Is an antiperspirant carcinogenic?

When applied to the skin, aluminum salts precipitate and bind with dead skin cells, forming plugs that block the sweat glands and thus inhibit perspiration. Additionally, aluminum salts are bactericidal. They effectively eliminate the bacteria that are present in large quantities in the armpits, which are the source of unpleasant odors.

According to the European cosmetic regulation,the concentration of aluminum salts in deodorants should not exceed 20%, which corresponds to approximately 5% aluminum content.

In the early 2000s, asteady increase in breast canceramongincreasingly younger subjects caught the attention of researchers and authorities. The majority of tumors are located nearthearmpit, a region that is close to the lymph nodes and mammary glands, primarily exposed to deodorants.

Some scientists suspect that the aluminum salts present in certain deodorants are absorbed by the skin and cause changes in the estrogen receptors located in the breast cells.

Thus, over the past decade in Switzerland, several studies have been conducted by Professor and Oncologist André-Pascal Sappino and Dr. Stefano Mandriota. They exposed mouse mammary cells to aluminum salts (specifically AlCl3). The conclusions are unequivocal: aluminum salts promote the rapid development of sometimes aggressive tumors, forming metastases. However, one question remains: can we extrapolate the results obtained on animal subjects to humans?

Furthermore, shortly thereafter, in June 2017, an Austrian studyshowed thatwomen who used analuminum salt deodorantseveral times a day on shaved armpits before the age of 30 had adoubled risk of breast cancer.

Despite this,a report from the ANSM (National Agency for the Safety of Medicines and Health Products) published in 2019 states the following conclusion: "the existing data does not allow to establish a set of arguments in favor of a causal link between aluminum and breast cancer", but they "do not allow to definitively exclude it".

Furthermore, the SCCS (Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety in Europe) released a report in 2019 confirming the extremely low skin absorption (around 0.00052%) of aluminum salts, even on shaved or waxed skin. According to this document, the aluminum present in antiperspirants remains outside the body, preventing any toxic effect. The SCCS therefore considers that exposure to aluminum through daily applications of cosmetics containing it does not increase the body's aluminum load from other sources. The concentration of aluminum "absorbed" by the skin would be far too low to play a role in the development of breast cancer.

In conclusion, it is challenging to form an opinion on the harmfulness of aluminum salts in antiperspirants. As a precautionary principle, at Typology, we exclude these compounds from our formulas.

In March 2020, the CSSC established several dosage recommendations:

• 6.25% in non-spray antiperspirants;

• 10.60% in sprays;

• 2.65% in toothpastes;

• 0.77% in lipsticks.

It should be noted, the ANSM recommends a much lower concentration: it advises to not exceed a content of 0.6% of aluminum salts in cosmetic products.

However, it is important to clarify that these are merely guidelines: they do not result in a change to the regulations.

To detect the presence of aluminum in a deodorant, one must pay special attention to the list of ingredients displayed on the packaging or container (I.N.C.I. list). Indeed, beauty care regulations require this transparency from brands. The ingredients must be listed in descending order according to their quantity. Aluminum salts and their derivatives can be identified on the I.N.C.I. lists under the following names:

• Aluminum Chloride;

• Aluminum Chlorohydrate;

• Aluminum Chlorohydrate;

• Aluminum Sesquichlorohydrate;

• Aluminum Zirconium.

However, not all deodorants contain aluminum. Many consumers are now turning to "aluminum-free" formulas, enriched for example with baking soda or even clays such as diatomaceous earth powder.

In response to the negative publicity associated with aluminum salts, alum stone has carved out a place in the bathroom. However, it's not as natural as its name might suggest. In fact, it can sometimes be a 100% synthetic stone, manufactured from Ammonium Alum or synthetic Ammonium Sulfate, a byproduct of the nylon chemical industry. In any case, whether natural or synthetic, alum stone contains aluminum salts.

The solution, therefore, lies in the use of deodorants with clean formulas, made from natural ingredients that are environmentally friendly and health-conscious. Today, it is possible to find deodorants with healthy compositions, available in spray, roll-on, stick forms, or those that can be applied directly with a finger.

• SAPPINO A-P. & al. Aluminum chloride promotes tumorigenesis and metastasis in normal murine mammary gland epithelial cells. International Journal of Cancer (2016).

• KREWSKI D. & al. Systematic review of potential health risks posed by pharmaceutical, occupational and consumer exposures to metallic and nanoscale aluminum, aluminum oxides, aluminum hydroxide and its soluble salts. Critical Reviews in Toxicology (2014)

• Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety: SCCS/1613/19 (2019).

• Evaluation of the risk associated with the use of aluminum in cosmetic products - Information point - ANSM: National Agency for the Safety of Medicines and Health Products.