Potential Dangers of Deodorant

 

I realize that this may sound a bit extreme but I have just started making my own deodorant. It’s actually really easy, it smells great and works surprisingly well. For a couple years I’ve been buying various “natural” brands of deodorant without much success. By the end of most days I smell a little…gross, since the switch I have not smelled a trace of B.O.  I’m 2 weeks into it, and I am loving my new homemade deodorant.

I used to keep some “regular” deodorant on hand for times when I thought I might need the extra protection, but I emptied it out and added my new homemade version.

Our skin is the largest organ on our body and as a result absorbs some of what we put on it. I’m not going to specify a certain percentage because I found a lot of differing information out there somewhere between 50% to 100% of what we put on our skin is absorbed into our body and into our bloodstream, depending on type of product and location of application (60% was a common amount that I saw). Regardless of how much, we know our skin absorbs some portion of what we put on it.

 Common Ingredients

The most common ingredient in regular deodorant and the one that causes the most concern is Aluminum which basically plugs up your sweat glands so you don’t sweat. It has been linked to breast cancer in women and prostate cancer in men and an increased risk for Alzheimer’s Disease. Since deodorant is applied to such a close area as the breast (and the breast tissue extends up towards the arm pit) some research suggests that increased use of deodorant has been linked to a rise in breast cancer. Here is an excerpt I found from an article on www.cancer.gov.

“Some research suggests that aluminum-based compounds, which are applied frequently and left on the skin near the breast, may be absorbed by the skin and cause estrogen-like (hormonal) effects (3). Because estrogen has the ability to promote the growth of breast cancer cells, some scientists have suggested that the aluminum-based compounds in antiperspirants may contribute to the development of breast cancer (3).” http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/AP-Deo

Another excerpt I found interesting was this from the same website.

“Findings from a different study examining the frequency of underarm shaving and antiperspirant/deodorant use among 437 breast cancer survivors were released in 2003 (7). This study found that the age of breast cancer diagnosis was significantly earlier in women who used these products and shaved their underarms more frequently. Furthermore, women who began both of these underarm hygiene habits before 16 years of age were diagnosed with breast cancer at an earlier age than those who began these habits later. While these results suggest that underarm shaving with the use of antiperspirants/deodorants may be related to breast cancer, it does not demonstrate a conclusive link between these underarm hygiene habits and breast cancer.”

Another ingredient in my old deodorant is dipropylene glycol which is another controversial ingredient for a number of reasons. It’s a petroleum based ingredient that is basically a cheap way to make different body care products slick and easy to apply.

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (or NIOSH) is the U.S. federal agency responsible for conducting research and making recommendations for the prevention of work-related injury and illness. NIOSH is part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

They (NIOSH) say that dipropylene glycol is a neurotoxin and may cause liver and kidney damage. In the NIOSH pocket guide for chemical hazards (link below) you can read about this chemical and they state in the first aid section that if this comes in contact with skin to immediately wash it off… Now, I would think that the very low amounts that are included in deodorant wouldn’t be too much to worry about but when it is something that is applied to your skin day after day and year after year I wonder a bit about the safety of it all. I also learned that dipropylene glycol is an ingredient in commercial fog fluid used in the entertainment industry for smoke and fog machines.

Another ingredient on the list is dimethicone. Basically it makes the top layer of your skin feel smooth but is really just providing a greasy top coat that keeps everything in. It clogs pores and a few sites claimed that it has tumor causing properties. The Environment Working Group (www.ewg.org) even says that it is a health hazard. It’s one of several types of silicon oil and is used in various products from contact lenses, shampoo, cosmetics, treating head lice, defoaming agents, to process fast food items such as McDonald’s Chicken Nuggets and Wendy’s French Fries…yum.

Conclusion

There are other ingredients listed on the label but I could go on forever dissecting each individual one, but I won’t. My conclusion is this. The skin absorbs some portion of what we put on it. There are many potentially harmful ingredients in the majority of our body care products. The armpit is close to the breast tissue. There has been a “link” between deodorant and breast cancer. To me, it’s worth making my own.

I’m telling you this deodorant works way better than any other “natural” deodorant I have ever used plus it’s way cheaper and you can mix it up so fast, it makes enough to fill a little over 2 old deodorant containers, which will last a while. You can also store it in a glass jar or plastic container if you want to apply it with your fingers. If you’re using the deodorant stick method don’t swipe the deodorant back and forth a bunch of times over your armpit, 1 or 2 swipes is ample, anymore will cause the deodorant to melt since the coconut oil turns to liquid above 75 degrees. It keeps a nice consistency in my bathroom. It has a lovely texture as well, it isn’t all sticky and wet feeling, it’s smooth and powdery. This recipe is posted on many blogs out there in varying amounts but all are very similar.

Homemade Deodorant

¼ c. baking soda
¼ c. cornstarch
4-6 T. coconut oil
3-5 drops lavender essential oil (You can purchase pure essential oils here)

1. Mix baking soda and cornstarch in a small bowl, then add essential oil and coconut oil a tablespoon at a time until ingredients come together.

2. Use your fingers to press into an old deodorant container or warm for a few seconds in the microwave and pour into the container.

Resources and Recommended Reading:

http://www.dermagenics.com/why-ingredients-matter.html
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/skin/
http://www.dyingtolookgood.com/deodorant_top7.html
http://www.naturalnews.com/033364_deodorants_chemical_ingredients.html

Dangerous Chemicals in Deodorant & Antiperspirant: A Detailed Review of the Chemicals, Research & Avoidance Tips