Aluminum hydrochloride is for topical use only and should not be applied to There is little evidence to suggest that aluminum gets absorbed through the skin in any significant quantity from antiperspirants, Mian says. The FDA has said that no levels of benzene are safe for humans, so it's best to avoid these products. Just about everyone needs it and whether you want to control odor under your arms, for foot odor or feminine hygiene, there are other facts to consider. Over time reapplication may be needed even less frequently. definitely The damp warmth of your armpits is an ideal environment for bacteria. Rumors from the early 2000s linked antiperspirant use to breast cancer, but there are no strong studies to support this claim, says Kiran Mian, DO, a dermatologist in New York. Topics AZ How Bad Is It Really? The main antimicrobial chemicals used are either triclosan or polyhexamethylene biguanide. perspiration). Weve rounded up 18 of the best sea salt sprays around to help you find the perfect product. Antiperspirant has been getting a bad rap lately, with the active ingredient aluminum being blamed for seemingly everything from breast cancer to dementia. The active ingredients of roll-on, spray and powder formulations are traditionally the metallic salts aluminium chloride and aluminium chlorohydrate. Read on about potential aluminum in deodorant health risks and side effects of deodorant and antiperspirant. Ever break out in bumps after gliding on antiperspirant or deodorant? Aluminum hydrochloride works by reducing the activity of sweat glands and may also shrink sweat glands. Underarm cosmetics and breast cancer. Alzheimers is Its hot, its sticky and I bet youre sweaty! "Many people experience a raw, red, itchy irritation called contact dermatitis," Dr. Hartman says. Subscribe to receive updates, access to exclusive deals, and much more. type of bacteria that lives in your pits. : Aluminum hydrochloride is used for treating hyperhidrosis (excessive For years the discussions about risk of aluminum centered around Alzheimer's, which is a degenerative form of dementia mostly affecting persons over 65 years of age. Read more about aluminumhere. : The most common side effects of aluminum hydrochloride are: Possible serious side effects of aluminum hydrochloride include signs and In the past, antiperspirants have come under fire for Their aim is to mask the smell produced by sweat-eating bacteria. Your doctor might also suggest patch testing to determine which chemical in the product you are allergic to so you can avoid it. Research to date suggests it's not toxic, but we don't know for sure. It is not known whether aluminum hydrochloride is excreted in breast milk. Its the bacteria on your skin breaking down sweat that produce an odor. And because high aluminum levels in your body can increase the risk of developing dementia, the FDA requires antiperspirant labels to carry a warning for those with kidney disease to consult with their doctor before use. Journal of the National Cancer Institute 2000; 92(18):1469-1471. Deodorant or antiperspirant is a very personal product. broken, irritated, or recently shaved skin. However, it is known that large amounts of aluminum can contribute to nerve toxicity and possibly Alzheimer's disease. The theory that aluminum exposure could lead to Alzheimer's was first voiced in the 1960s, when studies showed elevated levels of aluminum in patients' brains. After two days, the antiperspirant-users started to develop diverse bacteria under their arms. Aluminium salts are soluble as long as the formulation is acidic (low pH). Let's dive into the details of potential harmful effects of deodorant. Learn how to keep it under control with these tips. See additional information. Deodorants work by increasing the skins acidity. include a warning on every product. Per the ACS, a miniscule 0.012 percent of aluminum enters your body much less than you get from the food you eat on a daily basis. This creates more opportunities for odor-causing species to develop. Read on to learn the side effects of antiperspirants. Here's a comforting reality check: Your body filters out toxins through the kidneys and liver, not sweat glands. In a study conducted at the NC Museum of Natural Sciences Genomics & Microbiology Lab, 18 subjects were recruited to comparewhat happens to bacteria under your armpits when you switch the type of underarm products you use. The subjects were divided into three groups: (1) people who used antiperspirant daily, (2) people who used deodorant daily and (3) those that did not use any underarm products. Learn the facts. As the moisture evaporates off your skin, it cools you down. Aluminum does not enter the body in any significant quantity when using antiperspirant, and it will not lead to any potential health complications, unless you already have kidney disease. Although there are no studies to this date that conclusively point to aluminum as a major cause for breast cancer and Alzheimer's, the results are not all in yet. containing steareths and formaldehyde, probable human carcinogens The active aluminum-based ingredient in antiperspirants/deodorants temporarily plugs the sweat glands and that's how it prevents you from perspiring. 