The Truth About Aluminum in Deodorants
At Super Boost Nutra, we’re committed to helping you protect your wellness from every angle — not just through the supplements you take, but also through the products you use every day.
Today, we’re diving into a topic many people overlook:
Aluminum in antiperspirant deodorants — and how it may impact your body over time.
How Aluminum Antiperspirants Work
Most conventional antiperspirants use aluminum salts such as aluminum chlorohydrate to stop sweat. According to classic research in cosmetic chemistry, these salts block the ducts of your eccrine sweat glands, creating physical plugs that prevent sweat from escaping.
📚 Studies supporting this include:
- Quatrale et al. (1985) — showed aluminum salts act directly on the eccrine glands.
- Strassburger & Coble (1987) — used infrared analysis to confirm aluminum-induced gland obstruction.
👉 This means your pores are intentionally clogged, preventing sweat — one of your body's primary detoxification pathways — from doing its job.
What Happens When Aluminum Builds Up in the Body?
While not all aluminum is absorbed through the skin, multiple studies show some absorption does occur, and accumulation is possible — especially with daily use.
Key findings:
1. Aluminum can be absorbed through the skin.
- Flarend et al. (2001) used a radioactive tracer (Al-26) and demonstrated measurable dermal absorption of aluminum from antiperspirants.
2. Aluminum toxicity builds slowly over time.
- Exley et al. (1996) described aluminum’s slow elimination rate, meaning small daily exposures can accumulate in tissues such as bone, brain, and the lymphatic system.
3. Real cases show physical aluminum overload.
- Guillard et al. (2004) documented a case of hyperaluminemia in a woman who used aluminum antiperspirant for 4 years, with blood levels significantly above normal.
4. Individuals with reduced kidney function are at higher risk.
- Hostynek (2003) found that decreased ability to clear metals increases the chance of aluminum buildup.
- Davenport et al. (1993) showed mobilized aluminum can affect blood and hemoglobin balance.
5. Aluminum exposure has been associated with neurological effects.
Although not conclusively proven as causal, several studies raise concerns:
- Polizzi et al. (2002) found neurotoxic effects in aluminum-exposed workers.
- Altmann (2001) and Exley (2001) discussed aluminum’s potential role in Alzheimer’s disease.
Potential Effects of Long-Term Aluminum Exposure
Here are the concerns researchers have raised through various studies:
🧠 Neurological Stress
Possible associations with:
- Cognitive decline
- Reduced neurological function
- Potential links to Alzheimer’s-like pathology
🫁 Respiratory Impacts
- Abbate et al. (2003) found reduced lung function in aluminum-exposed workers.
🧬 Cellular Changes
- Aluminum acts as a metalloestrogen and may interact with estrogen receptors.
- Possible impact on breast cell behavior in lab settings.
🩸 Blood Health Effects
- Changes in hemoglobin (Davenport, 1993).
- Altered platelet activity and oxidative stress (Neiva et al., 2002).
🧂 Detoxification Interference
When sweat glands are blocked:
- Toxins circulate longer in the bloodstream
- Lymphatic drainage is impaired
- The body compensates through other organs (kidneys, liver)
🧴 Local Skin Impact
- Irritation
- Shaving + aluminum = increased absorption
- Chronic buildup under the arm tissues
Scan Comparison: User vs. Non-User
Antiperspirant User:
- Sweat ducts show clear blockage
- Reduced sweat gland activity
- Localized buildup of aluminum salts
- Reduced lymphatic flow
Non-User:
- Open, functioning sweat ducts
- Normal detoxification through perspiration
- No aluminum accumulation in the axillary region
- Better skin microbiome balance
🚫 Brands That Commonly Contain Aluminum
Most products labeled “antiperspirant” or “antiperspirant + deodorant” include aluminum salts. Common forms to look for on ingredient labels:
- Aluminum chlorohydrate
- Aluminum zirconium tetrachlorohydrex
- Aluminum sesquichlorohydrate
- Aluminum sulfate
We recommend avoiding any product that lists these in the first 5 ingredients.
✅ Healthier Aluminum-Free Alternatives
These brands offer deodorants, not antiperspirants — meaning they focus on odor control without blocking sweat:
Safer Options Include:
- Native (aluminum-free line)
- Schmidt’s Naturals
- Tom’s of Maine (aluminum-free)
- Each & Every
- Humble Brands
- Dr. Teal’s Aluminum-Free Deodorant
- Salt-based crystal deodorants
Look for ingredients like:
- Magnesium
- Baking soda
- Arrowroot powder
- Coconut oil
- Essential oils
- Zinc ricinoleate
Your wellness is shaped by the habits you repeat every day. Applying aluminum under your arms — directly over lymph nodes and breast tissue — deserves more thought and awareness.
Choosing an aluminum-free deodorant is a simple yet powerful switch for long-term health.
🌿 Looking for a Powerful Detox Solution?
If you're ready to support your body’s natural detox pathways from the inside out, consider trying our Detoxification Protocol — a rising customer-favorite, triple-action system designed to help your body cleanse deeply and safely.
✨ Benefits of Our Triple-Action Detox Formula
Our Detoxification Protocol works synergistically to help your body eliminate buildup, reduce inflammation, and restore balance:
1. Liver & Cellular Cleanse
- Supports healthy liver function
- Promotes the breakdown and removal of environmental toxins
- Helps neutralize oxidative stress
2. Gut & Digestive Detox
- Flushes waste and harmful compounds
- Supports microbiome balance
- Encourages smoother digestion and improved regularity
3. Heavy Metal & Environmental Defense
- Assists the body in binding and removing heavy metals
- Supports healthy immune response
- Helps reduce the toxic load caused by daily exposures
Clean choices on the outside matter — and so does cleansing from within!
