Can washing your hands be harmful to your health?

With flu and cold season raging we are seeing an uptick in consumers who are purchasing instant hand sanitizer and increasing their hand washing. All of this is great, but not if your soaps contain triclosan. According to the Environmental Working Group AND the American Medical Association (AMA), antibacterial soaps containing triclosan should not be used. Why? The AMA has found that these soaps actually encourage bacterial resistance to antibiotics.

Triclosan has also been linked to liver toxicity, thyroid disfunction and inhalation toxicity. Where does it lurk? Unfortunately not just in your antibacterial soaps. It’s also found in your dish detergent, toothpaste, mattresses, shoes, carpets, etc.  For more information on triclosan and other harmful chemicals in our environment, check out the Environmental Working Group’s website: www.ewg.org or click on the image below:

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