Deodorants are dangerous with aluminum

Deodorants are dangerous with aluminum?

01/13/2015

For years, experts have advised a cautious approach to aluminum-containing cosmetics such as deodorants or creams. These are suspected to increase the risk of diseases such as cancer and dementia. However, this danger has not yet been scientifically proven.

No reliable evidence of serious health risks
For years, an increased uptake of aluminum has been implicated in the development of diseases such as breast cancer and Alzheimer's disease. In particular, the use of aluminum-containing deodorants and other cosmetics is viewed critically. Reliable evidence that deodorants with aluminum can cause cancer or dementia does not yet exist. However, it is known that itchy skin rash or allergies can be caused in existing hypersensitivity to some ingredients. Who applies deodorant, can rely on aluminum-free products. These are according to experts, the healthier alternative, even if they do not completely close the sweat glands, in contrast to the deodorants with aluminum salts.

Aluminum-containing deodorants not on freshly shaved skin
The question of how dangerous deodorants really are with aluminum, is the question „world“ in a recent post. The Berlin Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) advised caution about a year ago due to the uncertain facts. So you should apply on freshly shaved skin only aluminum-free deodorants to keep the burden low. The industry association body care and detergent recommends its members of the „world“ According to already since 1973 the imprint: „spray directly onto the clean, dried, intact - healthy or healthy - skin!“ However, only a few print the voluntary warning on their products.

Limit value for aluminum in cosmetics required
The BfR now goes a step further and no longer demands only the voluntary printing of warnings on deodorants, but even a limit for aluminum in cosmetics in general. A study by Alain Pineau from Nantes, France, in 2012 found that skin that is slightly injured passes through much more aluminum than intact. The scientist had tested deodorant sticks, scooters and sprays on isolated skin samples and also applied the stick to damaged skin, which he previously had injured as easily as it does with every shave. He suddenly found 1.50 micrograms per square centimeter instead of 1.81 micrograms per square centimeter.

Harmful effect of aluminum
A harmful effect of aluminum has also been shown in older studies. The „world“ In 2001, researchers discovered that breast cancer often occurs in the armpit area of ​​the breast. In 2007, scientists found more aluminum in the tissue of such tumors than elsewhere. Some concluded that deodorants cause cancer, but other professionals quickly argued. The higher content is related to the denser growth of the tissue in this breast region. In addition, healthy and cancerous tissues from patients contained an equally high aluminum concentration. According to the article, only one study shows that consumers are more likely to suffer from cancer when consuming much aluminum, but two studies refute this link.

Higher aluminum concentration in samples from dementia patients
It is said that scientists have found aluminum in higher concentrations in tissue samples from dementia patients and therefore suggest that the light metal favors the age disease. It has been found in experiments with mice that the metal - in very high amounts - damages the nerve cells by the so-called tau proteins clump, similar to what happens in dementia. „When dialysis of kidney patients became popular forty, fifty years ago, the first patients died after six months“, explained toxicologist Robert Yokel of the University of Kentucky. „They died of dialysis dementia caused by aluminum in the dialysis fluid.“

Brain damaging effect
Patients with impaired renal function are particularly sensitive to the foreign substance, as the kidneys usually filter the metal salt from the blood. Despite evidence of a brain-damaging effect of aluminum Yokel admits even after decades of research: „We do not know if it causes Alzheimer's disease in small amounts. It could be that the accumulation of aluminum in the head of dementia patients is a consequence, not the cause.“ The BfR also says that it has not been proven that Alu causes Alzheimer's disease. Aluminum is also incorporated in toothpaste in the form of aluminum fluoride, albeit in very small quantities. And using aluminum foil to store food can also be problematic as aluminum-containing substances dissolve and can be converted into food. As deodorants are used on a daily basis, however, they pose a greater potential danger. (Ad)