Dear Pat and Lactnetters:
YES! For the last several years as i've watched the incidence and virulence
of yeast in my population increase steadily, i've wondered the same thing.
Are all those anti-bacterial soaps too much of a good thing?  when I was in
nursing school (10 yrs ago) we learned that what makes handwashing effective
is the hot water and friction, not the soap.  Industry is always out to sell
more product, and has captured the public awareness with germ-phobia.  I'd
love to see a study of moms with nipple thrush and find out if these soaps
are a predisposing factor. Does anyone know if this research has been done?
From Martha johnson RN, IBCLC Eugene, Oregon
> ----------
> From:         [log in to unmask][SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent:         Sunday, July 05, 1998 7:47 AM
> Subject:      Bacteria Defense
>
> For someone who wishes to escape YEAST, I surely do write a lot about it.
>
> I have been pondering the difficulty that we are all having in resolving
> the yeast problems, or why they are so numerous to begin with.  One idea I
> have is that there is excessive use of "anti-bacterial everything." I read
> about a year ago of some scientists growing concerned about the use of
> anti-bacterial soaps in every home.  They said that these soaps kill off
> just the weak bacteria, some of which are beneficial to health. They spoke
> of the un-natural imbalance that is created, when we are all supposed to
> be
> nurturing a co-habitation of a variety of flora.
>
> Now, I'm wondering if the anti-bacterial hand soap, a-b bath soap (washing
> over mom's nipples), a-b mouth wash, a-b deoderant, a-b wound creams and
> sprays, a-b household sprays, and on and on, could be contributing in
> creating an environment that is favorable to yeast overgrowth.
>
> Many people see bacteria as the enemy of health and the commercials on TV
> play on these fears to sell their many anti-bacterial products.  Bacteria
> is not the enemy.  The effort to kill off all bacteria just robs us of a
> healthy balance of normal body flora, which then sets us up for many
> illnesses, including yeast overgrowth.
>
> I encourage moms who are working with a yeast imbalance to use soaps that
> are not antibacterial.  Many do not heed my advice.  They are so
> programmed
> to see any bacteria as unhealthful.
>
> Patricia Gima, IBCLC
> Milwaukee
> mailto:[log in to unmask]
>