I remember my 9th grade biology teacher telling us to avoid antibacterial soaps because our bodies actually need bacteria. She also mentioned that there's a risk of creating bacteria that would be even more harmful. It turns out, there's more to the story:
The antibacterial Triclosan found in Dial's Complete Hand Soap may be causing more harm than good. We don't even know if it's safe to use in soap and now it's even in toothpaste (Colgate Total). It's everywhere. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that the chemical is present in the urine of 75% of Americans over the age of 5. The NY Times article states that studies have shown that it may alter hormone regulation and that the "F.D.A. has already said that soap with triclosan is no more effective than washing with ordinary soap and water, a finding that manufacturers dispute."
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