Surgical soaps and antibacterial hand washes have recently gained renewed attention. While antibacterial soaps were popular during the onset of the pandemic, they fell out of favour as infection concerns decreased, with consumers returning to luxurious products. However, TikTok trends are bringing them back into the spotlight, with claims that these products can help with skin issues like eczema, ingrown hairs, razor burn, and acne.
Some people are even using heavy-duty hand washes and surgical soaps on their bodies and faces to combat common skin problems. Surgical soaps, typically used to prepare skin before surgery, contain chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG), an effective antiseptic. Conventional antibacterial soaps often include ingredients like chloroxylenol, benzalkonium chloride, hydrogen peroxide, and triclosan.
While these products may temporarily improve certain skin conditions by killing microbes that contribute to dermatological issues, prolonged use can cause adverse effects.
These soaps kill the microbial flora on the skin, which disrupts the skin's microbiome—the community of microorganisms that live on and protect the skin. This disruption can compromise the skin barrier, leading to dryness, inflammation, irritation, itchiness, dermatitis, and even skin diseases. In rare cases, antiseptic cleansers may cause allergic reactions, such as wheezing, facial swelling, hives, or rashes.
Although over-the-counter surgical cleansers with CHG are available, they should be used only under the guidance of a doctor or dermatologist for specific concerns. Chicago-based dermatologist Dr. Danilo C. Del Campo recommends alternative active ingredients such as benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, and hypochlorous acid for conditions like dermatitis, folliculitis, body odour, and acne. According to Dr. Del Campo, these options are more affordable, less disruptive to the microbiome, and better studied for treating common skin conditions.
For daily hygiene, regular soap or hand wash is best. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) states that over-the-counter antibacterial soaps are no more effective than regular soap and water for preventing illness. Proper handwashing technique is key: wet your hands with running water, lather with soap, scrub for at least 20 seconds (including under nails and between fingers), rinse thoroughly, and dry with a towel or air dryer.
Trever Lithgow, a microbiology researcher at Monash University, emphasises that handwashing technique matters more than the type of soap used. He cautions that frequent use of antimicrobial and antibacterial soaps can harm skin health and contribute to antimicrobial resistance. According to Lithgow, this overuse may promote the development of “superbugs” that resist treatment.
With disease prevention and skin health in mind, a regular hand wash paired with proper handwashing technique is the best approach.
