DEODORANT

A deodorant is
a substance
applied to the
body to
prevent or
mask body
odor due to
bacterial
breakdown of
perspiration in
the armpits,
groin, and
feet, and in
some cases
vaginal
secretions. A subclass of deodorants, called
antiperspirants, prevents sweating itself, typically by
blocking sweat glands.
Deodorants are designed to help prevent body odor—
and keep you smelling like a
field of lilacs. While it won't
stop you from sweating,
deodorant can eliminate the
naturally occurring bacteria
on your skin and help get
rid of unpleasant body
odors.

DEODORANT
INGREDIENTS AND ITS
EFFECTS IN HUMANS
AND IN ENVIRONMENT:
Aluminum-Our natural deodorants are made using Potassium
Alum, a naturally occurring salt. Aluminum sulfate is fairly non-
toxic, with acute and chronic oral LD50 both greater than
5,000mg/kg (5). However, aluminum can still cause irritation,
burns, and respiratory issues. If inhaled, it may cause headaches,
nausea, and respiratory irritations.

Triclosan- Triclosan is an antibacterial chemical, used in

deodorants to kill odor-causing germs on the skin. Triclosan is an
endocrine disruptor, meaning it can mimic hormones or interfere
with hormonal signaling.
Parabens-Parabens are used to prevent fungi, bacteria, and yeast
from growing on deodorant. It's true that parabens can be absorbed
through the skin and once they are in your body, they can function
as estrogen, a female hormone that's important for sexual
development, breast health, and other bodily functions.
Propylene Glycol (and other petrochemicals)-Due to its slick
consistency, it's used to soften deodorants making them easier to
apply to your skin. However, propylene glycol is a neurotoxin
known to cause dermatitis (skin inflammation), kidney damage,
and liver damage; it is number 9 on our Red List of ingredients we
avoid at all costs.
Synthetic Fragrances-According to the US Food and Drug
Administration, fragrances used in deodorants and other cosmetic
products causes 30% of all allergic reactions, and 70% of all
asthmatics develop respiratory symptoms when exposed to
perfumes. The dangers of these synthetic scents not only include
short-term symptoms like allergies and respiratory distress, but
also headaches, dizziness, nausea and brain fog. We'll get into
other, less obvious side (but super serious) side effects in a bit.

Some people have allergic reactions to deodorants.

Research indicates that this could be caused by
ingredients such as propylene glycol (a chemical that
gives a deodorant stick its shape), essential oils
(frequently used in fragrance), biological additives,
parabens, vitamin E, and lanolin” said Dr. Chan.
With so many possible causes, it can be complicated to
figure out which ingredient is actually causing your
allergic reaction. If you already know that you’re allergic
to any of these ingredients, talk to your health care
provider about your risk of using deodorant.
In general, deodorants are safe products for most people
in good health to use. However, if you have an allergy or
other health condition that could be affected by the
ingredients in deodorant, it’s best to discuss this with
your doctor.
Spray deodorants create the most obvious and perhaps
most dangerous threat to the environment. Every time
you use spray-on deodorant or antiperspirant, you’re
releasing chemicals into the air. These sprays likely
contain the largest amount of volatile organic
compounds. These compounds help produce ground-level
ozone, which is a key component in the formation of
smog—a major source of pollution in our atmosphere.