1996-2022 MedicineNet, Inc. All rights reserved. Sea salt sprays are a must-have for tousled beach waves. Mayo Clinic Staff. Generic, store brand deodorants mostly contain antimicrobial agents to prevent only body odor, but not flow of sweat. Deodorants are not antiperspirants. Antiperspirants may cause irritant or allergic contact dermatitis. The study unveils that long term use of antiperspirantactually creates more bacteria on your armpits once you stop using them. Health Tip: Worried About Excessive Sweating? not not necessarily bad These are formulated into preparations of varying strengths. Deodorants arent the same as antiperspirants, but they can cover up BO. People at risk of developing a reaction to an antiperspirant include those with: To reduce the possibility of reactions less concentrated preparations should be used in susceptible groups. Mirick DK, et al. Using antiperspirant reduces the amount of staphlococcaceae bacteria (the least smelly) that grows under the arms. With a variety of sizes, necklines and colors formen andwomen, youre sure to find a Thompson Tee that fits your style. (for example, to the armpit, soles of feet, or palms) at bedtime. Steer clear of these ingredients if you've noticed you're sensitive to them. LIVESTRONG.com may earn compensation through affiliate links in this story. according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer. sweat-stopping product is So it's no wonder you see products advertised as "all natural" or "aluminum-free" all over the supermarket shelves and shopping sites. Deodorant, on the other hand, isn't designed to prevent damp underarms, but rather to put the brakes on rank smells by inhibiting odor-causing bacteria. Yes, in large quantities aluminum is dangerous. Every day of the study, both armpits were swabbed and the bacteria was analyzed. For years we've been warned about the risk of aluminum in deodorants. Suspicions around aluminum and breast cancer first arose in the 1980s, stemming from the fact that tumors are often found in the area of the breast near the armpit. So talk to a derm about a solution if you're sweating buckets. (2006). When applied, they turn your skin acidic, which makes it less attractive to bacteria. The sweat from your apocrine glands located in the armpits, groin, and the nipple area is high in protein, which is easy for bacteria to break down. An antiperspirant preparation may contain a deodorant. Don't buy into the misinformation surrounding antiperspirant and deodorant. Natural deodorants mostly do not control sweat, but do control odor with safer, non-aluminum-based ingredients. I believe that our consumers should understand what is happening to their body duringThe Stages of Detox. Mineral salts or potassium alum, occur naturally and work by forming a temporary layer on the skin, rather than plugging up the pores of the skin. YouGov: "Justin Bieber Is Selling Vegan Deodorant. STORAGE: Aluminum hydrochloride should be stored at room temperature, 20 C to These can be silicones, such as cyclomethicone, PEG-8 distearate, hydrogenated caster oil and others. Typically, mineral salts are the main odor-controlling ingredient in natural deodorants. Itches can be localized or generalized. Dr. Hartman only uses deodorant himself, and Dr. Desai says that if wetness isn't bothering you per se, it's best to opt for deodorant. What are the uses for aluminum hydrochloride? In the early 2000s, it was rumored that the active ingredient in antiperspirant, aluminum, could potentially lead to breast cancer but that is not true and this link has since been disproven. Keep reading to learn more about the differences between these two forms of odor control, and whether one is better for you than the other. But are the claims true? antiperspirant its been loosely linked to some scary diseases. hormone disrupters like BHTs, parabens and triclosan because they interfere "Deodorant is typically alcohol-based, which turns the skin's pH more acidic, making it less attractive to bacteria," Dr. Desai says. Antiperspirants and deodorants work in different ways to reduce body odor. It's also found in ant-acids, aluminum tubes used with some brands of toothpaste, baking soda, nondairy creamers, table salt, drinking water, and processed cheese. Darbre PD. Avoid applying antiperspirants to mucous membranes (mouth, nose, eyelids, genitals, anus). Note that this may not provide an exact translation in all languages, Home Whether you're tearing it up on your Peloton or relaxing at the beach on a hot summer day, your skin starts to glisten in order to bring you relief from the heat. How does deodorant prevent us from sweating under our armpits? These are better tolerated by the skin and are less likely to cause irritation or aggravation to razor burn. When they are applied to the skin and come in contact with sweat, the pH rises causing the aluminium salts to precipitate out and form a plug over the sweat glands. Hives, also called urticaria, is a raised, itchy area of skin. There is a reason it is classified as an over-the-counter drug, your body becomes dependent on it. People who are sensitive or allergic to aluminum chloride should not use it. "Sweat glands live under your skin and are connected to the outer surface by a little tube called the sweat duct," says spokesperson for the Skin of Color Society Seemal Desai, MD, president and medical director of Innovative Dermatology in Plano, Texas, and Clinical Assistant Professor of Dermatology at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. This study found a higher level of breast cancer in women who began shaving and using an antiperspirant/deodorant at an earlier age in life and more frequently used these types of products.