Health Tips:
The dangers of being clean
Soap helps alleviate germs, thus assisting us to stay healthy and clean. What if the same soap used to kill germs was in fact causing damage to the body? This is a sad reality for some soap brands.
Triclosan, an antibacterial agent used as the active ingredient in some soaps, was created to use in hospital scrubs to eliminate bacteria. The FDA states that triclosan is no more beneficial in the fight against germs than using regular soap and water.
As noted in the LA Times by Lisa Archer, director of the San Francisco-based Campaign for Safe Cosmetics at the Breast Cancer Fund, triclosan can be damaging against hormones and may disrupt growth and development of not just growing teens, but also during pregnancy.
According to BeyondPesticides.org, a laboratory study on frogs and rats showed that exposure to triclosan can alter thyroid hormone development. These thyroid hormones help regulate the body’s metabolism general growth.
Several companies, such as Colgate and Johnson & Johnson, have dropped the usage of triclosan in their products. Unfortunately, despite the widespread negativity towards triclosan, some companies still choose to use it in their products.
One of these major companies is Bath & Body Works. Several Bath & Body Works products, especially some of the newer soaps, are targeted and advertised specifically towards teens with scents such as “Citrus Blueberry Swirl” and “Sugar Lemon Fizz.”
Organizations such as The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics and the Center for Environmental Health are advising people to not use products with triclosan. These organizations also have petitions and campaigns against Bath & Body Works, urging them to eliminate the usage of triclosan in their antibacterial soaps.
Products containing triclosan
First Aid:
- SyDERMA® Skin Protectant plus First Aid Antiseptic
- Solarcaine®
- First Aid Medicated Spray;
- Nexcare™ First Aid
- Skin Crack Care
- First Aid/Burn Cream
- HealWell® Night Splint
- 11-1X1: Universal Cervical Collar with Microban
Soaps:
- Dial® Liquid Soap
- Softsoap® Antibacterial Liquid Hand Soap
- Tea Tree Therapy™ Liquid Soap
- Provon® Soap
- Clearasil® Daily Face Wash
- Dermatologica® Skin Purifying Wipes
- Clean & Clear Foaming Facial Cleanser
- DermaKleen™ Antibacterial Lotion Soap
- Naturade Aloe Vera 80® Antibacterial Soap
- CVS Antibacterial Soap
- pHisoderm Antibacterial Skin Cleanser
Personal care:
- Gillette® Complete Skin Care MultiGel Aerosol Shave Gel
- Murad Acne Complex® Kit®
- Diabet-x™ Cream
- T.Taio™ sponges and wipes
- Aveeno Therapeutic Shave Gel
Dental:
- Colgate Total®; Breeze™ Triclosan Mouthwash
- Reach® Antibacterial Toothbrush
- Janina Diamond Whitening Toothpaste
Deodorant:
- Old Spice High Endurance Stick Deodorant
- Right Guard Sport Deodorant
- Queen Helene® Tea Trea Oil Deodorant and Aloe Deodorant
- Nature De France Le Stick Natural Stick Deodorant
- DeCleor Deodorant Stick
- Epoch® Deodorant with Citrisomes
- X Air Maximum Strength Deodorant
Product lists provided by DrBenkim.com