What Are the Benefits of Antibacterial Soaps?
Crawling on your toothbrush, your hand and your children's toy box, germs are ever-present microscopic creatures. It's easy to imagine miniature bad guys with black hats and bandannas, ready to make you sick or capture your weekends with a bad head cold or flu bug. With the development of antibacterial soaps, you can easily avoid spreading or receiving germs. However, the proliferation of antibacterial products has possible long-term negative effects. When used in moderation, you can keep the bad guy germs away with antibacterial soaps. Does this Spark an idea?
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Individual Benefits
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Antibacterial products kill bacteria on the skin. This means that any bacteria present on your body will be killed, and you can avoid getting sick or spreading bacteria to others. Skin infections such as athlete's foot can also be treated with antibacterial soaps. Rashes and other skin irritants can be avoided.
Public Health
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The CDC has cited several public health benefits from antibacterial products. Reductions in cases of diarrhea, skin and eye diseases, illness rates and used sick time at work are all tangible benefits that the public has seen from using these products. Fewer illnesses mean less money is spent treating these preventable sicknesses.
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Product Warnings
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Despite the many benefits from antibacterial products, the Center for Disease Control and the Food and Drug Administration both warn that there are risks involved. Because so many items, from bed sheets to chopsticks, are now available in antibacterial versions, scientists worry that super bacteria could develop. These resistant germs would be unstoppable by antibacterial products.
When to Use, Why
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Hospitals, nursing homes and health care facilities that have a high risk of bacterial exposure and infection should continue to use antibacterial soaps. In your home, you can use antibacterial soaps if you are caring for an ill person, have immune deficiencies or change diapers. When used correctly and not in excess, antibacterial soaps are a very positive development. The long term effects of the proliferation of antibacterial goods are not yet known.
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References
Resources
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