Is Aluminium in Deodorants bad for you? The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly!

Many people around the world use deodorant or antiperspirant every day. These two products are both effective ways to manage sweating, but they work differently:

• Deodorants deodorise, or make sweat smell “better".
• Antiperspirants help you sweat less by clogging your pit pores.

What is aluminium and why is it used in deodorants and antiperspirants? 

Deodorants and antiperspirants use aluminium as it is the active ingredient to stop you from sweating by blocking your pores - you know, the tiny openings in your skin that sweat comes out of. Generally these anti-sweating products contain many ingredients, including aluminium salts. Aluminium salts are also called aluminium chlorohydrate and these salts dissolve on your skin and “melt” into your pores. This helps plug up your pores and stop some of your sweat - which doesn't sound that great, does it? Aluminium has its place though and often when excessive sweating occurs, doctors will prescribe an antiperspirant with aluminium to help regulate the pores.
 

What are the health concerns about aluminium?

The most common concern about aluminium in antiperspirants and other skin care products is that it’s linked to breast cancers.

The Cancer Council of Australia and American Cancer Society notes that there’s no scientific evidence that using antiperspirants causes or worsens breast cancers. What is known, however, is that aluminium salts from antiperspirants may be absorbed through your skin and collect in breast tissue.

A 2018 medical study shows that too much aluminium may change how the body makes or responds to the female hormone estrogen. Changes in the endocrine (hormone) system can be harmful for your body over time.

There are valid reasons to switch to natural deodorants. Aluminium ingredients can be irritating for a lot of people, especially on sensitive underarm skin.

We think it's better to be safe than sorry so that's why we've opted to make our deodorant 100% aluminium-free. Bondi Nood's 100% natural anti-odorant is pure, safe, and effective. It contains no synthetic chemicals and is free of aluminium, parabens, propylene glycol, talc, sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), phthalates, colouring agents and fragrances. It's also vegan-friendly, cruelty-free, and handcrafted in Australia with love for the pits!