Was this information helpful? Average rating: 4.7/5 (221 votes)
What do you think? Click the stars to vote!
If you have more to say, post a comment below!
Several years ago we began to see email messages linking antiperspirants to breast cancer. Our initial reaction was to dismiss them out of hand without even checking. It seemed like such an outlandish scare tactic that it was hardly worth our time or energy.
But readers of our syndicated newspaper column kept asking us whether the aluminum in their antiperspirant might be increasing their risk of breast cancer or Alzheimer's disease. Visitors to the PeoplesPharmacy.com website were equally concerned. At that time there seemed to be no clear association. An article in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute (Oct 16, 2002) concluded that there was no connection between use of antiperspirants and the risk of breast cancer.
More recent research, however, has raised some disturbing doubts about the safety of ingredients in antiperspirants. A new study just out from the Journal of Applied Toxicology has found that women with breast cancer have high levels of paraben preservatives in their tissues. Parabens are commonly found in cosmetics and other personal care products. Parabens have some estrogenic activity and concerns have been raised about their ability to encourage abnormal cell growth in the breast (Alternative Medicine Review, Sept, 2010).
As long ago as 2004 scientists were beginning to debate whether parabens in underarm cosmetics might have estrogenic activity and might be contributing to the risk of breast cancer (Journal of Applied Toxicology, May-June, 2004). They called for further research, which now appears to be suggesting a potential problem.
In addition to the paraben problem in antiperspirants, there is another troublesome chemical to contend with. Virtually all antiperspirants contain aluminum compounds such as aluminum chloride or aluminum chlorohydrate. These chemicals reduce perspiration. A new study suggests, however, that aluminum compounds can change the way breast cells divide, even at low concentrations (Journal of Applied Toxicology, online, Jan. 6, 2012). The authors of this research conclude: "Our observations do not formally identify aluminium as a breast carcinogen, but challenge the safety ascribed to its widespread use in underarm cosmetics." There is also research to suggest that aluminum concentrates in breast tissue, possibly from exposure to aluminum-containing antiperspirants (Journal of Applied Toxicology, April, 2011).
Doubtless, the FDA and other public health officials will say there is nothing to worry about. At best, they will call for more research. We think more research is crucial, but we are also growing quite concerned about the data that already exist.
Some women may wish to avoid both aluminum and parabens in their antiperspirants. One way to do that is to use an alternative approach. For years, readers of our newspaper column have been singing the praises of milk of magnesia (MoM) as a deodorant. Many people find it can be applied straight from the blue bottle. Others have found our People's Pharmacy Roll-On Milk of Magnesia Deodorant is convenient, gentle and effective. It is also free of aluminum chlorohydrate and parabens.
Here is just one of many testimonials:
"I have been using deodorant rather than antiperspirant for years due to the aluminum worry. I recently tried milk of magnesia based on the People's Pharmacy comments. It works great! Better than deodorant!"
More information about The People's Pharmacy MoM roll-on deodorant here and here.
Was this information helpful? Average rating: 4.7/5 (221 votes)
What do you think? Click the stars to vote!
If you have more to say, post a comment below!
I have been using Milk of Magnesia for several months since I first read about it in the People's pharmacy with great results. no odor even after 24 hours. Amazing product1
D A S
Thank you for following up on this research. It's disconcerting for those of us who sweat profusely. I tried the MOM, and it works great for odor prevention, but obviously it does nothing for perspiration. It's unrealistic in our society to walk around with large sweat stains in our clothing. I am a professional woman in her 40's, and even with regular antiperspirant I have sweat marks and must use a heavy-duty AP at night. This research worries me greatly.
Is there any home remedy for trigeminal neuralgia?
This post on the possible dangers of standard antiperspirants highlight the danger the increasing commercialism of your "voice" poses to all the excellent work you've done. The post ends, in effect, with an 'advertisement' for your MoM antiperspirant which the previous, useful, thoughtful content then turns into another reasont to BUY. If you have something to gain -- information withheld until one pays $2 for a publication of which that information is a minor part, or as here, a product -- maybe you are taking the position you do in order to increase that gain. This in not particularly what I believe. The point is that you are increasingly incurring the danger of looking as if your recommendations are shaped by self-interest, especially financial self-interest. This is deeply to be regretted.
