to think how your armpits smell isn't as important as whether your children will survive operations in the future?

[IceBeing]

Just seen a sidebar advert for antibacterial deodorant. Seriously, is antibiotic resistance happening in a parallel universe to the cosmetics industry?

I am sure it will all be wonderful fun to use their new product instead of just washing etc. but killing 90% of the bacteria is just focussing the minds of the 10% on how to evade destruction. When our children and grandchildren are in fear of their lives from superbugs every time they require routine surgery, we are not going to look back kindly on this kind of 'innovation'.

[dodobookends]

I don't think they actually put antibiotics in the deodorant...

[Stratter5]

Antibacterial is not the same as antibiotic. Silver, for example, is antibacterial. It just means it works on the bacteria on your skin that cause BO.

[IceBeing]

Whether they put extra antibiotics in or are simply acknowledging that the cocktail of chemicals already in the product kill bacteria, the point is that we are spraying this shit around as though it doesn't have consequences at a time when other areas of society are battling to reduce the use of antibacterial products.

[IceBeing]

stratters there is no technical difference between antibiotic and antibacterial.

The word is used by the cosmetics industry because people like you think there is a difference and hence won't clock the damage they are doing.

Both antibacterial and antibiotic are defined as agents that can kill, damage or slow the growth of bacteria.

[MissBattleaxe]

Bit of a sensationalist headline.

I use anti bac hand gel and let my kids play in mud, but very rarely get or expect antibiotics. I think my kids will be OK. many anti bacs are organic. i.e honey and silver as mentioned above.

[molyholy]

When our children and grandchildren are in fear of their lives from superbugs every time they require routine surgery

Wow. Also the People like you comment.

Take a chill pill.

[scarednoob]

Some bacteria would have evolved anyway:

m.livescience.com/51635-antibiotic-resistant-bacteria-deadly.html

[CalonGoch]

I don't think that's exactly an either/or...

[IceBeing]

So superbugs don't worry you? The rise of MRSA and related bugs that have been generated by over exposure to antibacterial agents (including natural, synthetic and everything in between) in every day life?

They worry the health profession severely.

[Sirona]

I recently read a peer reviewed article that said there is no scientific link between antibacterial cleaning/grooming products and antibiotic resistance.

I don't particularly believe in all this antibacterial nonsense though and don't feel the need to clean my clothes and everything else with them.

[UmbongoUnchained]

Wow OP you're a whole new level.

[Sirona]

Honestly, probably worry more about the antibiotics pumped into farm animals.

[PaulAnkaTheDog]

[IceBeing]

I not at all chilled out about the fact that people adopting antibacterial hand gels into their daily life are putting all our children at risk from future superbug infections contracted during necessary surgery. Antibiotic resistance is currently rated the most threatening global health issue.

[MrsJayy]

Id worry more about antibac washing powder or dettol furniture spray (yes its real) than what a person puts under their arms tbh

[IceBeing]

sirona don't worry I also have time to worry about antibiotics in pigs. The thing is that that is on the governments radar...so at least there is hope that something well get done.

Meanwhile in the cosmetics industry, anything that makes money goes.

[IceBeing]

mrsJayy why? Why are those more important than the other in your opinion? I don't furniture spray every day? I don't even do laundry everyday?

[Sirona]

this may comfort you slightly

I do get your fear around this, I worry about antibiotic resistance a lot and there was a recent thread on here to show a lot of people are. I just think it may be slightly misplaced on this occasion.

[MrsJayy]

The whole antibac kill ALL the germs has just got out of hand imo nobody needs antibac deodorant but its the individual thats using it not the whole family iyswim.

[CoteDAzur]

"there is no technical difference between antibiotic and antibacterial"

Of course there is. Look up the word antiseptic.

Plain soap is antibacterial, for example. Are you suggesting that we don't wash our hands and bodies, in case bacteria evolve resistance?

[ExConstance]

I'm more concerned that they are just another way for companies to generate sales by making people think they are dirty.

[Schwabischeweihnachtskanne]

Sunlight is antibacterial.

There is a degree of concern about triclosan in household products, but there are scientific peer reviewed articles online so it's firmly on the radar and there is not yet enough evidence one way or the other that cleaning / hygene products and antibiotic resistance are linked.

I agree that antibiotic use in large scale agribusiness / farming is a far bigger concern, and believe that vested interests mean it being "on the government's radar" might be cold comfort - pesticides are also "on the radar" but big chemical companies sell all sorts of things likely to come back and bite the next generation.

[ZingDramaQueenOfSheeba]

Is boiling hot water an antibiotic then? And salt? And sugar? They certainly kill at least some types of bacterium - hence their use in preserving food for thousands of years...
Ice I know you care, but I think you are wrong in confusing the practical applications of "antibacterial" & "antibiotic"

Coconut oil is a great natural ingredient to make deodorant with, amongst other things.

[MrsJayy]

Exactly that ExConstance we all all filthy and must spray or wash it all away

[ZingDramaQueenOfSheeba]

And if it helps I don't use furniture polish as we don't have the type of furniture that needs polishing. By design. One less thing to do.