You will come across many alternative deodorants that mention that they are completely aluminum-free. This raises a very important question: Do I really need to avoid using aluminum-containing deodorants?
The short answer to this question is no unless you have a history of aluminum allergy.
Dr. Susan Massick, a dermatologist at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, explained that many studies into aluminum antiperspirants have suggested that there is no real problem in using them.
She said, “The claim that aluminum-containing antiperspirants cause cancer is a myth that has been debunked in the minds of doctors and scientists.”
From early 2000s, there have been links suggesting that alluvium antiperspirants caused cancer. Some studies have shown that if you use a lot of deodorants containing aluminum to some cells in a petri dish, there is a risk of DNA damage to those cells.
Some experts suggested that the aluminum is the main culprit and that deodorants containing aluminum might be causing breast cancer in women.
The issue is there are many things that can cause DNA damage to cells in petri dishes, which do not actually cause cancer.
Researchers started diving deep into the world of deodorants to get to the bottom of this problem. Their findings debunked the myth that women who use antiperspirants containing aluminum get breast cancer, noted Dr. Massick. The findings were published in the Journal of Critical Reviews in Toxicology in 2014.
Dr. Massick examined all the current research and found no strong evidence that aluminum-based antiperspirants cause any specific damage to our health.
Deodorant makers use aluminum in antiperspirants because it has the ability to block the sweat ducts; however, it does not penetrate deeper into the skin.
She said, “For a compound to cause cancer, a mechanism would likely be related to absorption into the bloodstream at a concentration high enough to cause toxicity, and that is not likely with a topical compound applied only to the [armpit].”
She meant that a chemical or toxic element has to actually enter the body in larger doses to cause cancer and a tiny amount of aluminum in the armpit will not cause any harm.
Researchers have found that industrial workers are at a greater risk of developing aluminum-related cancers because they work in conditions with a higher concentration of aluminum. Dr. Massick said, “Our skin is the mighty barrier to the outside world, so it keeps us safe.” The only exception, she explained, are people with aluminum allergy. She said, “For these patients, I would recommend alternative options, such as glycopyrrolate and Botox injections,”
