iStock/ThinkstockBy DR. JENNIFER ASHTON, ABC News Senior Medical Contributor
Step away from the antibacterial soap.
The Food and Drug Administration recently banned the use of 19 chemicals found in the common household item, saying not only do they not really do any good, they may actually do harm. We’re talking most notably about the ingredients triclosan and triclocarban.
The FDA says some data suggests that long-term exposure to these two ingredients could pose a danger to health.
My take: Plain, old soap and water for washing your hands works fine.
As for the alcohol-based hand sanitizers, I use them often. Before scrubbing for surgery, they’re actually the product that we use in the operating room. Either way, good hand hygiene is key.
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