Rub-a-dub-dub, danger in the tub A few months ago I wrote to you about how antibacterial soaps may actually be TOO strong when it comes to protecting you from germs. In that eTip (8/29/07, subject line: "Coming clean") I told you that these sorts of harsh soaps can strip away the skin's outermost layer, leaving you more vulnerable to conditions like eczema. But some new information I just came across shows that they may do even more damage, attacking you inside as well as out. A recent study conducted at the University of California, Davis, uncovered that one of the chemicals commonly added to antibacterial soaps can interfere with normal hormonal activity in the body. The researchers found that this chemical increased a process known as gene expression which is normally regulated by testosterone. They also discovered that when they fed the chemical to male mice, the animals' prostate glands grew abnormally large. The chemical causing these problems is called triclocarban (also known as TCC and 3,4,4'-trichlorocarbanilide), and it can be found in many common personal cleanser products including bar and liquid soaps, wipes, and lotions. One more good reason to read those labels before you buy anything! Source:
"Antibacterial chemical disrupts hormone activities, study finds," Science Daily (www.sciencedaily.com), 12/8/07 | 
