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A Food and Drug Administration(FDA) advisory panel has met to examine the safety and effectiveness of antibacterial soaps.

Could Cause Problems

The American Medical Association (AMA), and a number of scientists, have cast doubts on the use of antibacterial soap. They point out that there is no evidence that these products stop infection any better than regular soap, and they worry that increased use of antibacterial products might lead to antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

Alcohol-Based Sanitizers are Safer

Some at the FDA's meeting recommended the use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers for this reason, rather than the antibacterial additives triclosan (for liquid soaps) and triclocarban (for hard soaps).

Industry Denies There is a Problem

The AMA's Council on Scientific Affairs suggested in 2002 that consumers stop using antibacterial soaps. Promoters of the soaps say that studies have shown antibacterial soaps cause no increase in bacterial resistance to antibiotics, although the studies quoted did say that long-term use of the products could be problematic and should be studied.

Yahoo News October 18, 2005USA Today October 20, 2005

Dr. Mercola's Comment:A growing number of critics, including me, believe antibacterial soaps are no better than regular soaps in reducing infections.

You see, yourstandard non-bacterialhousehold soap separates bacteria fromyour skin so germs go down the drain or get attached to towels when drying your hands. On the other hand, antibacterial soaps kill germs on the spot. At least, most of them ...

The few that survive, with the help of antibacterial compounds -- synthetic chemicals like triclosan -- create germs resistant to soaps and antibiotics over the long haul.

It used to be that antibacterial soaps were used mainly in clinical health care environments, like scrubbing up prior to surgery. Now, antibacterial soaps are used in households across the country where they amount to a $16 billion-a-year industry. Some 72 percent of all liquid soap sold in the United States now contains antibacterial ingredients.

But studies have shown that people who use antibacterial soaps and cleansers develop cough, runny nose, sore throat, fever, vomiting, diarrhea and other symptoms just as often as people who use products that do not contain antibacterial ingredients.

Further,increasing numbers oftraditional medicalexperts now accept the hygiene hypothesis, which centers on the idea that children exposedto bacteria in early childhoodactually havestrongerimmune systems. Children who are not exposed to common bacteria, which areeliminated by excessive use ofsoap, may actually be more prone to allergies and asthma.

Even the American Medical Association (AMA) does not recommend antibacterial soaps.

So why do they persist?

Simple --the manufacturers have relied on using fear to convince people that they need to use them to stay healthy. So, avoid being duped by these companies. All you need to use is a plain, chemical-free soap that you can pick up in your local health food store, as washing with plain soap and water will get rid of most all bacteria.

Many of you also understand that it is not lack of washing your hands that actually gets you sick but rather a weakened immune system, which results from poor lifestyle choicesregarding foods, sleep, exercise and sun exposure.

Yes, you can decrease your risk of getting coughs and colds by washing your hands (with regular soap), but you can virtually eliminate your risk by following the Total Health Program and not washing your hands. The key is optimizing your immune system, not decreasing your exposure to infectious agents.

About the author: This article is reprinted from Mercola.com, the world's #1 most visited and trusted natural/alternative health website. For a limited time only, you can take the FREE "Metabolic Type Test" to help you learn the right foods for your particular body type so you can achieve optimal fitness & health. Just go to http://www.mercola.com/forms/mt_test.htm right now to take this quick test!