How to Choose a Deodorant and What Substances to Avoid in It?

The first deodorant that killed odor-causing bacteria was called Mum and was trademarked in 1888. It was a waxy cream in a metal tin that used zinc oxide to combat bad breath. In those days, deodorant was a relatively new idea, as most women simply used perfume to smell fresh. Deodorant and antiperspirant are two widely used cosmetic products for both men and women. Many people use these products every day. A product that is used on a daily basis should be carefully selected, because long-term use of a low-quality product can have consequences for both skin and health. People often look for deodorants that do not contain aluminum salts. Should aluminum salt really be avoided? How to choose a deodorant? We will discuss everything in this article.

Aluminum salt

Aluminum salts are obtained from aluminum, a common element on earth. Aluminum occurs naturally in soil and water and is present in many foods.

Aluminum is the third most abundant element in the Earth's crust and occurs naturally in the environment, food and drinking water.

The use of these salts is quite wide: in processed food products, aluminum foils, cooking utensils and baking trays, cosmetic products (including antiperspirants, sun creams, toothpaste). Also for medicines (antacid preparations). Only about 0.1% of aluminum taken orally is absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract and becomes bioavailable.

Over-the-counter forms contain low concentrations of various types of aluminum salts, such as:

• aluminum zirconia
• aluminum chlorohydrate
• aluminum chloride

Aluminum salts are used as adjuvants in vaccines and hyposensitization preparations. Adsorption of antigens on poorly soluble aluminum hydroxide increases the immunological effect. in 2014 The Paul-Ehrlich Institute "classified the contribution of treatment with aluminum-containing therapeutic allergens to the lifetime accumulation of aluminum in the body relative to exposure to aluminum from other sources" and considered it to be acceptable given the therapeutic benefit.

Side effects of aluminum salts

When it comes to aluminum salts in deodorants or antiperspirants, the most common question is, can aluminum salts cause breast cancer?

Any association between deodorant and breast cancer may be due to xenoestrogens. Some of the most common xenoestrogens are plastics, pesticides, and parabens. " Xenoestrogens are chemicals that can act like estrogen in the body, causing estrogen dominance and increasing the risk of breast cancer. " Estrogen is a female hormone that causes breast cells (both normal and cancerous) to grow. Some factors that increase the effect of estrogen on the body (for example, childlessness, late menopause, obesity, etc.) are associated with an increased risk of breast cancer.

However, the American Cancer Society says there is currently no evidence that parabens increase the risk of breast cancer, even though they can be absorbed through the skin. Although aluminum is absorbed through the skin, the rate of penetration of aluminum chlorohydrate after dermal application of antiperspirants is very low - about 0.01% ( and up to 0.06% in pre-damaged skin. To date, there are no epidemiological studies on internal exposure due to the use of antiperspirants after underarm shaving or the use of hair removal products.

In the study, women without breast cancer used antiperspirants more than those who did. No association between antiperspirant use and breast cancer has been found.

( Klotz K, Weistenhöfer W, Neff F, Hartwig A, van Thriel C, Drexler H. The Health Effects of Aluminum Exposure.)

Increased aluminum content  observed in the nipple aspirate fluid of breast cancer patients, as well as in the analysis of malignantly changed breast tissue. However, it does not show that aluminum is a cause of tumors, on the contrary, it, like other minerals, accumulates more in tumor tissue.  In addition to aluminum, significant increases in other minerals (eg, Cd and Ni, as well as Br, Ca, Cl, Co, Cs, Fe, K, Mn, Na, Rb, and Zn) were observed in human breast tumor tissue samples.

Are aluminum salts linked to Alzheimer's disease?

Aluminum can cause (at extremely high exposure) specific encephalopathy with dementia syndrome. This aluminum encephalopathy is a separate disease entity and is not the same as dementia of the Alzheimer type.

An increased concentration of aluminum can be detected in the brains of Alzheimer's patients. However, it is not clear whether aluminum is the cause of this change or whether there is a secondary, independent change due to Alzheimer's pathology. Epidemiological studies provide only very dubious evidence of a link between aluminum exposure and Alzheimer's disease.

There is no unequivocal research that aluminum is the main cause of these diseases.

What is the difference between antiperspirant and deodorant?

Deodorant masks the unpleasant smell, and antiperspirant reduces the amount of sweating. Both products work where they are applied to the body, usually the underarms. Deodorant and antiperspirant are often combined into one product.

Deodorants protect against unpleasant odor in two ways. The first is its antimicrobial properties, which reduce the number of odor-causing bacteria. The second is fragrances that mask the resulting smell.

Meanwhile, antiperspirants block  the body's eccrine glands that produce sweat. This is usually done using an aluminum-based component.

Adverse effects of deodorants and antiperspirants:

Using deodorant or antiperspirant with added fragrances increases the risk of developing allergic contact dermatitis (ACD).  Aluminum and aluminum salts such as aluminum sulfate, aluminum acetate, and aluminum chloride hexahydrate rarely cause allergic contact dermatitis.  According to one study, 0.9% of adults and 5.1% of children are allergic to aluminum.  Aluminum is an allergen that is not often tested for in most patch testing clinics.

Substances to avoid in deodorants and antiperspirants:

• Parabens: Parabens, a common man-made chemical preservative in personal care products, have been linked to breast cancer. It is also an environmental concern: traces of parabens have been found in many water sources.
• Triclosan: This chemical has antimicrobial properties and is commonly used in many water-based personal care products. The concern is that triclosan is an endocrine disruptor, irritant and pollutant. FDA 2016 banned its use in antibacterial soap products.
• Phthalates: These colorless, odorless chemicals are used in plastics and personal care products, and are banned in cosmetics in the EU. There is evidence that they can negatively affect the reproductive health of men and women.
• Propylene Glycol: This petroleum-derived viscous liquid helps retain moisture in products and is also used to create artificial fog in theater productions (not the best thing to breathe in, in our opinion!). It is generally recognized as safe, but can cause irritation in people with sensitive skin or eczema.
• Diethanolamine: It may also be listed as DEA on labels and is considered a carcinogenic product. It increases the risk of cancer.
• Butane and isobutane: These are the gases that help propel aerosol spray deodorants from their cans. Their use is restricted in the United Kingdom and Canada because of their association with cancer and reproductive toxicity.

Although there are no clear studies on the link between aluminum salts and breast cancer, we believe that it is worth choosing deodorants without aluminum salts, which can cause contact dermatitis among other things. At Carolinashop.lt you can find the following carefully selected deodorants:

SALT & STONE NATURAL GEL DEODORANT

• The deodorant has a gel texture, which means that the clothes are not smeared.
• The composition contains probiotics, which not only do not ultralize the smell, but also help to maintain a healthy microflora of the skin.
• Pleasant, non-irritating smell.

SALT & STONE NATURAL DEODORANT

• Hyaluronic acid, shea butter, sunflower seed oil, moisturizes and nourishes the skin without drying it out.
• Probiotics not only neutralize odor, but also help maintain healthy skin microflora.
• Deodorant with a gel/cream texture, so it is stronger and works for 24 hours.
• Contains no alcohol, phthalates, aluminum or parabens.
• Pleasant, non-irritating smell.

ECO BY SONYA NATURAL ECOLOGICAL DEODORANT

• It does not block the sweat glands, and the lemongrass in the composition detoxifies the skin.
• Without synthetic ingredients, dyes, aluminum, phthalates, formaldehyde.
• Pleasantly applied to the skin, lemongrass gives a feeling of freshness.

The article was prepared by carolinashop.lt beautician Uršulė Grakauskaitė.