function, especially those that attach to the body's skeleton. Again, this research is only done on animals, but the results can still make anyone shudder.
Because, triclosan risks reducing the function of the heart muscle by as much as 25%. The strength of the hand and foot muscles to grasp something also decreased to 18%. Fish that live in waters that have been contaminated with triclosan also show a more alarming ability to swim.
Is the important content of triclosan in the soap?
What you may not know is that triclosan has not been proven scientifically effective to fight germs and bacteria. Triclosan cannot distinguish between germs and bacteria that can cause infections and diseases from good bacteria. When compared with soap or other hygiene products that do not contain agents or artificial antibacterial substances, triclosan is not more effective in killing germs and bacteria. So, actually you and your family don't need products that contain triclosan. Just ordinary soap is enough to protect from various impurities, germs, and bacteria.
Avoid products with triclosan content
If you want to avoid the health risks above, you should look for products that are free of triclosan content. Usually soap, hand wash, cosmetic cleanser, and hand sanitizer whose packaging includes antibacterial or antiseptic information means using triclosan. We recommend that you select the product with the least chemical content. For hand sanitizer, You can buy one with an alcohol content of about 60%.
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