Certain chemicals used in antibacterial soaps and body washes are unsafe and ineffective. The FDA has banned the sale of soaps and body washes that contain any one of 19 different antibacterial chemicals. The most commonly used ones include triclosan and triclocarban. According to Dr. Janet Woodcock, director of the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, "Consumers may think antibacterial washes are more effective at preventing the spread of germs, but we have no scientific evidence that they are any better than plain soap and water". This is a typical case of clever marketing not backed up by any evidence. The worrying thing is these products aren't only not effective, they may actually increase the risk of cancer  and infertility . They can also encourage the formation of antibiotic resistant bacteria, raising the risk of devastating infections in the future. Companies will have one year to remove these chemicals from their products, or discontinue producing them altogether. The FDA issued a proposed rule back in 2013 that required companies that use these chemicals to prove their products are more effective than ordinary soap and were safe for long term use. According to the FDA, "antibacterial hand and body wash manufacturers did not provide the necessary data to establish safety and effectiveness". Typical for the FDA to approve chemicals in the products used by you and your family before they have even been tested for safety. The fewer chemicals you apply to your body the better. Your skin in a highly absorptive surface, and the combination of warmth and moisture (such as in the shower) opens up your pores and increases absorption of these chemicals into your bloodstream. Then it's up to your liver to try and remove these chemicals from your body. If your liver isn't in optimal health it will struggle. There are so many chemical free toiletries to choose from these days. Find a brand you know and trust, and make sure your liver works well enough at detoxification. Read more