Page 74 - South Mississippi Living - July, 2025

HEALTHY LIVING
story by
Dr. Nickie Harris-Ray
A SOAPY SITUATION
Several factors must be considered when buying soap. You might want to consider the cost, color, brand, and other features. One of these considerations is whether to choose plain or antibacterial soap. Does either help keep you safer?
Depending on the planned use, several things must be taken into account. However, remember that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has no substantial evidence that antibacterial soaps perform better than regular soap and water in preventing illness. But basically, antibacterial, antiseptic, or antimicrobial soaps contain specific chemicals that plain soap does not. The purpose of these chemicals is to help reduce or prevent bacterial infections.
When you use soap and water, germs on the surface are loosened. The soap's properties make it easier to
dissolve bacteria, effectively removing pathogens physically from surfaces. However, this
process doesn’t kill bacteria or stop their production.
The difference with antibacterial soap is that it includes chemicals
not found in regular soap. These ingredients are designed to inhibit bacterial
growth. Antibacterial soaps are promoted for their ability to reduce bacterial growth and eliminate harmful germs. The FDA has mandated that manufacturers provide safety data for these products and has determined that makers of antiseptic liquids, bar soaps, body washes, foams, and similar items should stop making specific claims. This is because these products have not been proven to be more effective than regular soap in preventing infections, and there is no verified information regarding the safety of long-term exposure to them.
Some advantages of antibiotic soaps include their availability in most stores and their ability to eliminate harmful bacteria. However, there are downsides, such as the potential to kill beneficial bacteria on your skin. These soaps can also contain harsh chemicals that strip away natural oils, leading to dryness. Additionally, relying on antibacterial soap may create a false sense of cleanliness, causing people to wash their hands less often. For these soaps to be effective, they must remain on the skin for at least two minutes.
Plain soap is generally preferable for public and home use unless a medical professional recommends antibacterial
soap explicitly. Outside controlled healthcare environments, antibacterial soaps do not demonstrate greater effectiveness at killing germs. Ultimately, thorough hand washing is the key factor in preventing germ-related illnesses.