--Marian R.
PEOPLE'S PHARMACY RESPONSE:
We appreciate your concern.
First, we always try to supply the original research so that individuals can read for themselves what the data has to offer. If you look at the above article you will see that there are links to several studies. Feel free to read the abstracts or the entire articles and make up your own mind about the data. That is what we always encourage on The People's Pharmacy.
Second, you and anyone who reads anything about milk of magnesia will immediately realize that you can purchase generic milk of magnesia at any pharmacy and slosh it on your underarms. That is how we learned about this remedy in the first place. We used it ourselves and found that MoM worked great and we encouraged our readers and listeners to give it a try.
When someone asked if there was a more convenient way to access milk of magnesia that pouring it into your palm and then trying to slows it on your arm pits, we came up with a roll-on product for convenience.
So, read the science for yourself and draw your own conclusions. If you remain unconvinced that there is any concern, that is absolutely fine with us.
Should you conclude that there are legitimate concerns about parabens and aluminum, you could consider house brand milk of magnesia, or another type of deodorant that does not contain these compounds. Should you opt for convenience, we are happy to supply you with MoM in a roll-on formulation.
We only wish that we did not have to sell things to support the website or our radio show. But we do not have grants or other non-commercial income to keep these information resources afloat. Without some form of income we would have to shut down the website and cease broadcasting our syndicated radio show. We hope that is not what you are advocating.
Would you please comment on the safety of alum as a deodorant? I think it is the ingredient in "Crystal." Thank you.
How do these findings impact men & their products?
Just use MOM it works great. I put it in a small hand soap dispenser and use it after I shower. It dries in seconds and I no longer have any irritation from deodorant and I don't have to shower every day. I can actually take a day off if I want.
My grandmother was a health-minded person and in the 1950's used to warn me not to use antiperspirants due to the aluminum in them. She also had us taking vitamin C to prevent colds, warned us about dangers of eating white sugar, drinking soda pop, staying too long in the sun and importance of drinking 8 glasses of water a day and daily exercise. She lived healthily till age 96.
I also began using MoM after reading the reports. I can tell you it works GREAT--last a long time and way cheaper than antiperspirant.
A health care professional with whom I shared my concerns about a deodorant and breast cancer link advised me not to put it on right after shaving under my arms since shaving heightened the opportunity to absorb more and deeper. Thus, could those who perspire heavily, as I do, shave at night and use the Milk of Magnesia deodorant and then apply an antiperspirant in the morning when tissues under the arm are less exposed?
Antiperspirants always made me itch and get a rash. Some time ago I started using a medicated CORNSTARCH BABY powder from CVS. Works great!! Plain cornstarch works well, too.
I use herbs stuffed in a bottle of Vodka (80 to 100 proof) during the winter. It's not strong enough for me in the summer but is fine for winter. But I've wondered what harmful affects the alcohol might be having.
As far as the perspiration problem SB mentioned above, people can do an Internet search on "underarm dress shield" and get items that can be worn and don't have to be sewn in. I find them very comfortable, and they also save clothing from a lot of washing.
I'll add my endorsement of M of M. I've been delighted since trying it, learning about it from People's Pharmacy. It does not irritate my skin, is odorless and very effective, even when I exercise or have an anxiety-producing day at work. I find it easy to use the "blue bottle" - I apply it with a q-tip and give it a few seconds to dry.
No one used antiperspirants when I was growing up. They had not been developed yet, or at least not offered to our area of the USA. We had deodorants and few of them. People used dress shields (what we called them, but I would imagine men used them, also) it was in the latter part of the 60's before folks began using antiperspirants. I can still remember TV and magazine ads touting how "dry" their product would keep all of us that used their product, like 5-day or Arrid, etc.
Fast forward: I was using an "invisible solid" deodorant and disgusted with its staining and stickiness. I read the label and saw that one of its many ingredients was HYDROGENATED castor oil. Our family tries to stay away from hydrogenated ANYthing. Maybe that, ALSO, contributes to the breast cancer problem. Just a thought.
