Can triclosan in personal care products increase your risk of gestational diabetes?

What's actually in it

Triclosan is still found in some toothpastes, hand soaps, body washes, and cleaning products. It enters your body through your mouth, skin, and lungs. During pregnancy, triclosan circulates in the blood and can disrupt metabolic processes that keep blood sugar in check.

What the research says

A 2026 study in Ecotoxicol Environ Saf used multi-omics analysis to map exactly how triclosan causes gestational diabetes. The study identified key molecular targets and mechanisms through which triclosan disrupts glucose metabolism during pregnancy, leading to gestational diabetes.

Gestational diabetes affects blood sugar control during pregnancy and increases the risk of complications for both mother and baby, including preeclampsia, C-section delivery, and larger-than-normal babies.

Check your personal care products for triclosan and triclocarban. Switch to plain soap and water for handwashing. Choose triclosan-free toothpaste, especially during pregnancy.