Naked Science Forum

Non Life Sciences => Chemistry => Topic started by: Ruth on 23/01/2008 20:53:36

Title: Why do deodourants contain aluminium?
Post by: Ruth on 23/01/2008 20:53:36

Can anyone tell me why we have to have aluminium in deodorants and anti perspirants?
Even the ones in health shops are full of the stuff. I do not want to use it. 

Title: Re: Why do deodourants contain aluminium?
Post by: Bored chemist on 24/01/2008 20:45:52

There's aluminium in them because aluminium compounds work well as anti perspirants.
Why don't you want to use it, do you have an alergy?

Title: Re: Why do deodourants contain aluminium?
Post by: chris on 25/01/2008 13:02:00

Here's a link to an answer I gave to a related question on this topic, looking at how antiperspirants work:

http://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/index.php?topic=7062.msg73130#msg73130

Chris

Title: Re: Why do deodourants contain aluminium?
Post by: Exodus on 25/01/2008 15:42:43

Quote from: Bored chemist on 24/01/2008 20:45:52

There's aluminium in them because aluminium compounds work well as anti perspirants.
Why don't you want to use it, do you have an alergy?

As far as i'm aware, they did studies on it a few years back primarily to look for links with breast cancer, don't quote me on it but i'm pretty certain that they found no link between aluminium based anti perspirants and cancer.

Title: Re: Why do deodourants contain aluminium?
Post by: Soul Surfer on 25/01/2008 16:04:07

I agree I don't like most of the aluminium compounds that are in antiperspirant deodorants but I have found on that works and that just uses a saturated water solution of ammonium alum.  True this contains aluminium compounds but works slightly differently

Title: Re: Why do deodourants contain aluminium?
Post by: Ruth on 08/03/2008 08:14:26

I am sensitive to lots of things. I would prefer not to use anything containing alumimium near my lymph glands.
The link with aluminium and alzhiemers concerns me.
I now use an alternative deodorant and white vinegar. It works if you dont mind the faint odour of fish n chips!
Ruth.

Title: Re: Why do deodourants contain aluminium?
Post by: Carolyn on 09/03/2008 01:37:19

My sons Sensei announced to the karate class one night that using a spray bottle of alcohol worked better and longer than deodorants or antiperspirants.  Is this true?  Would alcohol be too harsh on sensitive underarm skin?

I haven't let him try this because if it doesn't work, the ride home after he spends 2 hard hours in karate class would be unbearable! [xx(]

Title: Re: Why do deodourants contain aluminium?
Post by: Bored chemist on 09/03/2008 18:51:07

Alcohol evaporates quite quickly. After a while the alcohol would no longer be there. It's difficult to see it working once it isn't there.

Title: Re: Why do deodourants contain aluminium?
Post by: Professor Gaarder on 09/03/2008 20:07:02

YAY! Metal armpits! I'm the tinman!

But yea, everything has really already been said. Aluminum is non-combustive, assuming you aren't doing a track meet inside a blast furnace. Hence, aluminum is beter than Ethyl.