Count me in as a happy MoM user! It really works.
Have started using Crystal roll on deodorant which is paraben free and is a natural product. It is made from mineral salts and is also hypoallergenic and safe for the environment.
I have been using Milk of Magnesia instead of deodorant for several years (since I first read about it in your newspaper column) and it works great. I just get a little on my index finger out of the MOM bottle and rub it on. I had worried for many years about the aluminum in antiperspirants, and it is hard to find deodorants without it.
(Welcome side effect -- I think it has also gotten rid of skin-tags that I had under my arms in the area where I have applied it!)
I am a Senior Citizen now, but can remember when I was in my 40s that I had to use the dress shields.... water would run down my arms... nothing helped. I don't remember the shields as being very comfortable but it did keep my clothes from being stained and wet underarms all the time.
You can buy non-aluminum products from the health food stores, Central Market, Whole Foods and also Walgreens.
People's Pharmacy may be making a little money from sales of the MoM roll on product. This does not concern me. They have to fund all their research and other expenses. If they find a way to protect or improve our health I think they provide a wonderful service. I switched from an antiperspirant to a deodorant years ago because of underarm skin irritation.
I've been using mineral salt rock for years and it works perfectly. It is only a deodorant however, and not an anti-perspirant. It can be found with all the other deodorants at most drug stores. As an added bonus, one rock crystal lasts for years!
As an elementary school girl, my grandmother had us all use baking soda for underarm odor protection. Then, underarm shields became available. At age 80, I have not used any commercial deodorants--nothing at all--for several years because I became aware of the fact that seniors perspire very little. A daily shower and clean clothes do it all for me.
A recent article (I believe from the uk) stated that women with breast cancer had the tissue from the nipple ducts biopsied with the result that aluminium was found in the tissue of the nipple ducts.
After having surgery, radiation and chemo for triple negative breast cancer my breast surgeon still insists that there is no problem with deodorants. Should women take control...not their doctors?
I wonder if the aluminium can be transferred during breast feeding to our babies.
I have an admittedly cosmetic concern. Using MOM sounds like a great idea, but doesn't it shed white debris etc. on clothing? Has this been a concern for any of you folks who have used it? I realize this should be a minor concern for folks who want to live a healthy life - I'm just curious. I have little time for experimentation, having to present a professional facade basically 24/7.
I used a 50-50 mixture of corn powder and bicarb of soda applied with a powder puff which will do just fine for this problem. I started using this on the recommendation of a dermatologist when I had a rash due to deodorant.
I tried the MoM deodorant and it did no good what so ever for me. I tossed what I had left. Do you have another suggestion?
I have heart of the anti perspirant - cancer theory years ago. I haven't used anti perspirant in years. There are many wonderful alternatives out there. And no I don't stink.
For more than 10 years I've used deodorant-only products, cause someone warned of the cancer risk. It's a bit hard to find, but CVS sells a Crystal roll-on product that is fragrance, paraben and aluminum chlorohydrate free. Seems to work well. If I hadn't just bought a new bottle, I'd try the Graedon's MOM product.
I have used the MoM for quite some time but I pour a small amount into a small jar that I keep on my bathroom sink countertop. I dip my fingertips into it to apply it to my underarms. I only put enough in the jar for a few days to a week because it will develop mold .. I suppose due to the contamination of the fingers being dipped in - no matter how clean they are. Anyway, it works for me.
The women in our family have been using Crystal roll-on for some time, as we've been avoiding aluminum and paraben for years and we find that it works well. For some strange reason my husband does not ever need deodorant, even when he perspires vigorously. So people's systems obviously vary.
Thanks for the suggestion about using Milk of Magnesium or cornstarch.
Loved the article, however, could have done without the self promotion of your underarm product, takes away from you being a credible source in a way.
It looks to me like you might want to read your articles more thoroughly before making a big headline that doesn't present the clear facts of the research.
In the last sentence of the abstract the researcher states that "Our observations do not formally identify aluminum as a breast carcinogen, but challenge the safety ascribed to its widespread use in underarm cosmetics."
