In modern society, personal hygiene is of great importance, since the state of health, appearance and relationships in the team depend on it. It is sometimes difficult to maintain close relationships with a person who constantly smells from his mouth. Or, for example, a person is poorly characterized by a situation where he has frequent stomach problems as a result of a lack of habit of washing his hands before eating. For a better and easier way to get rid of dirt, mankind has invented various means with an antibacterial effect. One of the components of such funds is triclosan. What it is, how it affects the body as a whole, in what products it can be found, we will talk in this article.
Triclosan substance
Triclosan is a substance first obtained in Swiss laboratories. After synthesis, it began to be used as an antibacterial component in toothpastes, creams and washing powders. Then his ability to kill bacteria was used on American fields. He got there as a pesticide and was used for a long time triclosan. What it is is currently well known. Most doctors are inclined to the fact that it should not be used as a daily oral care product or skin cleansing. However, we have repeatedly seen an advertisement that says that triclosan in soap, paste and cream is very good, correct and safe. So why are doctors against using this substance? It’s worth sorting out.
The effect of triclosan on hormones
For half a century since the discovery of triclosan, various studies and experiments have been conducted. One of these experiments showed that in mice that were injected with this substance, various tumors and neoplasms were observed more often than in other individuals that did not participate in the experiment. It was noticed that triclosan in the body mimics estrogen and thereby disrupts the hormonal background, which leads to various cancers. However, for domestic use in concentrations used in soap and various pastes, it is practically not absorbed. Another concern of doctors is his other property - to form the resistance of bacteria to antibiotics.
The antibacterial effect of triclosan
The ability of triclosan to kill many bacteria was initially well received by medical professionals. It was used everywhere. Triclosan in soap was needed for hand disinfection, various solutions based on it served to disinfect wounds, it was even used to treat teeth before exposure to tooth enamel. It became so common that it was used daily. This was the impetus for the fact that bacteria that had previously died from the effects of triclosan began to adapt and form stable forms not only to it, but also to other antibacterial agents. When a doctor prescribed an antibiotic to treat an infection, the patient did not feel the desired effect, he had to select the drug again in order to achieve a satisfactory result. This property is not unique to triclosan. It manifests itself in all antibacterial agents used systemically in low concentrations.
Triclosan in Toothpaste
The positive effect of triclosan in toothpaste is due to its antibacterial properties. It prevents plaque, fights with tartar and freshens the breath. However, in the mouth of a person there are not only dangerous bacteria, but also bacteria that make up the natural microflora. Since triclosan in the toothpaste affects all bacteria indiscriminately, a change in the normal acidic environment occurs, as a result of which an intractable fungus of the mucosa can occur. If the dentist believes that the use of paste with an antibacterial agent is justified, then indeed, you can brush her teeth for a short time. And the self-appointment of such toothpaste is undesirable.
Triclosan in cream
In addition to toothpaste, triclosan can be found in various creams. Mostly they are intended for foot care or for the treatment of acne. Cream with triclosan, due to its antibacterial properties, helps to get rid of odor and suppress the growth of bacteria in the foci of inflammation. The price of such funds is low and affordable to almost everyone. As with toothpaste, it is best not to use creams with triclosan for a long time.
What else is dangerous triclosan?
According to scientists, the substance affects the muscles, namely their contraction. Muscle fibers after exposure to this substance stopped working properly, reacting to stimuli. Studies were conducted on various groups of animals and fish, as a result of which the muscle activity of the experimental patients decreased markedly after interaction with triclosan. For a person whose heart muscle is the main muscle, such an effect is harmful - it can seriously affect health and life expectancy.
Since hormonal levels are disturbed with prolonged exposure to triclosan, this leads to thyroid problems, hormonal and oncological diseases. Therefore, the popular pasta with triclosan is most likely not as useful as they say in advertising. When buying any product, it is important to really assess the benefits and risks of its use.
Ban triclosan
The EU Chemical Agency, designed to control the content of harmful substances in products shipped to Europe, has published a list of banned chemical compounds. Triclosan also ended up on this list. What it is and why it is harmful, we examined above, and all this is enough to recognize a substance as harmful to human health. U.S. activists also insist on including it on the list of banned ingredients, but so far only the state of Minnesota plans to do this in 2017. In Russia at the moment, funds with triclosan are in the public domain.
What can replace triclosan?
After numerous studies, convincingly proving that the use of this substance in everyday care is impractical, the question arose of what can replace triclosan. The instruction to him informs that the list of bacteria that it affects is extensive, but it does not include all microorganisms. As alternative means, you can use substances that affect not only bacteria, but also many other microbes without forming sensitivity to them. This, for example, chlorhexidine or miramistin. At the moment, it is chlorhexidine that is part of most antibacterial wipes. It has been used for a long time, its safety and effectiveness are confirmed by practice and numerous studies.
Triclosan-carbomid dreams
Probably, a song with such an interesting phrase is familiar to many. If triclosan is a substance, what is it that we already know, then what is carbamide? Urea is an organic substance, well-known urea, widely used in agriculture as a nitrogen fertilizer. It was discovered in 1773. And in 1828 it was synthesized by Weller. This was the first experiment in which organic matter was obtained from inorganic. Substances triclosan-carbamide in nature does not exist. The author of the song, Maxim Leonidov, simply invented it, thereby investing a certain character in it.
Conclusion
Having examined triclosan (what it is, what it is useful for, what is dangerous, and what means it is worth replacing), we can conclude that this substance is not suitable for daily use. Its use is possible only briefly, on the recommendation of a doctor. And although when applied externally in a low concentration, it does not have a noticeable effect on health, in the long term, its long-term use can lead to serious consequences.