warning: long post

What to look out for


IRRITANTS/ALLERGENS

Astringent salts of aluminum, zinc or zirconium are used in anti-perspirants to seal up pores and reduce their sweat output. These compounds are a leading cause of irritation from anti-perspirants, and can cause contact dermatitis or granulomas. They vary in their potential to produce irritation: aluminum chloride, for example, produces the most irritation, and aluminum chlorohydrate is far less likely to irritate. "Crystal" odor-controlling products, which contain ammonium alum (ammonium aluminum sulfate) or potassium alum (potassium aluminum sulfate), also are milder choices. These more natural, less refined aluminum compounds are either directly listed on the label or are among the "mineral salts" contained in the product.

Many anti-perspirants and deodorants, left on the underarm skin for many hours, have the potential to trigger adverse reactions. Fragrances, in all personal care products, are chief culprits in cases of contact dermatitis—allergic skin reactions that include swelling, itching, inflammation, and even blisters. Reactions for some irritants even can occur days later and appear far from the product's contact site. It can be difficult for a consumer to avoid particular problem ingredients even when they are known, as fragrance ingredients often are not detailed in labels. Those with sensitive skin and with known allergic reactions to perfumes may wish to choose fragrance-free products. Read labels carefully: even "unscented" products often will have a "masking fragrance" listed among its ingredients.

Formaldehyde, associated with several common preservatives used in shampoos, can cause nausea, coughing, wheezing and burning sensations in the eyes, nose and throat at air levels as low as 0.1 ppm (parts per million). Other potential irritants found in anti-perspirants and deodorants include propylene glycol, EDTA, lanolin (cosmetic grade), Bronopol, imidazolidinyl urea, quaternium 15, D&C Green 5, FD&C Yellow 5. Also look out for "Germaben II" and “Germaben IIE,” used as preservatives in personal care products: they contain propylparaben, methylparaben, diazolidinyl urea, and propylene glycol. Some synthetic ingredients (such as paraben compounds) and some natural substances (such as peppermint, eucalyptus, and wintergreen oils), moreover, can trigger potentially serious allergic reactions.

Those with known sensitivities to personal care product ingredients should carefully test products for problems and avoid those with ingredients that trigger bad reactions. Adverse responses can also develop or worsen over time, so those prone to allergic reactions should always use personal care products mindfully.

Major medical organizations at the moment remain unconvinced of any connection between aluminum consumption and Alzheimer's Disease. The Alzheimer's Association, in a 2002 report, states that "Although research into the Alzheimer's/aluminum connection continues, most mainstream health professionals believe, based on current knowledge, that exposure to aluminum is not a significant risk factor." The World Health Organization (WHO), the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and Health Canada all concur. Furthermore, the federal government's Risk Assessment Information System Toxicity Profile of Aluminum describes aluminum as being "not readily absorbed through the skin." David Steinman, co-author of The Safe Shopper's Bible, nevertheless suggests minimizing exposure to aluminum as a an easy, prudent, precautionary measure and a healthy overall lifestyle decision. Consumers can choose to avoid aluminum-containing anti-perspirants, cookware, foil, beverage cans, and antacids. Aluminum-free odor-controlling products—deodorants, as opposed to anti-perspirants—do exist as alternatives.


POSSIBLE AND PROBABLE CARCINOGENIC INGREDIENTS

Through contamination or reactions with other ingredients or contaminants, some cosmetic ingredients unintentionally offer possible threats to health. As there is no way to know whether or not a problematic contamination or reaction has occurred in any individual product, avoiding contaminant risks in general is recommended.

Formaldehyde can be present in the preservatives DMDM hydantoin, diazolidinyl urea, imidazolidinyl urea, quaternium-15, and Bronopol. Formaldehyde is "reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen," according to the National Toxicology Program's Tenth Report on Carcinogens, and The Environmental Protection Agency classifies it as a probable human carcinogen. It also can produce skin, eye and respiratory irritation. In its liquid state, formaldehyde can be absorbed through the skin. As a volatile organic compound, or VOC, formaldehyde evaporates when the product is wet, and air levels drop sharply once it's dry. Formaldehyde thus poses more of a health risk in roll-on antiperspirants (which are applied as liquid and dry on the body), and can also offgas more readily when perspiring.

Polyethylene, PEG compounds (containing polyethylene glycol) and polysorbates may become contaminated with 1,4 dioxane. 1,4 dioxane has produced liver cancer in rodents in National Cancer Institute studies, and is listed as a probable human carcinogen in the National Toxicology Program's Tenth Report on Carcinogens. Some laboratory data furthermore calls into question the practice of putting polyethylene on skin: The World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) reports that some laboratory rats and mice developed cancer when implanted with polyethylene under the skin. -Eth compounds (which contain a component ending in -eth, such as "laureth") are also a 1,4 dioxane contamination risk.

Look out for diethanolamine (DEA) and the similar chemical triethanolamine (TEA). Both of these can react with nitrites (often present in preservatives) to form carcinogenic nitrosamines, which can be absorbed through the skin, says the FDA. The risk of this reaction occurring is higher if the product also contains Bronopol. Compounds with MEA, DEA, or TEA in their names can present this problem.

Bronopol is not only a formaldehyde risk; it also can cause carcinogenic nitrosamines to form in personal care products, according to the FDA. The risk is heightened if amine-containing ingredients such as DEA, TEA, or MEA are also present.

Although they are used in small quantities, problematic coloring agents in personal care products pose unneeded health risks. Some commonly-used dyes are allergens and irritants. Some contain lead acetate, a heavy metal toxic to the nervous system, while others are linked with cancers. Particularly worrying are "coal-tar" dyes found in many FD&C and D&C colors. FD&C Blue 1 and FD &C Green 3 are carcinogenic, and impurities in other colors—D&C Red 33, FD&C Yellow 5 and FD&C Yellow 6—have been shown to cause cancer when applied to the skin.