Frankly, other research by this same author appears of greater significance such as "Surveillance following curative therapy for breast cancer".
Where this researcher Sappino, AP (el. al.) states "..screening is not indicated in asymptomatic patient".
Another plus mark on the "no" side of the debate on screening mammograms.
Please let your readers know that there is no harmless dose of ionizing radiation.
Aluminum is not listed as a human carcinogen. Ionizing radiation is.
As a user of M of M for years, I use a prescription pill bottle like most all pills come in. Dip a finger in it and rub it under my arms, then put the lid back on it. A little bottle full lasts longer than a week, and I never see any discoloration, like mold, in it. Maybe it's because I keep the lid on it between uses? It does get thicker after a few days, but that's good.
I didn't always wash my hands before applying, but now I will.
Sorry, but plugging-in milk of magnesia, which you sell here, at the end of the article takes away it's impartiality. I don't think this is good. All metals are bad, cosmetics are usually full of noxious chemicals. I don't dispute that fact... I still feel this "alert" is just hidden propaganda. You've lost a lot of my trust.
People's Pharmacy response: You certainly have a right to that response. The news story was not intended primarily as a way to sell something, but rather as information. We did, however, include the information on our product, and we recognize that seems to taint the power of the research reported.
Are there other alternative products? What about "Tom's of Maine" or similar?
People's Pharmacy response: Yes, there are several alternative products. Check the ingredients list for aluminum and parabens.
To SB, the heavy-sweating professional woman in her 40's - I can sympathize with you on the sweat problem; I am a 50 yo woman who has been a professional firefighter (in a southern state, no less) for 25+ years. Trust me, I know about sweat! What I found out, though, is that after a relatively short time (two weeks or so) of using a deodorant only you stop sweating so much! In fact, you may rarely sweat at all! I learned this from my adult sons, one of whom had sweated so badly all of his adolescent years and after that his doc gave him a prescription antiperspirant to try and keep him from ruining his shirts. Didn't really help.
Switching to deodorant only did. All three of my formerly heavy sweating sons now use deodorant only, as do I. Personally, I use Tom's of Maine Roll-On 24 hour (not the stick version, doesn't last as long) because there are very few women's deodorant only products at regular stores. I haven't tried the M of M, so can't speak for that, but I know that the Tom's works, and I do not have wet circles even in July.
Signed, Dry in humid NC :-)
For years I have thought the use of deodorants and especially when men's deodorant became popular and breast cancer began to rise in men.
My alternative to MOM is liquid grapefruit seed extract with a little water added for spreading. Have not had any adverse effects from it, and seems to work well in all types of weather.
I also use it on any surface area that is slightly reddened and/or opened. I work in a rural Emergency Room here in NC and we see a lot of MRSA-Methylcillin Resistant Streptococcus Aurens (sp) and I don't want to succumb to that!! Seems it would be good to put on childrens' "boo boos" also.
Hope this helps
Wow! That is an interesting connection! Have always wondered about it. I used to perspire profusely & ruined lots of clothes because of it & used to wear shields in all my dress clothes besides using deodorant. Then, I had breast cancer in 91' had 18 lymph nodes removed & no longer perspire under that arm & the hair has never grown back since I had 35 radiation treatments; so I no longer use deodorant, rather wipe my underarms with skin freshener as needed. Have always wondered if deodorant could be a problem & now I am sure it has issues. Thanks for the info.
Using Alcohol in the skin can be very damaging. Rubbing Alc. can defat the skin and really dry it out. While persons may be allergic, even developing acne. Research? Cite me, I have this condition. I am a printer and use chemical as such. The alcohol is by far the most immediate reaction for my skin and breathing.
For real protection against smelly arm pits:
Use a wash cloth (washed after each use) and wet wash your armpits with mild soap two or more times per day. Your body with thank you and it is refreshing.
Mike
Sometime a product is needed or desired. When no large company is willing to take a stand and stock a product that may (by its existence) be threatening to the mainsteam manufacturers, it may take an alternative source to faciliate distribution.
Thanks for creating a choice.
