Tip #1: Reconsider your Underarm Protection!

This tip is about antiperspirants and deodorants – how they work and what you may want to consider when making product choices. This information is not meant to scare you but rather increase your awareness and give you options to consider.

As you likely know, antiperspirants help block the sweat to keep you dry. Like deodorants, they also coat the skin with antiseptics so that if you do sweat the bacteria is neutralized to reduce potential odors. Some chemicals to watch out for include aluminum (in antiperspirants), parabens and fragrances (in both products).

Aluminum is used in antiperspirants because when combined with moisture it helps block the sweat glands so you stay dry. The armpit has many sweat glands and lymph nodes that may be affected. A 2011 study in the Journal of Applied Toxicology showed increased levels of aluminum in breast fluids.

‘The data presented here showing higher levels of Aluminum in Cancer NAFs (nipple aspirate fluid) than in NoCancer NAFs opens the possibility that increased levels of this metallo-estrogen (metals capable of binding to cellular estrogen receptors and then mimicking the actions of physiological estrogens) in the breast microenvironment could contribute to the development of breast cancer.’ (1)

Another study done in 2012 sited ‘Our observations do not formally identify aluminum as a breast carcinogen, but challenge the safety ascribed to its widespread use in underarm cosmetics.’(2)

Aluminium also acts like Xenoestrogen in the body and can interfere with estrogen. Estrogen is a female hormone that can cause breast cells (both normal and cancerous) to grow and divide. Exposure to estrogen has been shown to be one of the primary influencers in terms of the development of breast cancer. A 2003 study out of England sited:

'Most established risk factors for breast cancer in humans probably act through hormone-related pathways, and increased concentrations of circulating oestrogens (the terms for estrogen in England) have been found to be strongly associated with increased risk for breast cancer in postmenopausal women.’(3)

And a 2002 meta-analysis study looking at the results of nine studies on sex hormones and breast cancer cited ‘The main finding of our study was that postmenopausal women with relatively high serum concentrations of sex hormones had a roughly twofold higher risk for breast cancer than did postmenopausal women with relatively low serum concentrations of sex hormones.’(4)

Parabens are used as a preservative to help maintain the effectiveness of antiseptics, often in antiperspirants and deodorants, and can mimic or interfere with estrogen production in the body. A 2012 study showed the presence of one or more types of parabens in 99% of all breast tumour tissue samples.(5) In the study, the parabens were found to be intact which means they had not been ingested and processed by the liver but rather absorbed directly into the skin.

The parabens were not likely absorbed solely from underarm products as they are also found in many cosmetic products (lotions, sunscreens, eye make-up) that women use on a daily basis. Although the level of parabens in any given product may not be harmful, with all the personal care products you use daily there may be an accumulation that over time may become an issue.

Fragrances used in most underarm products are not natural and personal care products with fragrance are generally rated high in toxicity on the SkinDeep website.This website ranks the toxicity of thousands of consumer brand name products so it is a great source of information when you want to choose a product or check to see if what you are using is considered safe. Make sure you look closely at the description of the product as the same brand can have products with low toxicity ratings and some with higher levels.

The skin is the largest organ of protection and defense however it can also let toxins like aluminum, parabens and fragrances into your tissues. Knowing what is in your underarm protection and how it may affect your body is crucial to making informed choices.

A final thought... let your body sweat!

Everyone knows that sweating helps regulate body temperature but it also plays a role in the detoxification process. Your sweat is made up of components (mostly water, salt and traces of metabolic waste products) also found in your urine. So it is not logical to consider that blocking sweat glands and interfering with the body’s natural cleansing and cooling process through the use of antiperspirants may not be the best thing for your overall health?

Obviously personal care products are a personal choice. I like to try to avoid using chemicals if there are natural, affordable solutions available that give acceptable results. Pharmacies, health food or natural product stores carry many deodorants without toxic chemicals and artificial fragrances. Keeping in mind that moderation is key, you may want an antiperspirant around the house to use once in awhile when it is really important for you to not sweat (like when you are giving a big presentation). Otherwise the natural alternatives coupled with increased water consumption and avoiding processed foods should keep you feeling fresh and give you greater peace of mind.

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Blessings,
Jackie