worried about the safety of antiperspirants? don't sweat it

recent recalls on aerosol deodorants and antiperspirants may have you rethinking your armpit strategy, but the experts say body odour products aren't worth perspiring over.

by nick beare

published apr 07, 2022

4 minute read

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4 minute read

join the conversation

worried about the safety of antiperspirants? don't sweat it

many drugstore brands of antiperspirant are available in different strengths to choose from based on your own needs. getty

using deodorant or antiperspirant is part of the morning routine for many canadians, and while it sounds simple enough — just choose one! — recent recalls and ongoing debates around whether or not the stuff we put on our pits contain cancer-causing chemicals have a lot of use wondering what to use, what works, and yikes, whether deodorant or antiperspirant is even necessary.

deodorant versus antiperspirant

while sweat itself doesn’t have a smell, when it combines with the bacteria on your skin mixes, it causes an odour. deodorant masks odour, while antiperspirant contains aluminum-based ingredients that reduce how much you perspire by blocking your body’s sweat — eccrine — glands. and while it doesn’t take much online searching to find dozens of articles claiming a possible link between the aluminum and cancer, these concerns are unfounded and largely based on speculation from a couple studies. in fact, according to the american cancer society, while some scientists have suggested that using the aluminum-based compounds in antiperspirants may be a risk factor for the development of breast cancer, there is no clear link between the two.

the natural deodorant industry has jumped all over these negative perceptions of antiperspirants, making aluminum-free, paraben-free products ubiquitous as a result. still, even these “natural” products have issues — they can cause skin irritation, like allergic rashes.

are deodorants and antiperspirants safe?

the government of canada has issued two separate recalls within the last six months for aerosol spray deodorants. one recall was for old spice and secret products, the other recall was for brut, and both were the result of the product containing benzene, a human carcinogen that can “result in cancers including leukemia and blood cancer of the bone marrow and blood disorders which can be life- threatening,” according to the statement. unilever also voluntarily recalled two types of spray deodorant for the same reason, saying in a release that, “while benzene is not an ingredient in any of the recalled products, the review showed that unexpected levels of benzene came from the propellant that sprays the product out of the can.”

but that doesn’t mean that non-aerosol body odour products are necessarily safer. the independent lab behind the recalls, valisure, also found higher levels of benzene powders and sticks as well. and though it’s unclear how worried consumers should be — it seems that the fact that a toxic chemical is present at all in personal care products is more of a government oversight issue, most experts say that generally, antiperspirants and deodorants are safe. but if you are concerned, it may be worthwhile to check the ingredients on the products you use and learn about the ingredients that you should avoid. made safe, a u.s.-based non-profit organization that provides certification for non-toxic products, has a list of some ingredients of concern that may show up in your deodorant or antiperspirant.

should you use deodorant or antiperspirant?

if your goal is to control sweating, then an antiperspirant is a good choice. but if you’re looking to take the edge off of odour and smell good, deodorant may be enough for you. when comes to what you put on your pits, it really depends on what works.

if you are an excessive sweater, many drugstore brands of antiperspirant are available in different strengths to choose from based on your own needs — if those don’t work, ask your doctor about getting a prescription antiperspirant.

excessive sweating

let’s talk a little about sweating too much. sweating is the body’s way of keeping us cool. so, when we overheat whether through exercise, stress, the temperature outside or from eating a particularly spicy meal, our body pumps sweat through our eccrine glands and onto the surface of our skin. when that liquid evaporates, you feel cooler.

for some people though, that process happens more often than it should — things like sweating through your clothes, or pooling under your arms and on your back more than ‘normal,’ you might have one of two kinds of conditions called hyperhidrosis, also known as excessive sweating. it’s a condition that affects around three per cent of canadians, according to the canadian dermatology association.

focal or primary hyperhidrosis is responsible for most cases of excessive sweating. focal hyperhidrosis is a hereditary condition that usually affects the hands, feet, head and armpits, usually starts before the age of 25, and is brought on by the usual causes of sweating: heat, certain acidic or spicy foods, stress, anxiety and exercise.

the other kind of hyperhidrosis, generalized hyperhidrosis, occurs because of an underlying health issue, according to the canadian dermatology association, such as menopause, obesity, endocrine disorders and nerve damage. infections, like tuberculosis, malignancies such as hodgkin disease and some metabolic disorders (hyperthyroidism, diabetes, hyperglycemia, gout) can also cause this type of hyperhidrosis.

treating hyperhidrosis

while people with hyperhidrosis, particularly focal hyperhidrosis, may be less likely to see a doctor for it as they may find it embarrassing or difficult to discuss, it’s important to seek help if sweating is affecting your quality of life. not only can this condition affect self-esteem and confidence, there are also physical impacts beyond the obvious, such as itching and inflammation of the skin, as well as problems with body odour.

treating hyperhidrosis starts with addressing the underlying health condition causing it. for focal hyperhidrosis, a doctor may prescribe a strong antiperspirant, creams, and nerve-blocking medications that reduce sweating. the mayo clinic also includes antidepressant medications and botox injections as other possible treatments for excessive sweating. surgery may also be an option — removing the sweat glands (if sweating happens just in your armpits) or nerve surgery (if the sweating happens on your hands.

for generalized hyperhidrosis, treating the underlying health condition often solves the issue without needing to treat the sweating specifically.

nick beare is a toronto-based writer.

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worried about the safety of antiperspirants? don't sweat it