What is so bad with antiperspirants? They certainly seem to play a very crucial role in our lives. The potentially worrying ingredient in antiperspirants is aluminum, which temporarily plugs sweat ducts; this is why anitperspirants are so effective at stopping underarm sweat. There is some evidence that aluminum may cause estrogen-like hormonal effects which have been linked to breast cancer.
According to the National Cancer Institute's web-site there is no conclusive evidence linking antiperspirant use and the development of breast cancer. Research on this topic has produced mixed results- some studies have found that age of onset of breast cancer was earlier in women who reported using antiperspirants and shaving their underarms more frequently (I believe it is thought that shaving and then applying antiperspirants can be bad because the ingredients can permeate the skin more easily due to little cuts in the skin). Women who reported shaving and applying antiperspirants before age 16 were diagnosed with breast cancer at an earlier age. However, other studies found no associations. You can read more on the NCI's web-site: http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/AP-Deo which also lists the references for the studies I mentioned.
For another point of view, you can check out this website: http://naturalmedicine.suite101.com/article.cfm/aluminum_in_deodorant or this one: http://www.globalhealingcenter.com/natural-health/aluminum-and-breast-cancer/. It definitely seems like the jury is still out on this one. More research is needed to better understand the effects of aluminum/antiperspirant use.
For me, I've gone back and forth. I really have trouble sticking to a natural deodorant regimen because there really is a big difference in the amount of sweat, especially in the hot St. Louis summer. I try to use a combo of Burt's Bees sage oil deodorant spray and Jason natural deodorant. I really think that layering does help; as does reapplying throughout the day. On days when I need something stronger, I use Dove solid deodorant, which has the lowest amount of aluminum I've seen at 14.8%. The thought I keep coming back to is that our perspiration is a way for toxins to leave our body and I don't like the idea of aluminum plugging my pores so that my toxin-filled sweat can't escape. But I acknowledge that the research is not conclusive at this point and that the idea of being sweaty all the time is also unappealing! I would say that if you are at all concerned you should avoid applying antiperspirants after shaving your underarms and maybe switch to a deodorant with a lower aluminum content. If you buy the argument for avoiding antiperspirants all together, I recommend trying a few different brands and perhaps layering them. Also, be warned that it is an adjustment- but if you stick with it, I do think your body adjusts after awhile and starts producing less sweat. That could just be my imagination though!
