Scientific studies have shown that ingredients contained in deodorants and antiperspirants can be harmful not only to your skin but to the body because they are absorbed through the skin. Familiarize yourself with the chemicals that may cause harm to yours skin or your body and check the labels of deodorants before you purchase them.
Ingredients in Deodorants are Harmful to Your Skin
Some ingredients commonly used in the manufacturing of deodorants and antiperspirants are known to cause irritation to the skin. Read the fine print on the labels before purchasing to determine if you are sacrificing the health of your skin for odor control.
- Silica – skin irritant and is sometimes contaminated with crystalline quartz a carcinogenic.
- Triclosan – also a skin irritant and can cause contact dermatitis. It is stored in body fat, classified as a pesticide by the FDA as it kills healthy bacteria while it is killing the harmful bacteria. Triclosan may be contaminated with carcinogenic contaminants.
Are Deodorants Harmful to Your Skin or Your Body?
Many deodorants and antiperspirants contain ingredients which are known to have carcinogenic properties. Some of these ingredients include:
- Steareth-(any number here) – While Steareth may be a vegetable derivative it is reacted with ethylene oxide which is a known carcinogen for humans.
- Talc – the International Agency for Research on Cancer states that if talc contains asbestiform fibers it is classified as a carcinogen. Since the quantity of asbestiform fibers for cosmetic grade talc is not regulated you have no way of knowing whether the talc contained in your deodorant contains these fibers.
Are Deodorants Harmful Through Your Skin?
Anything you put on your skin can be absorbed into the body, directly into your blood stream. Therefore if your deodorant contains toxins they can be absorbed through your skin and pores directly into your body putting you at risk for those harmful effects.
Some chemicals you should avoid include:
- Parabens – Parabens include butyl, propyl, ethyl, methyl, and benzyl which are all derivatives of toluene. Toluene, a petrochemical derivative is toxic if it is inhaled or if it is swallowed. Some research has indicated that repeated exposure to this petrochemical can harm the reproductive system and various types of Parabens respond like estrogen (which increases the growth of cancer cells) when used in studies in animals or in tissue cultures.
- Aluminum chlorohydrate and any aluminum compounds – Aluminum is absorbed through the skin and it does accumulate in the body. Some researchers have speculated on the association between levels of aluminum accumulation in the body and development of Alzheimer’s disease.
- Propylene glycol – NIOSH reports propylene glycol is a neurotoxin which absorbs quickly through the skin; it can cause liver or kidney damage. Delayed allergic reactions have also been attributed to this chemical.
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