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The better choice
The deodorant shelf is at war. Already noticed? 48, 72 or fabulous 96 (!) Hours of protection against sweat odor - the deodorants outdo themselves with the long-term effect advertised. The price for this - quite questionable, because superfluous in daily showers - Performance: high doses of aluminum salts.
The new super deodorants contain up to 30 percent significantly more aluminum chlorides than conventional ones. And this despite the fact that discomfort over the drug has been going on for a long time. Because the aluminum compounds are suspected to trigger breast cancer, increase the risk of Alzheimer's and damage the central nervous system. However, scientific studies that clearly confirm this are missing. What still remains is a very bad feeling ...
Many other unsightly effects of aluminum salts have already felt very close to skin: they can cause skin irritation and eczema.
What does aluminum do in the deodorant?
Strictly speaking, deodorants are only agents that keep bacteria at bay while sweating and cover up the bouquet with a good scent. Sweat reducing or inhibiting agents are called antiperspirant or antiperspirant. They are based on said aluminum compounds, in different concentrations. The trick: on the one hand, the aluminum salts have a pore-narrowing effect and, moreover, manage to temporarily seal the welding channels. They actually dry their armpits more reliably than conventional deodorants do. This can be desirable in stressful situations. Only: What is the health price?
Now it gets serious: Also official concerns
In any case, the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) has stated: When applying an aluminum-containing deodorant, more aluminum gets into the body daily through the skin than the current limit value allows. If the skin is injured, for example after the underarm shave, the value increases drastically again.
To change to deodorant without aluminum is therefore advisable. Even the BfR suggests this to reduce the overall aluminum load. After all, we also record traces of the element through drinking water, food, other cosmetics, certain medicines or cookware. To anyone who wants to know more about the subject, the book "Dirty little secret - The Act Alumium" by Bert Ehgartner recommended (Ennsthaler, 24.90 euros).
Aluminum in the deodorant? The pack reveals it
Aluminum salts must be listed in the ingredients . So if you want an aluminum-free deodorant, you have to look very carefully before you buy. The following are aluminum : aluminum, aluminum chloride, aluminum chlorohydrate, aluminum chlorohydrate, ACH, aluminum Chlorhydrex.
Good to know that the selection of deodorants without aluminum is getting bigger and bigger. In our picture gallery below you will find a current list .
By the way: Deo crystals are also an aluminum compound, albeit with a different one: Alum (declared as Ammonium Alum or Potassium Alum). Whether or not this holds the same dangers attributed to aluminum salts because of their other chemical properties is diverging. But if you want to play it safe, avoid deodorizing mineral stones.
