Generally people apply antiperspirants to keep their armpits dry and fragrant. Antiperspirants are chemicals that can reduce sweat production. This substance is found in many underarm fragrance products.
However, rumors spread that the use of antiperspirants is related to various conditions, such as allergies, cancer, and even Alzheimer's disease. Is that right?
Antiperspirant Function and Difference with Deodorant
Some people think that antiperspirants and deodorants are the same product, even though both of them have different contents and functions.
Antiperspirants contain substances that can clog sweat glands so that sweat production will be reduced, while deodorants contain ingredients that can eliminate body odor due to bacterial growth from sweat. In addition, antiperspirants are classified as drugs and deodorants, including cosmetic products.
Although they are two different substances, most of the underarm fragrance products on the market are a combination of these two substances. However, there are also products that have only one ingredient.
Facts on Antiperspirant and Deodorant Use on Health Issues
Usually antiperspirant or deodorant products don't only consist of these two substances. A number of other ingredients, such as parabens (as preservatives), lanolin (as a moisturizer), propylene glycol or other alcohol compounds (as solvents and emulsifiers), and fragrances, are also contained therein.
Following are some of the health issues associated with the use of antiperspirants and their facts:
1. Allergic reaction
Allergic reactions can occur in some people after the use of antiperspirants and deodorants. This is characterized by itching, red rashes or bumps on the armpits. Allergies usually arise due to the use of products that contain fragrances.
If you experience these symptoms, stop using the product and consult a doctor. The doctor can give a cream or ointment with corticosteroid content to relieve allergic reactions. To prevent this, choose products without added fragrances and labeled "hypoallergenic" (does not cause allergies).
2. Cancer
The use of antiperspirants every day is considered to be able to make aluminum content and parabens absorb into the skin and trigger breast cancer.
This suspicion arises because the two substances are similar to estrogen. Estrogen is one of the hormones that can trigger the development of breast cancer. What's more, aluminum compounds are also expected to react directly with breast tissue.
Even so, until now, there has been no research that can prove the relationship between the use of antiperspirants or deodorants with the development of breast cancer.
3. Alzheimer's disease
Aluminum salts, such as aluminum chloride and aluminum zirconium, are active ingredients in antiperspirants. This content is thought to increase the risk of Alzheimer's disease.
These allegations still need further investigation. Because although in several studies found an increase in the concentration of aluminum in the brains of Alzheimer's sufferers, but the relationship between aluminum exposure and the emergence of Alzheimer's disease can not be ascertained.
4. Kidney disease
Patients with stage 4 or 5 chronic kidney disorders need to consult with a doctor before using antiperspirant products. This is because at that stage, the kidneys can no longer filter aluminum optimally. So that as much as possible the use of products containing aluminum is avoided.
Some health problems that are suspected to arise due to the use of antiperspirant and deodorant products have not been proven to be true and still need further research.
If you are still worried, choose antiperspirant and deodorant products that are free of aluminum and parabens. If excessive sweating and body odor are getting annoying or if you have health problems that you can't use antiperspirant products, consult your doctor to get the right treatment.
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