Facts & fables about deo ingredients
We have started using less deodorant because we do not fully trust the ingredients. What about those ingredients? Is aluminum in deo harmful or not? What does an antiperspirant do with your armpit odor in the long term? In this blog answers to these questions + other interesting deodorant facts.
Facts or fables?
- Aluminum components in deodorants increase the risk of breast cancer.
- Do aluminum salts in antiperspirants cause less… or more odor?
- A natural deodorant is immediately effective if you switch from a deodorant with aluminum.
- Even if you don't suffer much from a sweat smell, using deodorant is wise
- When choosing a safe deodorant, do you pay particular attention to aluminum ingredients?
- Sodium bicarbonate in (natural) deodorants works for everyone
Does aluminum in deodorants increase the risk of breast cancer?
This has not been proven. The suspicion does exist. Aluminum components do ensure that your natural sweat secretion process is blocked. With a skin irritant. As a result, natural anti-inflammatories that are in perspiration can no longer do their job. So don't use it!
Are all aluminum components harmful?
No! There is a difference between different aluminum salts.
- Alumnium chlorohydrate or aluminum chloride is the ingredient in deodorants/antiperspirants that suppresses sweat production by blocking the sweat glands.
- Aluminum lactate is a body's own substance that locally adjusts the acidity of the skin, so that the bacteria that cause sweat odor can do their job less well. Aluminum lactate is produced during the fermentation of sugar.
Is absorption of aluminum through the skin carcinogenic?
A number of studies have shown that aluminum can be absorbed through the skin and cause changes in the estrogen receptors of breast cells. Because estrogen can stimulate the growth of cancer cells in the breast, some scientists think that aluminum in antiperspirants is a risk factor for breast cancer. So far, studies on the amount of aluminum in breast tissue and the absorption of aluminum through the skin have shown no clear link with breast cancer.
So aluminum chloride is safe?
No! Aluminum chloride is a skin irritant. And shut down the sweat glands. As a result, you block a natural body process. That there is not for nothing! Sweat cools our body when it gets too hot. And contains substances that have an anti-inflammatory effect. Take away these anti-inflammatory substances. With a substance that is also skin irritating, you are extra susceptible to inflammation.
Does aluminum in deodorants cause less or more odor?
It may sound strange, but they just provide more scent.... If you use antiperspirant deodorant daily and you suddenly stop. then there is a good chance that you will smell more. And your sweat smell will also become more acidic. This is because the substances in antiperspirants have blocked your natural body process for a long time.
With daily use of antiperspirants, the bacteria household under your armpits remains fairly stable. However, if you stop using it, there will be a huge boost in the growth of the number of armpit bacteria. Especially the less pleasant sweat odor causing bacteria colony is experiencing an enormous growth spurt.
It is also suspected that the aluminum salts in antiperspirants have more influence on your armpit bacteria that do not cause odor than on the odor-causing ones.
Is a natural deodorant immediately effective?
Not always! If you switch to a pure deo from a deo with aluminum salts and other less fine ingredients for your skin, you may have to 'lubricate' more often in the beginning. Because your natural sweat secretion process is no longer blocked, your skin has to get rid of accumulated waste (detoxification). And rebalance. For example, the MiEssence , OHM and Loveli deos have a basic effect (they de-acidify). This helps to partly counteract the negative effect of excessive odor after stopping antiperspirants. This works immediately for many people who switch. But you may also have to apply extra cream for a few days or weeks until your skin is detoxified.
Is it wise to use deodorant if you have little or no odor of sweat?
At least not if you use synthetic deodorants. These have a major influence on the bacteria household under your armpits. With a bit of bad luck, the scented ones multiply if you don't use anything for a while. But you also don't have to use pure deodorants as a precaution if you don't suffer from an annoying sweat smell.
When choosing a safe deodorant, is it only about aluminum?
No, unfortunately even more less fine ingredients are put in deos. Other less skin-friendly ingredients that are often used in deodorants are propylene glycol, DEA/TEAs, parabens and triclosan. You can read more about these ingredients via the following link: http://www.naturalcosmeticnews.com/toxic-products/dangerous-chemicals-in-deodorant-antiperspirant-a-detailed-review-of-the-chemicals-research-avoidance- tips/
Sodium bicarbonate in (natural) deodorants works for everyone
For most people yes, but for some unfortunately not. Sodium bicarbonate is an age-old remedy for bad odors. And is the basis of many pure deos. It works deacidifying. Which can't hurt many of us, because our bodies are often quite acidified. However, a number of people react to the substance and get rough, chapped skin. . This may have to do with the acidity of your skin. A solution in pure deodorants based on sodium bicarbonate can be mixed with other ingredients.
And for people who really can't stand sodium bicarbonate, there are now deodorants based on magnesium chloride or hydroxide. And ingredients such as zinc oxide (against hormone sweat odors) or zeolite (detoxified). Such as the OHM Creme deo or MiEssence Magnesium Milk deo .
* Sources : naturalcosmeticsnews.com, natural-skincare.blogspot.nl, PubMed, drArmpit.com