By John Hand –
Body odor is natural and has always been part of the human condition. The Cleveland Clinic explains that when perspiration emits from sweat glands and spreads to the skin, it interacts with bacteria and produces an odor. This mix creates a stink—both emotionally and physically. Fortunately, quelling body smells is possible through proper hygiene and body care routines that help reduce or neutralize these odors.
Since Americans like to smell good, it is not surprising that almost 300 million Americans use deodorants or antiperspirants regularly to fight body odor. This interest in eliminating the burden of smelling bad has produced a $6 billion market for deodorants and antiperspirants in the United States alone.
Lots of people have been locked into relying on the same products for years. Now, however, it is becoming more common for people to switch to natural deodorants because they are thought to be healthier because they expose people to fewer chemicals. Does this switch make sense? Well, natural deodorants do rely on the use of plant-based ingredients. Yet traditional deodorants rarely use harmful ingredients in the first place, making their health risk minimal at worst.
One proviso in this hunt for natural remedies to fight body order. It is important to distinguish the difference between deodorants and antiperspirants. Deodorants only mask odor, while antiperspirants stop sweat.
Antiperspirants stop sweat by relying on aluminum-based compounds to block pores. It has been suggested that this process can create problems because it allows aluminum to be absorbed into one’s body, raising the risk of breast cancer. Evidence supporting this concern is minimal at best.
The American Cancer Society, for example, has found no link between aluminum and breast cancer. Furthermore, one case-controlled study examined approximately 800 women and found no link between breast cancer and antiperspirant use or deodorant use. There is also no research to prove that aluminum is absorbed through the skin.
Aluminum has also been linked to Alzheimer’s disease, but there is a lack of studies proving this theory to be true. In 2015, for example, members of the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety for the European Commission were unable to provide a risk assessment for aluminum because there was a lack of evidence showing that aluminum in cosmetic products causes harm.
Another concern tied to antiperspirants is that they prevent the body from sweating out cancerous toxins. This theory doesn’t hold water either because the purpose of sweating is to help the body cool down, not to release toxins. Ultimately, most cancer-causing substances leave the body through the kidneys and liver.
Deodorants on the other hand have been around since the late 19th Century when they were first patented. Their goal was to quell smells by containing or killing bacteria. Because they only aim to block odor, deodorants don’t use aluminum, which makes them even less of a concern.
Natural deodorants promote their “wellbeing” credentials by using ingredients like baking soda, tapioca starch and plant-based propylene glycol to kill bacteria. These natural ingredients won’t be found in a traditional deodorant. But that shouldn’t raise any alarms for users of traditional deodorants because there is no scientific evidence that there are harmful ingredients in traditional products.
While some may still want to embrace natural deodorants, LiveStrong.com notes it can take time for a person to adjust to natural deodorants. Ultimately, it may be a few weeks before these deodorants prevent smells. Another consideration is that natural deodorants can cause irritation to those with sensitive skin.
The unfounded health stink about traditional deodorants and antiperspirants traces back more than 30 years to an email hoax that warned of a direct link between cancer and deodorant. Since then, science has allayed this and other concerns, proving that any deodorants or antiperspirants present no health risks.
