Final answer:
Low doses of antiseptics in skin care products can disrupt the skin's microbial balance, potentially leading to infections and fostering antibiotic-resistant strains. Some antiseptics may also inhibit healing and cause scarring, as well as trigger superinfections by killing off beneficial microbiota.
Step-by-step explanation:
The introduction of low doses of antiseptics into skin care products can lead to several possible problems. While antiseptics like hydrogen peroxide and isopropyl alcohol are generally safe for use on living tissues, their overuse can disrupt the natural balance of microorganisms on the skin. This disruption may cause an overgrowth of certain species, leading to an increased risk of infection such as antibiotic-resistant strains (like MRSA) and secondary infections (superinfections).
Furthermore, antibiotic resistance is a concern, as some bacteria can easily gain resistance to antiseptics through genetic changes. For instance, the widespread use of triclosan in soaps has led to the emergence of triclosan-resistant bacterial strains, reducing the effectiveness of these antiseptics. Moreover, compounds containing mercury, once common in antiseptics, have been largely discontinued because of their toxicity and environmental impacts.
It is also worth noting that while antiseptics are designed to prevent infection, some, like hydrogen peroxide, can inhibit healing and cause scarring by harming newly formed skin cells. Strong antiseptics may also target a broad spectrum of beneficial microbiota on the skin, which can result in superinfections when the protective microbiota are killed off.