ANTIBACTERIAL SOAPS IN PAKISTAN

1) SAFEGUARD:

As it CLAIMS to kill 99% of germs, has gained high market value

because of its strong marketing strategy. The product claims to clean
skin and washes away germs and dirt which is the purpose of an
antibacterial soap. According to the market survey it’s high on the
recommendation list because of it being cheap and not heavily
fragranced. This soap is quite affordable and buying pack can save
money. The main ingredient of the soap as antibacterial agent is
Triclocarbon. Other includes water, glycerin, coconut acid, and
fragrance in addition to other lathering agents.

WHY GO FOR THIS SOAP?

*Kills 99% of the germs from your skin while leaving no residue behind.
  The soap is very affordable comparing it with majority of Pakistan’s
population being poor.
 Fragrance is not too strong and moreover controls the body odor.

TALKING ABOUT CONS?

 This soap contains triclocarbon which is banned by the FDA

 It doesn’t treat acne nor has any improve effects on the skin
 Fragrance of the soap doesn’t last long.
 Soap is TOXIC, should be kept away from children

2) DETTOL

Dettol is one brand which is very popular. It has a powerful original formula
which removes germs quickly without damaging or drying your skin. It is
known to clean the skin without drying it or damaging it. The soap is quite
soothing and can be used on all skin types. Moreover it doesn’t irritate the
skin at all. It also controls rashes having an antiseptic formula. Dettol is
very affordable too. The color of the soap is light yellow
 The active ingredient in Dettol is chloroxylenol and triclosan which kills
germs other ingredients include isopropyl alcohol, pine oil, castor oil soap,
caramel and water.

WHY GO FOR THIS SOAP?

 The soap contains antiseptic and antibacterial ingredients which heals and
ALSO kill the germs
 Soap can be used on all skin types and has a soothing fragrance.
 Controls body odor.

TALKING ABOUT CONS?

 It contains triclosan banned by FDA.

 This soap has very clinical fragrance.
 It kills bacteria along with the bacteria that are beneficial for the skin
 It causes the drying of the skin.
 The soap may cause skin irritation and skin burns.

3) LIFEBUOY
This soap is transparent having smooth texture. When use, it lathers less
than regular soap but do removes germs having antibacterial properties. It
has a very strong fragrance and cleans the skin well. It dries the skin after
use so people with dry skin should stay away from it.

WHY GO FOR THIS SOAP?

 This soap is very affordable

 It is highly recommended for oily skin.
 It removes dirt, oil easily and has a nice texture.
 It’s proven to reduce acne and pimples as well.

TALKING ABOUT CONS?

 It contains triclosan banned by FDA

 This is not for people with dry skin as it can dry out the skin.
 Also leaves the skin stretchy.
 It has a very strong fragrance which can give headaches to some
people.
PROBLEMS FACED BY THE INDUSTRY IN PAKISTAN

CONTEXT FROM THE DAWN newspaper;

SEPT 2016,
“THE US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has banned
antibacterial soaps/hand washes in the US because there is no
evidence they work better than water and ordinary soap”

In fact, according to the FDA, the chemicals which make these soaps
‘antibacterial’ can have long-term negative effects on humans.’’

The active ingredients found in soaps is triclosan (Irgasan DP300). Talking about
the negatives effects of it, it actually promotes emergence of bacteria resistant to
antibiotic properties thereby interfering with the metabolism of microbes
FDA has completely considered it harmful because it interferes with human
hormones and is also a cause of skin irritation and is also hypersensitive.
Most companies may remove triclosan from its products sooner or later as
there are no visible benefits of using it. It has however, environmental
issues as well which includes water pollution Also they say, there is no
such difference in regular soaps and the reference soap.
ALSO chloroxylenol is used which also has side effects includes a
number of skin problems and allergies.
Alcohol is also being used usually as ethanol which can be very drying for the skin as it strips
away your skins natural oils. It’s really important to follow up with a moisturizer when using
alcohol based soaps butt soaps containing this ingredients can’t be used on cuts or broken
skin.
Talking about most important thing is fragrance. The fragrance can be of any thing as of
chemicals you would never know as they are their trade secret. Most companies do use
synthetic chemicals that have adverse effect on the body and most are cancer causing ( e.g
phthalates, used to make fragrances last longer). Strong fragrances can also has negatively
impact the central nervous system and can also cause asthma.
.
MARKET SURVEY
Safety Concerns
One of the skin's functions is to release and absorb various chemicals and
substances. A Food and Drug Administration survey reported in the Los Angeles
Times notes out of 2,517 participants of a urine study, 75 percent tested positive for
triclosan. The FDA is unsure of triclosan's impact on internal organs, but laboratory
animal tests show distortions in thyroid hormones. Infertility was also evident, as levels
of testosterone and estrogen in the body were diminished. In 2010, the FDA
announced a formal inquiry on the safety of triclosan. Research published in 2012 in
"Environmental Science and Pollution Research" raised similar safety concerns, and
also noted that the use of triclosan in soap could lead to resistant strains of bacteria.

No Effect Whatsoever
A growing body of evidence shows that antibacterial soaps are no better at killing
germs than regular soaps. An FDA Consumer Update also published on April 8, 2010,
reported that there was no "evidence that triclosan in antibacterial soaps and body
washes provides any benefit" when compared to soaps that do not carry an
antibacterial label.

Skin Dryness
The most widely found effect of antibacterial soap is dry skin. In fact, the American
Skin Association advises people with dry skin to avoid antibacterial soap. The
powerful antibiotic agent in the soap, triclosan, strips the skin of its hydrating oils.
Results can vary, ranging from mild itching and redness to irritation and flaking.

Hormonal Imbalance
Research shows that antibacterial soap can change the hormonal makeup of human
and animal cells in laboratory tests. University of California, Davis scientists found that
triclosan "increased gene expression that is normally regulated by testosterone," and
caused glands that rely on testosterone, including the prostate, to grow larger. As a
result, the scientists concluded that antibacterial soap is an endocrine-disrupting
substance