Hand Jive: Regular Soap or Antibacterial?

Credit: PHOTODISC

It's about that time to follow the flu-season mantra, "Wash your hands, wash your hands." But, as you do, consider this bit of uncommon knowledge: Antibacterial soap is not necessarily better.

Studies by Columbia University researchers have found that, despite its name, antibacterial soap is no more effective at reducing germs on the skin or curbing the spread of respiratory illnesses than regular soap. And, researchers worry, the use of antibacterial soap for day-to-day hand washing could help create drug-resistant germs -- although there is no firm evidence that they do.

The Cosmetic, Toiletry, and Fragrance Association [1], meanwhile, argues that antibacterial products are effective in combating disease, and blames drug-resistant bugs on overprescription and misuse of antibiotics, not germ-killing soap.

If all those kids' runny noses still make you want to pack more germ-fighting power, research from the Harvard Medical School does support the use of alcohol-based hand-sanitizer gel, which it says blocks the spread of stomach illnesses, and possibly respiratory illnesses, too. One caveat: The waterless gels won't get rid of dirt. For that, the mantra still applies.