Antibacterial Soaps

Antibiotics have been terrific in combating infectious disease. However, treating antibiotics as a panacea for whatever ails one, such as using antibiotics for infections that could be viral, has not been good. The bacteria have been developing a resistance to our methods of killing them. Antibacterial soaps are contributing to this mounting antibiotic resistance. The FDA has recently recommended against the routine use of antibacterial soaps, and with good reason. Aside from bacterial resistance, two of the antibiotics found in such soaps have possible adverse effects on thyroid and sex steroid hormones. 

The best way to assure that your hands are clean is to use regular soap and water and rub them for 20 seconds. The rubbing for 20 seconds is a crucial component. Here are some more recommendations regarding hand washing: http://www.cdc.gov/handwashing/when-how-handwashing.html