Supervisor Elham AbolFateh
Editor in Chief Mohamed Wadie

5 Harmful Chemicals Found in Your Deodorant, Antiperspirant!!


Wed 26 Aug 2020 | 06:25 AM
Pasant Elzaitony

A lot of people don’t know the difference between deodorant and antiperspirant. And the difference is simple, Deodorants protect against the bad sweat odor caused by bacteria while Antiperspirants protect against both the sweat and the bad odor by clogging the sweat ducts.

Now, here are 5 harmful chemicals found in your Deodorant and Antiperspirant.

1_ Triclosan

Triclosan is an antibacterial chemical used in many products like deodorants and antiperspirants to prevent bacterial contamination. It is used in deodorants to kill the odor causing bacteria on the skin. Triclosan is an endocrine disruptor which means it can imitate hormones or interfere with the hormonal signals. Triclosan is also associated with an increased risk of breast cancer.

2_ Parabens

Parabens are ingredients used as preservatives in deodorants and other personal care products. They are usually used in combination with one another in the personal care products. The paraben preservatives can be absorbed through the skin. Parabens may also interfere with the way your body produces and regulates hormones like estrogen. And exposure to parabens has been linked to breast cancer.

3_ Aluminum

Aluminum is a metal that is commonly used in antiperspirants that work by clogging the sweat ducts to stop the sweating. Aluminum can cause genomic instability which means it can increase the cells’ tendency to mutate. And mutations can increase the chance of tumor growth.

4_  Phthalates

Phthalates are common ingredients in deodorants and antiperspirants. These chemicals help deodorants and antiperspirants stick to your skin. They are also used to make other ingredients more flexible and to extend the life of fragrances. Phthalates disrupt the androgen function which means the way your body produces and uses testosterone which can cause early onset puberty in females.

5_ Fragrance

Fragrance’s ingredients are impossible to identify because they are protected under the trade law which makes it impossible to identify their impact on our health. However, some common fragrance ingredients have been identified like synthetic musks, phthalates and other substances of concern.

In conclusion, we should all avoid these harmful chemicals by switching to natural deodorants and antiperspirants.

By Sara Goda