MedicMagic.Net

If you have kids, you certainly want to protect your children from different types of germs. You also tend to use soap, toothpaste and other hygiene products containing antibacterial ingredients.

But a new study shows that the method is probably not quite a good idea. This is because the chemicals that are in the antibacterial can actually make your children at greater risk of allergy.

These latest findings are the result of a study conducted by researchers from the Johns Hopkins Children’s Center. Basically, the researchers found a link between children who are exposed to an antibacterial ingredient through toothpaste, mouthwash, soap and other personal care products with the risk of allergy, but researchers do not point directly what antibacterial ingredient that causes these allergies.

The study conducted by researchers at Johns Hopkins involved 860 children aged 6-18 years old. Here researchers looked at the relationship between the number of antibacterial and preservative products from personal care products found in the urine of children with IgE antibody levels. IgE antibodies are chemicals produced by the body to respond to the presence of irritants (allergens).

Researchers focused on the 7 ingredients that are known to affect endocrine function in animals, such as triclosan, bisphenol-A (BPA), benzophenone-3 as well as propyl, methyl, butyl, and ethyl paraben. Triclosan, propyl paraben and butyl paraben were the only chemicals that are associated with increased risk of allergies in children, and all three have antibacterial properties.

The result of the study by the researchers found triclosan in soaps, toothpastes and mouthwashes, while various types of parabens is used in food, medicine and cosmetics. In addition, researchers also found a number of facts, which are:

- Children who have the highest levels of triclosan in the urine also have the greatest IgE antibody levels from food.
- Compared to children who have low levels of triclosan, children who have the highest levels of triclosan have almost double the risk of environmental allergies.
- Children who have the highest levels of parabens are most likely to have higher levels of IgE antibodies to pollen, pets and other environmental allergens.
- Children who have the highest levels of propyl paraben have doubled risk of environmental allergy.
- On the positive side, high levels of parabens in urine are not associated with an increased risk of food allergies.

“These findings highlight the ingredients of antibacterial from personal care products which turned out to have an impact on the immune system of children,” said senior researcher Corinne Keet, MD, MS, an expert on allergies at Johns Hopkins Children’s Center, according to emaxhealth.

Although parents want their children to be safe from many kinds of infections, it turns out that the preventive measures could cause harm. This is due to an increased risk of allergy when the children use products such as soap and toothpaste containing antibacterial ingredients.