These deodorants are particularly bad for you – and for the environment

For most of us, applying deodorant is part of our daily routine: after showering, in the morning before leaving the house or after exercising.

But using the good-smelling sprays can also lead to side effects: the numerous ingredients and fragrances can cause allergies or itchy rashes all over the body. The more often the skin comes into contact with the allergen, the greater the risk of developing a contact allergy.

The “Kassensturz” and “Saldo” have tested how harmful a deodorant spray is. Together they tried twelve popular unisex deodorant sprays and had them analyzed in a laboratory in Germany. The focus was on the ingredients – whether they are water polluting or harmful. It was also checked whether the 26 substances were listed on the packaging. The remaining ingredients are usually summed up with the term “perfume”. In the test, the number of tested ingredients has been extended to this group, to a total of 54 substances.

The deodorants tested were divided into three groups: fail, enough And Good:

The worst result obtained in the test «Borotalco original.» The laboratory was able to identify 15 allergy-causing substances in the deodorant – plus artificial musk compounds, the “Kassensturz” writes.

Also the products «Ax Epic Fresh», «Rexona Pure Fresh” And “Lavera Naturally Fresh» got the last place. Between eight and eleven ingredients that could cause allergies could be detected in all ingredients. In addition, there are the additional substances that have been tested for the first time with an increased allergy potential and environmentally harmful substances.

Borotalco’s manufacturer, Bolton Swiss, declined to comment on the poor test result, writes the “Kassensturz”. The Unilever company, producer of Ax and Rexona, writes that consumer safety is paramount and that they comply with all applicable legal maximum values ​​and also with the labeling obligation. Lavera points out that the substances found are not synthetically produced ingredients.

Five deodorant sprays were labeled as “adequate”: “Fresh Natural» from Nivea, the deodorant from Migros «I am” and the “Ombia spray» from Aldi. All contain between six and eight allergenic fragrances, as well as substances from the group with an increased allergy potential.

The Beiersdorf company, manufacturer of the Nivea products, downplays the environmental impact, says the “Kassensturz”. In deodorants, problem substances are only present in a diluted form, so that the effects are less than with a substance in large quantities.

Migros writes that the European Chemicals Agency is expected to publish more information about the extended allergenic substances in July 2023. Existing products on the market currently probably contain allergenic substances that do not yet have to be declared. The recipe of the only sufficient “I am Invisible Anti-Perspirant” will be adapted and used in the next production.

Aldi points out that the Ombia product complies with the applicable legal provisions and that the deodorant spray is therefore salable.

The lab identified four allergenic odors Lidl deodorant and in Naturaline deodorant after. It also contained substances from the extended group and environmentally harmful substances.

The own brands of Migros and Denner perform better. The deodorant stays off «pH balance», isana And M budget each contained only two allergenic odors.

According to the laboratory analysis, all twelve deodorant sprays contain substances that are harmful to water. Therefore, none of the sprays scored “very good”, according to the “Kassensturz”.

Five deodorant sprays in the “Kassensturz” test were so-called antiperspirants and contained aluminum salts. On the skin, the aluminum salts connect with the skin and thus close the sweat glands. This prevents sweating under the armpits.

Aluminum has long been considered a carcinogen. Michael Arand, professor of toxicology at the University of Zurich, has repeatedly dealt with the possible dangers of aluminum in the body in recent years. Compared to the “Kassensturz”, he says that the stress caused by the food is very small.

He regularly exchanges information with other toxicologists about the latest studies on the absorption of aluminum through the skin: “We think that aluminum from deodorants does not make a significant contribution to the development of cancer or dementia. In theory, aluminum can cause this, but then much larger amounts should enter the body. Based on what we know today, that can actually be ruled out.”

Nevertheless, he warns: “The absorption via the lungs is significantly greater than the absorption via the gastrointestinal tract and certainly much, much greater than the absorption via the skin. If you spray an aluminum deodorant, you have to be careful not to inhale large amounts of it.”

(oo)