Why Antiperspirant Can Make You Sick?
Any time you apply a chemical substance to your body, be it hand lotion, shaving cream or underarm antiperspirant, you run the risk of exposure to potentially harmful toxins. In the case of antiperspirant, one of the main “chemicals” of concern is aluminum (which is actually a heavy metal, not a chemical). Aluminum is the active ingredient in most antiperspirants. It forms a temporary “plug” in your sweat duct that reduces sweating, keeping you drier (and less likely to have offensive underarm odor). Research has suggested, however, that applying these aluminum-based compounds to your underarms in the long term may be problematic. According to research published in the Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry: Clinical studies show a disproportionately high incidence of breast cancer in the upper outer quadrant of the breast together with reports of genomic instability in that area, which suggests locally applied cosmetic chemicals may play a role in the development of breast cancer.