Is Triclosan safe during pregnancy?
Antibacterial no longer allowed in US consumer soaps. Plain soap and water works; skip products that still contain it.
What the sources say
FDA removed triclosan from OTC consumer antiseptic washes in 2016 because makers did not show it was safe for daily long-term use and better than plain soap and water. NIEHS notes it is still in some toothpaste, shaving cream and cosmetics, that it has been detected in human breast milk, and that a mouse study found transfer through nursing. AAD lists triclosan among ingredients to use sparingly in pregnancy. Limit: choose triclosan-free products.
Also listed as
5-chloro-2-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)phenol, irgasan, irgasan dp300, microban
Sources
- FDA: Skip the Antibacterial Soap; Use Plain Soap and Water
- NIH NIEHS: Cosmetics and Your Health: NIEHS Research Findings (fact sheet, Jan 2024)
- AAD: Dermatologist-approved pregnancy skin care
Last reviewed . This is general information, not medical advice. Ask your doctor or midwife about your own situation.