Menu
Dr. Weil Logo Dr. Weil Logo Weil™ Andrew Weil, M.D.
  • Health & Wellness
    Health & Wellness
    Body, Mind & Spirit
    • Addiction
    • Allergy & Asthma
    • Autoimmune Disorders
    • Back Pain
    • Bone & Joint
    • Cancer
    • Colds & Flu
    • Dental & Oral
    • Diabetes
    • Disease & Disorders
    • Ears, Nose, & Throat
    • Feet
    • Gastrointestinal
    • Hair, Skin, & Nails
    • Headache
    • Heart
    • Insects & Parasites
    • Liver & Kidney
    • Mental Health
    • Pregnancy & Fertility
    • Respiratory
    • Sexual Health
    • Sleep Issues
    • Stress & Anxiety
    • Vision
    Balanced Living
    • Exercise & Fitness
    • Gardening
    • Healthy Home
    • Healthy Living
    • Meditation & Inspiration
    • Meet Dr. Weil
    • Pets & Pet Care
    • Technology
    • Wellness Therapies
    Health Centers
    • Aging Gracefully
    • Children
    • Condition Care Guide
    • Men
    • Women
  • Diet & Nutrition
    Diet & Nutrition
    Anti-Inflammatory Diet & Pyramid
    Anti-Inflammatory Diet Pyramid
    Cooking & Cookware
    Healthy Cooking & Cookware
    Diets & Weight Loss
    Diets & Weight Loss
    Food Safety
    Diets & Nutrition - Food Safety
    Nutrition
    healthy nutrition
    Recipes
    healthy recipes
  • Vitamins, Supplements & Herbs
    Vitamins, Supplements & Herbs
    Herbs
    herbal remedies - herbs
    Supplements & Remedies
    suppliments & remedies
    Vitamins
    ask-dr-weil_vitamins-supplements-herbs_vitamins-topnav
  • Ask Dr. Weil
  • Blogs
    Blogs
    Bulletins
    The Legacy Of Living Yes | Spontaneous Happiness | Andrew Weil, M.D.
    Health Tips
    Healthy Drinks To Start Sipping | Andrew Weil, M.D.
    Spontaneous Happiness
    blog_spontaneous-happiness_topnav
  • COVID-19
  • Dr. Weil Origins Skin Care
  • Marketplace
  • Healthy Aging
  • Podcasts
  • Meet Dr. Weil
  • Accessibility
  • Subscribe
You Don’t Need Antimicrobial Soaps
Subscribe
Press "Enter" to search
  1. Home
  2. Blog
  3. Bulletins

You Don’t Need Antimicrobial Soaps

anti microbial soap
1 min

A year ago the FDA took the majority of antimicrobial and antiseptic soaps off the market. The reasons: lack of proof of their long-term safety, prefaced by the fact that plain soap and water work as well for preventing infections and illness. Now a group of scientists and medical professionals has weighed in on the subject, focusing on products marketed to replace those taken off the market with a statement urging consumers not to buy the replacements. Their view is that the new products contain chemicals that may be more concerning than the triclosan and triclocarban in the ones taken off the market. The statement also warned that antimicrobials are now commonplace in paints, exercise mats, flooring, apparel, food storage containers, home textiles, electronics, kitchenware, school supplies and countertops. Antimicrobial preservatives may be useful in paints, but claims about health benefits in other products are largely invalid, according to Bill Walsh, President of Healthy Building Network, which recently produced a white paper on antimicrobial building products. The bottom line here is that soap and water will do as good a job at protecting against illness as antimicrobial and antibacterial soaps, and there is no need for antimicrobials in other products.

Source:
Barbara Stattler et al, “The Florence Statement on Triclosan and Triclocarban.” Environmental Health Perspectives, June 2017, DOI:10.1289/EHP1788Heart

 

Also in this week’s health bulletin: 

  • Heart Rhythm Risk: Too Much Work
  • How House Dust Could Affect Your Weight

 

If you are tired of too many prescriptions – and have had enough of taking medications for ailments that may not require them – then my new book may be for you: Mind Over Meds looks at the problem of overmedication, the science that shows drugs aren’t always the best option, as well as helpful, reliable integrative medicine approaches.

Read more tips, recipes, and insights on a wide variety of topics from Dr. Weil here.

Detail of little girl washing her hands
Healthy Living

What Cleans Hands Best?

A waitress pulls out a towel to dry her hands.
Healthy Living

Best Way to Get Hands Really Dry?

Dr. Weil on Healthy Aging

Start Your 14-Day Free Trial

Free Newsletters

Stay Connected With Dr. Weil

Anti-Inflammatory Diet

Follow Dr. Weil’s Food Pyramid

Get Dr Weils Newsletter Updates

Exclusive Lifestyle, Nutrition & Health Advice

Dr. Weil's FREE health living advice delivered to you!

By clicking "Subscribe," you agree to the DrWeil.com Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy. You also agree to receive emails from DrWeil.com, and you may opt out of DrWeil.com subscriptions at any time.

Trending Now

Food Dye Linked To Inflammatory Bowel Disease | Dr. Weil
Bulletins

Food Dye Linked To Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Is Green Tea A Better Choice Than Coffee? | Andrew Weil, M.D.
Bulletins

Is Green Tea A Better Choice Than Coffee?

Regular Yoga Linked To Lower Heart Disease Risk
Bulletins

Regular Yoga Linked To Lower Heart Disease Risk

Exercise May Help Fight Prostate Cancer | Bulletins | Dr. Weil
Bulletins

A Single Session Of Exercise May Help Fight Prostate Cancer

Get Dr Weils Newsletter Updates

Stay Connected With Dr. Weil - Get Free Newsletters Right In Your Inbox

Exclusive Lifestyle, Nutrition & Health Advice

Dr. Weil Logo Weil™ Andrew Weil, M.D.
Information
  • About Us
  • Press Information
  • Advertising
  • Contact Us
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Manage Email Subscription
Trending Articles
Food Dye Linked To Inflammatory Bowel Disease | Dr. Weil
Bulletins

Food Dye Linked To Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Is Green Tea A Better Choice Than Coffee? | Andrew Weil, M.D.
Bulletins

Is Green Tea A Better Choice Than Coffee?

Daily Tips
Sweeteners Healthier Than Sugar
Health Tips

Artificial Sweeteners & Weight Loss?

Should You Worry About White Spots on Fingernails?
Health Tips

Repair Dry & Brittle Fingernails!

  • Flickr
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • Pinterest
  • Instagram

Terms of Use | Privacy Policy

Information on this website is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for the advice provided by your physician or other healthcare professional. You should not use the information on this website for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, or prescribing any medication or other treatment. Any third party offering or advertising on this website does not constitute an endorsement by Andrew Weil, M.D. or Healthy Lifestyle Brands.

©Copyright2023 Healthy Lifestyle Brands, LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. www.drweil.com