Many people have a fear of looking or smelling sweaty around others. As a result, they coat themselves with antiperspirant or deodorant each and every day. The trouble begins, however, when they choose an antiperspirant over a deodorant, since an antiperspirant inhibits one of the body's natural processes.
Although antiperspirants and deodorants are often mixed together to create a single product, they are two very different products that work in very different ways. Antiperspirants operate on the principle that if one doesn't sweat, one doesn't smell. But how is sweating controlled?...Through plugging up and disabling sweat glands and pores. Nearly all antiperspirants accomplish this task by using aluminum compounds (typically aluminum chlorohydrate or aluminum zirconium). Deodorants, on the other hand, don't prevent sweating. Instead, the alcohol, or other chemicals, kill some bacteria, and then the fragrance covers the odors caused by any bacteria that remain. Nonantiperspirant deodorant products do not typically contain aluminum compounds.
What one should understand is that there are possible links between aluminum compounds and everything from breast cancer and kidney failure to Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. But even with such looming health dangers, many people still persist in using antiperspirants and running the risk of serious problems later in life. Of course, many are unaware of the actual dangers. They think to themselves, "I can find it on a store shelf. It must be safe right?"
The concern with aluminum is really a cumulative one...or the result of cumulative toxicity. The threat that aluminum poses to one's health comes from the fact that it is used in so many products--literally thousands, from stepladders to antiperspirants. In fact, aluminum is ingested in many over-the-counter medications. It is actually one of the most common ways we come into contact with aluminum.
While there is no known need for aluminum in the human body, its presence in the body causes problems because it competes with several other elements with similar characteristics. If one is deficient in minerals such as magnesium, calcium, or iron, then aluminum is always there to take their place inside one's cells. To make this more clear, imagine building a steel bridge and having a worker add aluminum beams whenever steel isn't available. The bridge will have many weak spots that don't function properly and will likely collapse. Likewise, cells will collapse.
It might be comforting to learn that the body will try to excrete most of the aluminum that is consumed. However, any excess is deposited in various tissues including bone, brain, liver, heart, spleen, and muscle. Less comforting is the fact that if deposited in certain tissues such as the brain, aluminum is difficult to remove, resulting in long-term damage.
The bottom line is to be aware of the dangers of aluminum toxicity and weigh the risks. Using a deodorant that doesn't contain antiperspirant is a good option, especially at times when you know you won't be sweating as much.
NOTE: If you possess overactive sweat glands or live in a humid climate and feel you MUST wear antiperspirant, then wash it off in the evening. You don't need it while you're asleep. In addition, try to avoid other sources of aluminum, such as antacids to cut down your intake.
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