Does triclosan in antibacterial soap raise allergy risk in kids?

What's actually in it

Triclosan is an antibacterial chemical used in some soaps, toothpastes, "antimicrobial" cutting boards, yoga mats, athletic clothing, and kitchen sponges. The FDA banned triclosan from over-the-counter hand soaps in 2016, but it's still legal in toothpaste, textiles, and many household items. Skin absorbs it, and it shows up in the urine of most Americans who get tested.

Triclosan is an endocrine disruptor and it kills off beneficial skin and gut bacteria. Early-life shifts in the microbiome are tied to allergies, asthma, and eczema.

What the research says

A 2025 study in Environ Health Perspect followed kids in the HOME cohort from pregnancy through age 12. Mothers with higher urinary triclosan during pregnancy, and kids with higher triclosan in childhood, had more eczema, wheezing, and hay fever symptoms. The associations were strongest for exposure during pregnancy and the first few years of life.

Triclosan's anti-microbial action doesn't stay on the cutting board or yoga mat. It rubs off onto skin, gets absorbed, and lands in urine. Kids get it through toothpaste, hand products, and contact with treated textiles.

Check labels for "triclosan" and "triclocarban." Plain soap and water cleans hands just as well as antibacterial soap. For cutting boards and kitchen tools, wood and plain plastic without antimicrobial coatings are fine.