Mike
I am sending an internet address for a service on the internet where you can check on the purity of products, and how they affect one's health, the environment, etc. The one I am sending lists the cosmetics that are paraben-free. Worth reading and passing on.
http://www.goodguide.com/products?filter=paraben%20free%20&sort_by_type=rating&sort_order=DESC&x=22&y=17
Joe and Terry, I am dismayed that you are selling health care products. I think that the heavy metals in antiperspirants are a problem and have avoided them for years. The People's Pharmacy deodorant is a perfect example of how you can seriously undermine your credibility. This is a shame because you do so much good work.
People's Pharmacy response: Although heavy metals such as cadmium, lead or mercury are indeed very toxic, the jury is still out on aluminum (metal but not heavy), especially when applied to the skin. Magnesium is actually beneficial in the diet--no indication of toxicity when applied to the skin. So we are not concerned about the safety of People's Pharmacy deodorant. If you are objecting to us promoting the product, that is a different question.
Does it make any sense to apply anything to skin you have just scraped raw? Shave at night, apply in the morning. Don't use it if you don't need it: winter, weekends.
MR's comments were totally out of line. Anyone who has listened to The People's Pharmacy show over the years would realize that Joe and Terry are dedicated to presenting alternative medicines and cures from that of the medical industry. Commercialism has never been the goal of this program and never will be. Offering a roll on product for MOM was very considerate of Joe and Terry for going the extra mile and I'm sure they are not making fortunes by doing so.
I applaud Joe and Terry for all the information they have provided over the years and I have forwarded this information to many, many of my friends some of whom have been cured of a medical problems that the normal medical industry could not. Keep up the good work and if there is a way to support their efforts financially I would urge all listeners to do so.
I so agree, for years we been told to trust the Doctor, I have often left the dr office being misdiagnosed, ae bug bites that turned out to be chix pox, so yes take control of your body do a little research, is it proven? According to the mass media NOT but it makes sense.
SB - I remember that my mom used deodorant but not antiperspirant, and that she had "pads" for her armpits for more "formal" occasions (such as silk clothing). Maybe someone still sells them.
Where can I find People's Pharmacy Roll-on Milk of Magnesia deodorant?
MoM didn't work for me. I use a mixture of equal parts petroleum jelly, baking soda, and cornstarch mixed together. Works great! I may try just the soda and cornstarch for awhile since I worry about the use of petroleum jelly.
You wrote and reported on MoM for a long time before you ever developed a handy dandy roll on of MoM! How dare any body say that because you mentioned your roll on it made the article credibility less. What you reported was helpful and your developing an easy to use application form is added bliss.
You also reported on soap under the sheets to help restless leg and cramps for many years; your developing a FLAT version of the soap is an added bonus.
Keep up the good work, y'all.
Hi, SB. I don't know if you saw my comment I submitted a couple of hours after yours. So I'm pasting it in below and am posting it directly to you. I could provide the address for a commercial website I really like, but I have the impression People's Pharmacy doesn't want to get into advertising for others on their site. So here's the second paragraph of what I wrote.
"As far as the perspiration problem SB mentioned above, people can do an Internet search on "underarm dress shield" and get items that can be worn and don't have to be sewn in. I find them very comfortable, and they also save clothing from a lot of washing."
I am a professional chemist and am amazed that nobody has said that alum actually contains aluminum, because it is a potassium aluminum sulfate salt. Here is the wikipedia link, that is pretty good: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alum
On the People's Pharmacy site and others that cover non-aluminum deodorants, alum is sometimes mentioned, but not one time have I seen anybody say that alum contains aluminum. If you guys are pharmacists, you should have caught that one.
In general, as a chemist, I must say that the public's ignorance of chemistry is huge and I constantly read information online that is absolutely false. Much of it could be avoided by simply checking Wikipedia... while the information there is not error-free, in most cases it is quite good!
PEOPLE'S PHARMACY RESPONSE:
Dear Martin,
You must have missed our very recent post about this precise issue. Please visit this link or put this title into our search engine: Are Natural Alum Crystal Deodorants Safe?
http://www.peoplespharmacy.com/2012/02/06/are-natural-alum-crystal-deodorants-safe/