Does Antiperspirant Cause Cancer?
Antiperspirants and deodorants are commonly used grooming products. Deodorants help to mask unpleasant body odors, while antiperspirant help to reduce underarm sweat and thus reduce the possibility of body odor. There are many manufacturers of deodorants and antiperspirants. Most of these antiperspirants tend to have parabens and aluminum as their key ingredients. These ingredients are considered to be the cause of breast cancer. Many studies have been carried out to see if deodorants or antiperspirants cause breast cancer. Let us look at this in detail.
Antiperspirants & Breast Cancer
Plenty of research has been carried out on the use of antiperspirant and deodorants, and their link between breast cancer. Many scientist believe that antiperspirant and deodorants could be a risk factor to breast cancer. Scientists believe that aluminum and parabens contained in deodorants and antiperspirants could cause breast cancer. Aluminum based compounds are an active ingredient in various antiperspirants. What happens is that these aluminum based compounds tend to block the sweat ducts. This results into less sweat and less odor. That is how aluminum based antiperspirants work
Parabens on the other hand are preservatives which are added to some deodorants and antiperspirants. Parabens are of various types and different compounds of parabens are used in these products. Parabens like benzylparaben, butylparaben, methylparaben, propylparaben, are used in deodorants and antiperspirant. Parabens are linked to breast cancer. This is because when parabens get absorbed by the body they tend to have some weak estrogen like properties. Estrogen taken naturally, or as a part of hormone replacement tends to be a likely cause in the development of breast cancer. Although, parabens tend to be used in many food, pharmaceutical and cosmetics like shampoos and lotions. Hence, it is not clear that parabens from antiperspirants could be a cause of breast cancer.
It was also thought that antiperspirant and deodorants can enter the body from nicks or cuts on the skin and thus harm the body by increasing cancer cells. However, a study was done with hundreds of females, in which the reports weren't clear about the link between antiperspirant and deodorants being a cause of breast cancer. However, the study did show that underarm hygiene habits which started before the age of 16, were diagnosed with breast cancer earlier, than those females who started underarm hygiene after the age of 16.
Some research was also carried out on the co-relation of antiperspirant and breast cancer. However, nothing has become clear yet. However, many doctors and scientists firmly believe that antiperspirants and deodorants are a cause of breast cancer. For people who use antiperspirant and deodorants, try to switch to a safer alternative. One can make natural deodorants at home with some basic stuff.
Tea tree oil, can be diluted with water and used on the underarms area to prevent bacteria growth. Also, for fragrance you can add some essential oil to this mix. Orange, lemon, lemongrass, lavender, make great fragrances. However, if this doesn't seem practical then consider buying natural mists and use them as deodorants Make sure you read the label of the product carefully before buying it. See that it doesn't contain any aluminum compounds or paraben compounds.
There isn't enough evidence to support this, however research is still being carried out. In the meantime, you can improve your knowledge of breast cancer by reading as much as you can about it. Also, understanding the risks of breast cancer, and preventing them by making lifestyle and diet modifications is advisable. If you want further information on the matter, then consult a cancer specialist.
