Triclosan - what is it? The effect of triclosan in soap, paste and cream

In modern society, great importance is attached to personal hygiene, since it affects the health status, appearance and relationships in the team. Sometimes it is difficult to maintain a close relationship with a man who constantly smells from his mouth. Or, for example, a bad situation characterizes a person when he has frequent stomach problems due to a lack of habit of washing his hands before eating. For better and simpler disposal of dirt, mankind has invented various means with antibacterial effect. One component of such agents is triclosan. What it is, how it affects the body as a whole, what products it can detect, let's talk about this article.

The substance of triclosan

Triclosan is a substance first obtained in laboratories in Switzerland. After synthesis, it was used as an antibacterial component in toothpastes, creams and detergent powders. Then his property of killing bacteria was used in American fields. There he got himself as a pesticide and used for a long time triclosan. What it is, at the moment is well known. Most doctors are inclined to the fact that as a daily remedy for oral care or cleansing of the skin, it should not be used. However, we have repeatedly seen an advertisement that says that triclosan in soap, paste and cream is very good, right and safe. So why are doctors against using this substance? It is necessary to understand.

Effect of triclosan on the hormonal background

For half a century since the discovery of triclosan, various studies and experiments have been carried out. One of such experiments showed that in mice that received this substance, various tumors and tumors were observed more often than in other individuals who did not participate in the experiment. It has been observed that triclosan in the body imitates estrogen and thereby disrupts the hormonal background, which leads to various cancers. However, for everyday use in concentrations used in soap and various pastes, it is practically not absorbed. A great concern for doctors is its other property - to form the resistance of bacteria to antibiotics.

Antibacterial action of triclosan

The property of triclosan to kill a multitude of bacteria was initially perceived by medical workers very well. It was used everywhere. Triclosan in soap was needed to disinfect hands, various solutions on its basis served to disinfect wounds, it was used even for the treatment of teeth before exposure to tooth enamel. It became so common that it was used daily. This served as an impetus to the fact that bacteria, previously dying from the effects of triclosan, began to adapt and form stable forms not only to him, but also to other antibacterial agents. When an antibiotic was prescribed by a doctor to treat an infection, the patient did not feel the desired effect, it was necessary to select the drug again in order to achieve a satisfactory result. This property is characteristic not only of triclosan. It is manifested in all antibacterial agents used systemically in low concentration.

Triclosan in toothpaste

The positive effect of triclosan in toothpaste is due to its antibacterial properties. It prevents the occurrence of plaque, struggles with tartar and freshens breath. However, in a person's mouth there are not only dangerous bacteria, but also bacteria that make up a natural microflora. Since the triclosan in the toothpaste affects all bacteria indiscriminately, a normal acidic medium changes, resulting in a difficult-to-treat fungus of the mucosa. If the dentist believes that the use of a paste with an antibacterial agent is justified, then really, you can shortly brush her teeth. A self-targeting of such a toothpaste is undesirable.

Triclosan in cream

In addition to toothpaste, triclosan can be found in various creams. Mostly they are designed for foot care or for the treatment of acne. Cream with triclosan, thanks to its antibacterial properties, it helps to get rid of the smell and suppress the reproduction of bacteria in the foci of inflammation. The price of such funds is low and available to almost everyone. As in the case of toothpaste, it is better not to use creams with triclosan for a long time.

What is dangerous triclosan?

According to scientists, the substance affects the muscles, namely, to reduce them. 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 muscular activity of the test subjects decreased significantly after interaction with triclosan. For a person whose main muscle is the heart, such an effect is harmful - it can seriously affect health and longevity.

Since with prolonged exposure to triclosan, the hormonal background is disturbed, this leads to thyroid problems, hormonal and oncological diseases. Therefore, a popular pasta with triclosan is most likely not as useful as they say about it in advertising. When buying any funds, it is important to really assess the benefits and risks of using it.

Prohibition of triclosan

The EU chemical agency, designed to control the content of harmful substances in goods supplied to Europe, published a list of banned chemical compounds. This list also includes triclosan. What it is and why it is harmful, we considered above, and all this is quite enough to recognize the substance as harmful to human health. American activists also insist on including it in the list of banned ingredients, but so far only Minnesota plans to do it in 2017. In Russia at the moment, funds with triclosan are freely available.

What can replace triclosan?

After numerous studies convincingly proving that the use of this substance in everyday care is inexpedient, the question arose about what can replace triclosan. Instruction to him informs that the list of bacteria to which it affects is extensive, however, it does not include all microorganisms. Alternatives can be used substances that affect not only the bacteria, but also many other microbes without the formation of sensitivity to them. This, for example, chlorhexidine or miramistin. At the moment it is chlorhexidine is a component of most antibacterial napkins. It has been used for a long time, its safety and effectiveness are confirmed by practice and numerous studies.

Triclosan-carbomide dreams

Probably, many people know a song with such an interesting phrase. If about the substance of triclosan, what is it we already know, what is carbamide? Carbamide is an organic substance, a well-known urea, widely used in agriculture as a nitrogen fertilizer. It was opened in 1773. And in 1828, it was synthesized by Weller. This was the first experiment in which organic matter was derived from inorganic matter. Substances triclosan urea in nature does not exist. The author of the song - Maxim Leonidov - just invented it, thereby enclosing a certain character in it.

Conclusion

Having considered triclosan (what it is, what it is useful, how dangerous, and also by what means it is necessary to replace it), it can be concluded that for daily use this substance is not suitable. Its use is possible only for a short time, on the recommendation of a doctor. And although it does not have a significant effect on health when applied externally in a low concentration, long-term use may lead to serious consequences.