Deodorants work without aluminum

Stiftung Warentest: Some deodorant manufacturers deceive consumers

05/23/2014

Deodorants do not require aluminum to reliably protect against the smell of sweat. This is indicated by Stiftung Warentest. The consumer advocates examined 24 underarm sprays for women. Most tested deodorants cut with the note „Well“ or „satisfying“ from. Only two products failed and failed in the test. The consumer advocates also took a closer look at the product names of the deodorants. It turned out that some deodorant manufacturers are not very precise with the information on the packaging.

Do not apply deodorant with aluminum on freshly shaved skin
Twelve deodorants were with „Well“, four products with „satisfying“, six armpit sprays with „sufficient“ and two antiperspirants with „inadequate“ according to the judgment of Stiftung Warentest. With that, most deodorants performed satisfactorily. Only „Ombia Body Deospray Exotic Dream "by Aldi Süd as well „Sebamed Balsam Deo Senstitive "could not protect against sweat odor for 24 hours and therefore fell through with the consumer advocates.

13 of the underarm sprays tested contained aluminum chlorohydrate. The aluminum salt is intended to cause the deodorant, it not only prevents sweat odor but also has an antiperspirant, ie sweat-reducing effect by the salts narrow the sweat glands for a certain time and thus reduce sweat production. In view of numerous media reports pointing to a harmful effect of the substance, the addition of aluminum in the deodorant has fallen into disrepute. „Consumers fear that aluminum is absorbed by the body and causes permanent damage, such as breast cancer or Alzheimer's. Sufficient scientific evidence, the health impairments of aluminum-containing cosmetics clearly support or disprove, there is not yet“ writes Stiftung Warentest on their website. However, the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) recently issued a recommendation to reduce aluminum intake for consumers, since deodorants could possibly cause health problems. The BfR assumed that antiperspirants usually contain about 20 percent aluminum chlorohydrate. None of the tested products reached this value. The highest content of aluminum chlorohydrate was the „Kult Dry Control Deodorant“ from Aldi (North) with 7.4 percent. „Consumers who use these sprays on healthy skin once a day are not expected to be injured“, admitted Dr. Ariane Lenzner from the safety group of products without food contact at the BfR regarding the deodorants examined by Stiftung Warentest. However, aluminum-containing deodorants should not be used immediately after shaving. „Shaving can result in tiny skin injuries that could cause more aluminum to enter the body“, emphasizes Lenzner.

Product labeling is misleading for many deodorants
Many manufacturers use the name „antiperspirant“ on the product packaging. This is an indication of aluminum chlorohydrate. Unfortunately, this label is not legally binding. Therefore, it often happens that aluminum-containing products are declared as normal deodorants. Actually, only aluminum free deodorants should be used „Deodorant spray "or „Deospray“ be designated. As Stiftung Warentest reported, but was in each case a product tested by „dm / Balea "and from „Fenjal“ No indication in the declaration on aluminum. Nevertheless, both deodorants contain „Aluminum Chlorohydrate“ according to the list of ingredients. Consumers who want to buy an aluminum-free underarm spray should therefore always pay attention to the ingredients.

Four in the test with the grade „Well“ evaluated products did not contain aluminum: „CD Deospray water lily“, „Kult Clear Touch Deodorant“ from Aldi North, „Nivea Deodorant Fresh Natural Ocean Extracts“ and „Lavera Basis Sensitive Deodorant Spray with Organic Hamamelis & Organic Rose Essence“. The remaining aluminum-free deodorants assessed Stiftung Warentest as „satisfying“.

In addition to aluminum, fragrances are also partially criticized because they can cause allergic reactions. Consumer advocates advise people who suffer from skin irritation in the armpits to visit a dermatologist to clarify the cause of the allergy. „It is most likely that reactions in the underarm area are caused by fragrances“, explains Professor dr. Axel Schnuch, Dermatologist at the University of Göttingen. In most cases, the skin irritation quickly decreases when the allergy-causing substance is no longer used. Meanwhile, deodorants without the addition of fragrances are available.