Aluminum in Antiperspirant: Should You Be Concerned?

It’s only natural to be curious about what’s inside a product many of us use every day. If you’ve gone down the rabbit hole of googling “Is aluminum in antiperspirant bad for me?”, you’ve likely encountered a mix of confusing—and often conflicting—answers. But how much of this is based on facts, and how much is just fear talking? Let’s take a closer look at the science behind these ingredients to help you form a clearer perspective.

Deodorant and Antiperspirant: Same Thing, Different Names?

First, let’s straighten out the confusion between two products that may seem like twins. While you might use the terms “deodorant” and “antiperspirant” interchangeably, they actually serve different purposes. 

Deodorants focus on tackling body odor by increasing the acidity of the skin, making it less attractive to the bacteria that cause unpleasant smells. 

Antiperspirants, on the other hand, take things a step further—they work to reduce how much you sweat in the first place, which indirectly helps control odor (less sweat = fewer bacteria to create odors). So, if you see a deodorant boasting about being “aluminum-free,” don’t be too impressed—all deodorants are naturally aluminum-free by design.

How do these products work? Deodorants usually rely on antibacterial ingredients to handle odor. Antiperspirants, on the other hand, use sweat-blocking agents that dissolve in the moisture on your skin. These form a gel-like plug that temporarily blocks your sweat glands, meaning less sweat makes it to the surface. And the key players in this sweat-blocking game? Aluminum salts, this post’s heroes. You’ll see them on labels as:

• Aluminum zirconium (Aluminum Zirconium Pentachlorohydrate, Aluminum Zirconium Tetrachlorohydrate, and others)
• Aluminum chlorohydrate
• Aluminum Chlorohydrex Propylene Glycol
• Aluminum chloride

In short, aluminum salts are what make antiperspirants effective, but they’re also a hot topic of debate. Let’s break down the big claims about aluminum salts being harmful and figure out if they deserve the bad rap—or if it’s time to take the scare stories with a grain of salt.

Aluminum in Antiperspirant and Kidney Disease

How did researchers even suspect there might be a link? Talk of antiperspirants and kidney disease first began circulating about 20 years ago. At the time, dialysis patients typically took aluminum hydroxide to help manage high phosphorus. Because their kidneys couldn’t efficiently remove aluminum, it began to build up in their bodies. Researchers linked this accumulation to a higher risk of developing dementia, prompting them to investigate aluminum exposure more closely.

Today, you might notice that most antiperspirants carry a label warning: “Ask a doctor before use if you have kidney disease.” The FDA requires this warning, specifically targeting individuals with severe kidney impairment—those whose kidneys are functioning at 30% or less.

If your kidneys are functioning properly, there’s typically no cause for concern. Healthy kidneys can efficiently process the small amounts of aluminum absorbed through the skin from antiperspirants or cosmetics. That said, it’s always a good idea to have regular check-ups to ensure your overall kidney health.

Aluminum in Antiperspirant and Breast Cancer Risk

This is perhaps the most controversial and feared claim surrounding antiperspirants. The bad news is that researchers have not yet explored this topic fully, leaving some questions unanswered. The good news? Most studies conducted so far have not found any significant link between antiperspirant use and the development of breast cancer. For example, the American Cancer Society says there is no strong evidence that underarm antiperspirants may promote development of breast cancer.

If there’s so little evidence linking aluminum to cancer, what got researchers worried in the first place? Some scientists thought that aluminum compounds in antiperspirants might be absorbed through the skin and mess with estrogen receptors in breast cells. Since estrogen is a hormone that helps regulate sexual and reproductive health—and can also promote the growth of both cancerous and non-cancerous breast cells—they wondered if aluminum-based compounds could play a role in increasing breast cancer risk.

Adding to that, some in vitro studies (that is, studies done in a lab, not on people) have found that exposure to aluminum salts might cause cells to change in ways that could make them more vulnerable to cancer. In other words, aluminum salts might not directly cause cancer, but they could potentially make cells more susceptible to developing tumors.

It’s important to remember that these are in vitro studies—not real-world scenarios. Plus, we encounter aluminum through food, water, vaccines, and more, not only through antiperspirants. Supporting this, a 2023 study took a broader look at lifetime exposure to aluminum from all sources. The researchers concluded that, while more studies are needed, there isn’t enough evidence to link aluminum exposure to breast cancer development—let alone aluminum specifically from antiperspirants.

Even more than that—it isn’t clear that much aluminum the skin absorbs. One study on the absorption of aluminum from antiperspirants containing aluminum chlorohydrate applied to the underarms found that only a small fraction (0.012%) was soaked up.

So the best advice? Regardless of whether you use an antiperspirant—whether it contains aluminum or not—the key is to make regular breast check-ups a habit for both men and women. That way, you can stay on top of your health and catch any issues early if they arise.

Aluminum in Antiperspirant: Skin Irritation and Allergies?

Yes, at high concentrations of aluminum salts, negative reactions like redness, itching, or rashes can occur. But most of the time, the real culprits are the well-known allergenic fragrances that give your antiperspirant a nice smell. According to many studies, these ingredients (such as geraniol, lilial, iso-eugenol, etc.) are the ones that often cause irritation, allergic reactions, and more.

To Sum It Up

While research remains limited, most scientists agree that using aluminum-containing antiperspirants does not have a clear connection to serious health issues like kidney dysfunction or breast cancer. However, if you still want to stay on the safe side and avoid aluminum, you might want to try one of these alternatives:

Coconut Oil

A natural antibacterial, coconut oil helps fight odor-causing bacteria while moisturizing the skin. It’s gentle, soothing, and often used in natural deodorants.

Tea Tree Oil

Loved for its antimicrobial powers, tea tree oil helps prevent odor by eliminating bacteria and fungi. It also has a fresh, clean scent (though tastes may vary 🙂).

Charcoal
Activated charcoal is a powerful absorber of toxins and moisture. It helps neutralize odor and keeps the skin dry.

If you want to be even more cautious and avoid aluminum altogether, consider using an ingredient scanner app like OnSkin. These apps can alert you if a product contains ingredients you’d prefer to avoid like aluminum salts or maybe retinol, which isn’t a match for every skin, or any other potentially problematic ingredient. This way, you can make safer choices without stressing over every label.