Safety of Ammonium Alum Deodorants

Jul 6, 2010
Priya Chauhan

Ammonium Alum Deodorants Contain Aluminum - Priya Chauhan

Many are choosing natural crystal salt antiperspirants, assuming they are free from chemicals and aluminum, yet Dr Mercola and others refute this.

Most commercial antiperspirant products contain aluminum and are absorbed into the body and broken down, releasing the aluminum. The medical community is divided about whether aluminum in small quantities is safe in the body. Ammonium alum has become increasingly popular as a more natural product, yet there are questions being asked about whether it is safer.

How Antiperspirants Work

Antiperspirants work by constricting and blocking the sweat glands and most contain potassium or ammonium alum. The substance lies on the skin making it alkaline, and stops bacteria from growing and creating bad odours. In the United States, the FDA has required a new label on antiperspirants, saying that people with impaired renal function and children should not use these products. Many are complaining due to lack of scientific evidence, yet the FDA believes they may have trouble shedding environmental toxins and it is prudent to avoid exposure.

The Safety of Ammonium Alum

Often the solid crystal "natural" deodorants are made from ammonium alum. This is still a form of aluminium though some claim the molecule is too large to be absorbed by the skin. Research has suggested the use of aluminium-based antiperspirants is linked with the accumulation of aluminum in the body, which increases the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and breast cancer. Yet a 2008 study claims that no scientific evidence supports the theory that deodorants or antiperspirants increase the incidence of breast cancer.

Green People claim ammonium alum is safe as it is an earth mineral and is found in food and even used in the water supply in some countries for personal care and other external uses. They claim the aluminum molecule in alum is too large to penetrate the skin. The ammonium alum sold is often man-made rather than being a "natural" product. In the article Aluminum Lurks in Crystal Deodorants, Dr. Mercola argues that even alum-based crystal deodorant options are not totally safe or aluminum free, and advocates avoiding all products that contain any type of alum or aluminum.

Comparison of Deodorants and Antiperspirants

Antiperspirants and deodorants work in different ways. Antiperspirants work by blocking the pores with astringents such as aluminum salts preventing sweat from being released. Some people suggest this is not healthy for the body as it stops the body's natural cooling process and also stops toxins in the body from being eliminated. Deodorants work by killing the bacteria that creates bad smells (or masking the smell with scents) and doesn't interfere with sweating. Dr. Mercola claims that alum-based deodorants may be slightly better then conventional options but still are not the safest option.

There hasn't yet been a study that proves that ammonium alum is dangerous, yet caution may be advised as aluminum in the body has been linked with Alzheimer's disease. Those who choose to avoid aluminum altogether can either use baking soda or buy more natural solid deodorants that use essential oils to neutralise body odour. Read Natural Aluminum Free Deodorants and Essential Oil Deodorant Recipes to find out how to choose or make a natural deodorant and the options currently available.

Sources:

GreenPeople.co.uk How Natural Deodorants and Traditional Antiperspirants Differ (Accessed July 5, 2010).
Mercola.com Aluminum Lurks in Crystal Deodorants (Accessed July 5, 2010).

Priya Chauhan - A designer, topic editor and feature writer (for Hinduism) and all round experimenter of healthy living; Priya enjoys being creative, and ...

Comments

Jul 6, 2010 7:18 AM

Amie Sugat :

What about Toms of Main? I use a deodorant that I couldn't find alum, aluminum, or sodium laurel ingredients in.

Jul 7, 2010 5:18 AM

Priya Chauhan :

After contacting Toms of Maine it appears they do not use alum or aluminum in their deodorants.