David Steinman suggests avoiding the following colors:

D&C Green 5
D&C Orange 17
D&C Red 9
D&C Red 19
D&C Red 33
FD&C Blue 1
FD&C Green 3
FD&C Red 4
FD&C Red 40
FD&C Yellow 5
FD&C Yellow 6
No credible evidence exists to link anti-perspirant use to breast cancer. The American Cancer Society has compiled a convincing set of counter-arguments to this widespread, Internet-disseminated rumor: www.cancer.org/docroot/nws/...l_rumors.asp.


HORMONE DISRUPTION RISKS


Methylparaben, propylparaben, ethylparaben, or butylparaben are preservatives widely used in personal care products. They can be allergenic, and there is preliminary evidence that parabens act like estrogens; they therefore may be able to disrupt normal hormone functioning in humans.

Considered protected trade secrets by the FDA, personal care product manufacturers do not have to disclose the many ingredients in the fragrances they use. Phthalates, commonly used in perfumes, may be a component in the mysterious "fragrance" ingredient you often see listed on makeup labels. Various members of this family of chemical plasticizers, solvents, and fixatives have been found to produce cancer of the liver and birth defects in laboratory animals; the possibility of ties to hormone disruption in humans is being studied. In a population of women aged 20 to 40 tested for phthalates by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), five percent harbored phthalate levels high enough to concern the CDC. A December 2002 study by Harvard researchers also found a correlation between sperm damage in men and the levels of diethyl phthalate in their bodies (diethyl phthalate is commonly used in fragrances and perfumes). While no causal relationship has been proven, the study authors argue that the association demands further research.

To avoid phthalates, choose unscented products or those whose labels reveal simple essential oils from botanical sources. You can also choose products from companies that have publicly refrained from using phthalates. Aubrey Organics, Avalon, Kiss My Face, Jason, Logona, Nature's Gate, Speickwerk, Terressentials, Tom's of Maine, and Weleda have affirmed to The Green Guide that they never use phthalates in their products.

Although rarely used in deodorants, Alkylphenol ethoxylates (APEs) can disrupt normal hormone function. Children and pregnant women in particular should not use products that contain APEs. To avoid these substances, look out for ingredients with "octoxynol" or "nonoxynol" in their names.


ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE

Triclosan, common in deodorants and anti-bacterial soaps, has been shown to cause liver damage to animals in laboratory studies. Moreover, it contributes to a general problem arising from the ubiquitous overuse of antibiotics: the creation of antibiotic-resistant super-bacteria. A 1998 Tufts University study, published in Nature, has demonstrated that some bacteria are resistant to triclosan's effects, setting the stage for future generations of bacteria immune to triclosan. This is of concern because triclosan is similar to two important disease-fighting human antibiotics: diazaborine, currently used against against E. coli, and isoniazid, an anti-tuberculosis drug. Breeding bacteria immune to triclosan's effects could compromise the effectiveness of these drugs. In March 2002, a U.S. Geological Survey study found triclosan in over 57% of the streams it surveyed, which suggests that bacteria have widespread opportunities to develop resistance. For these reasons, The Alliance for the Prudent Use of Antibiotics recommends avoiding triclosan and other over-the-counter antibacterials.


RESPIRATORY PROBLEMS

Aerosol products often use fossil fuels, such as butane and propane, as delivery agents. These are flammable and potentially irritating, and use nonrenewable resources. Moreover, the aerosol anti-perspirants introduce the product's metal-containing astringent salts into the air, where they can be inhaled. Prudent consumers may wish to avoid inhaling fossil fuels and metallic compounds. Aerosols that contain talc are another concern, as inhaling talc may be carcinogenic. For these reasons, The Green Guide does not recommend using aerosol anti-perspirants and deodorants, and none are reviewed in our chart below.



INGREDIENTS CHART

The following chart may prove helpful in sorting through personal care product ingredients. The 7 Ugly Ingredients in Personal Care Products pdf file beneath it may also be kept in your wallet as a handy guide:

Ingredient Potential
Irritant / Allergen Possible
Cancer Risk Possible
Hormone Disruption Risk
Bronopol + +
Coal tar +
DEA, TEA, and MEA compounds +
Diazolidinyl urea +
DMDM hydantoin + +
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) +
Fragrances + +
(if phthalates present)
Imidazolidinyl urea + +
Quaternium 15 + +

Click here to download a printable wallet-card listing the 7 Ugly Ingredients to Avoid in Personal Care products
www.thegreenguide.com/pdf-fre...ugly.pdf

I don't think there's any shame in using the right tool for the job

LUSH makes some pretty good natural deodorants - they seem pricey but last a long time. There are a couple of stores in sf but you can check out their products online www.lush.com

I must admit that I don't use deoderant or anti-perspirant. I have allergies and cannot tolerate the scent of any of the scented ones (even having a co-worker or friend sit too close to me while wearing them is enough to trigger my allergies). I have one of those "hippie crystals" or mineral stones that kills off bacteria that I use if I can't grab a shower.

I do realize that some people really do have to worry about body odor, due to body chemistry, illness, or diet, but I think the majority of us are a little too preoccupied with not sweating or with any kind of natural body scent.

This opinion could also be due to the fact that I cannot tolerate chemical fragrances at all due to allergies and everywhere I go I am confronted with them, even when the location is designated a fragrance free zone.

Just my little soap box rant, no offense intended. My nose and lungs are just very mad at me today...

"Toms of Maine one but it usually leaves a big red rash in my pit"

That's exactly what happened! I am STILL trying to get rid of it.