An official study was conducted and results prove that antibacterial soaps do not work better than regular soap. Regular soap is just as effective as any anti-bacterial soap in getting rid of germs.
As reported in Time, scientists at Korea University compared antibacterial soaps and regular soaps in an experiment. They tested the soaps on 20 strains of bacteria which the FDA suggested to companies that manufacture antibacterial soaps.
In 2013, concerns over health consequences of too much exposure to triclosan, the active ingredient of antibacterial soaps in fighting against bacteria, virus and fungus, has led the United States Food and Drug Administration to require manufacturers to prove that antibacterial soaps do not impose health issues. FDA wanted proof that antibacterial soaps are safe and are more effective than regular soaps and water.
There were many studies attempted since, however this recent study is the first to try on the 20 strains of bacteria in a laboratory. Scientist found out that antibacterial formula did not kill any more bacteria in any of the strains. Scientists dropped small amounts of bacteria in vials that contain various concentrations of triclosan formula and traditional soap formula. They also tried it on an actual human hands. Scientists doused the hands of 16 healthy adult volunteers with bacteria. Afterwards, they were asked to wash their hands using the two different types of soaps. Scientists then measured the bacteria levels after each wash.
Both results show that antibacterial formula do not perform any better in getting rid of bacteria and germs. However, in a one of their experiments, antibacterial formula did better in killing bacteria and germs. When they left the formula on the bacterial samples for nine hours, it actually performed better. In any case, nobody would spend nine hours washing their hands so scientists are suggesting to scale back claims that anti bacterial soaps work better than traditional soaps.
"If the manufacturer would like to advertise the antiseptic efficacy of their products, they should supply scientific evidence to support the claims," Min-Suk Rhee, senior author of the study said in livescience. The study was published in the Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy.