Jan 18, 2011 10:37 PM

Guest :

I can't say for sure about aluminum in and of itself, but from personal experience I'm convinced ammonium alum is bad. I know for sure that it does penetrate beyond the skin (something in the compound does, whether or not the entire compound does—that much is evident by the way it stimulates the tissues far beneath under certain conditions). It certainly seems to be an effective deodorant, though, and with ignorance it may even seem quite healthy. After a few month's use, it seems likely that it may degrade mental feel and certain functions to a certain degree not considered clinical (but still noticeable and annoying, although the person probably won't be aware of any association with ammonium alum). It's possible that in time, with behavioral modification, it may enhance some functions, too, but I'm not really sure about that. After about 7 to 11 years use, it seems that it may contribute to noticeable liver and/or kidney problems, skin problems, lower the immune system, make one susceptible to parasites, etc. I don't think it'll kill someone outright, but I could see how it would lessen the quality of life and perhaps one's lifespan. I could definitely see how it might contribute to Alzheimer's, though, but whether or not it does is entirely beside the point. However, I am convinced it can contribute to short-term memory loss (at least under several conditions), whether or not that has anything to do with Alzheimer's.

Jan 18, 2011 11:04 PM

Guest :

Amie: I believe Tom's of Maine uses zinc instead of aluminum or alum. Many minerals will perform a similar function as aluminum for a deodorant. However, most minerals are dangerous if absorbed in high amounts. Many minerals (such as magnesium sulfate and sodium borate) are absorbed much better through the skin than they are when taken internally (this can be very healthy if they're minerals your body needs). I would suspect the same rule of absorption may be true for the deodorant minerals (zinc, aluminum, etc.) although I have no documented evidence to support that suspicion beyond the track record of some minerals. You should know, though, that if you're taking zinc (potentially, using the deodorant might be just like taking it) then I recommend taking a small amount of copper to balance it out, unless you already have too much copper (some people do). If it makes you feel better when you take it, then I'm guessing it's good for you. If it doesn't then you probably don't need it. 2mg of chelated copper is probably enough for up to 20mg of zinc; maybe 4mg of copper for 40mg of zinc (more than 4mg, in my opinion, is potentially toxic, despite the upper-limit being considerably higher than that; the upper-limit on zinc is 40mg, so beware of the supplements that have a higher amount).

Desert Essentials deodorant uses sodium borate (AKA borax) as its mineral. That's one of the safer and healthier ones, I think. However, I'd rather have a deodorant that didn't rely on some mineral. The minerals are pretty much to act as antimicrobial agents and astringents (to tighten the skin so it doesn't sweat or whatever). So, maybe just use something that's not an antiperspirant.

If you take the right mineral supplements it may just help to lessen your natural body odor. That's something to think about. Just be sure to memorize the upper-limits. You don't want to chow down on minerals like people with colds do with vitamin C. That's very dangerous and could land you in the hospital. SwansonVitamins has some high quality mineral supplements, most of which are about as inexpensive as they come, but a lot of others are probably good, too, if you know what to look for.

Anyway, I hope this answers your question.

Mar 26, 2011 7:51 AM

Guest :

As a chemical engineer I believe that aluminum, in whatever form is still a heavy metal and is as such toxic to the body. I can't believe that a product which constricts the sweat pores of the body and prevents the natural release of toxins in sweat is not good for anyone.What I find offensive is a company (Crystal of Millbrae, CA.) labeling their Crystal deodorant having "no aluminum chlorohydrate" and stating that their product is endorsed by cancer treatment centers.Then they list ammonium alum as an ingredient. Yes ammonium alum is not the same molecule as aluminum chlorohydrate but the alum is still the same old aluminum. Still works the same, and there is no consensus by the FDA whether it is safer . That is the FDA, the same morons who approved the statins, fen-phen, thalidomide, accutane, etc. Would you trust your health to these morons who are the whores of the drug companies? In homeopathic practice,alumen is used as a treatment for dementia, and as any homeopath will tell you, a homeopathic medicine is used to treat that condition which a material dose of the same chemical causes (like cures like) . Doesn't that speak volumes. . .

Mar 26, 2011 7:58 AM

Guest :

One must differentiate between an antiperspirant (which prevents sweat from exiting the sweat pores) and a deodorant which simply makes the exiting sweat non-offensive through either camouflaging it with scents and/or preventing the growth of bacteria, through use of bactericides, which naturally thrive on the skin and metabolize the sweat thereby creating "odor" which some people, but not all find offensive.

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