Aluminum in antiperspirants: More than just skin deep

Aluminium, antiperspirants and breast cancer

“…A more recent study reports uptake of aluminium from an underarm antiperspirant to a toxic level of 4 lM in blood plasma which returned to the normal range (0.1-0.3 lM) when antiperspirant use was stopped [29]. The report leaves little doubt that the high plasma aluminium was the result of transdermal uptake of aluminium from antiperspirant in this woman, and that the associated symptoms of bone pain and fatigue were the result of the high plasma aluminium [30]. However, with such widespread use of antiperspirant, it poses the question of whether high aluminium levels might be found in other people using similar application practices and whether high levels might also have been present in the breast.…”

“…Whilst it had been assumed that unbroken skin would be an effective barrier to transdermal uptake of aluminium, dermal absorption of topically applied antiperspirant aluminium salts has now been demonstrated through intact mouse skin [25,26] and human skin [27][28][29][30]. Dermal absorption of aluminium was detected in human subjects from a single application of aluminium chlorhydrate using the isotope 26 Al as the tracer [27].…”

Use of Axillary Deodorant and Effect on Acute Skin Toxicity During Radiotherapy for Breast Cancer: A Prospective Randomized Noninferiority Trial

“…Equivocal data have been published about this subject (14)(15)(16). Some have reported the possibility of increased breast cancer risk with metalloestrogen or other mechanisms (14,17) and a potential role in chronic diseases (e.g., Crohn's disease, Alzheimer's disease) (15,18). One study showed skin absorption of only 0.012% of the applied aluminum, about 2.5% of which was absorbed in the gut with food (19).…”

“…Because some controversies have occurred regarding the use of antiperspirants with aluminum, only deodorant without aluminum was allowed. Equivocal data have been published about this subject (14)(15)(16). Some have reported the possibility of increased breast cancer risk with metalloestrogen or other mechanisms (14,17) and a potential role in chronic diseases (e.g., Crohn's disease, Alzheimer's disease) (15,18).…”

Aluminium chloride promotes anchorage‐independent growth in human mammary epithelial cells

“…gov/RegulatoryInformation/Dockets/ucm130350.htm). The precise mechanism by which aluminium reduces perspiration is not known, but this effect is believed to result from physical occlusion of the sweat duct, chemical inhibition of the sweat gland, or a combination of both (Exley, 2004).…”