Ingredients of Antiperspirants

7/27/2019 Ingredients of Antiperspirants

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Ingredients Of Antiperspirants(http://anti-perspirant.info/ingredients-of-antiperspirants/)

Effectiveness of antiperspirants is generally based on the concentration

(commonly called strength) of the principal active agent aluminium chloride.

Today, the antiperspirant market offers hundreds of different products, each

with diverging concentrations. Beyond that, most industrial made products do

not provide any information about their strength. In 2009, the collaborative

project www.wiki-products.org started an official compendium,

(listing + chart) but most manufacturers of antiperspirants did not reply to the

official request. As a consequence of this, customers still do not know how

much aluminium chloride many well-known and prominently advertised

products contain.Three examples for recipes and ingredients:

Deodorant (often marketed as antiperspirant)

approx. 1 % 5 % aluminium chloride (AlCl3)

perfumes

conservatives

emulsifiers (e.g. PEGs)

colourants

skin care additives (e.g. parabens)

alcohol denat.

butan (as propellent)

others

Industrially made antiperspirant

approx. 5 % 15 % aluminum chloride (AlCl3)

aqua

citric acid

tartaric acid

hydrochloric acid glycerin (adhesive agent)

calcium chloride

sodium chloride

conservatives

emulsifiers

Prescription strength antiperspirant
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approx. 15 % 30 % aluminium hexahydrate (AlnCl[3n-m][OH]m) *

aqua

Usnea barbata plant extracts (Old Mans Beard)

Eugenia caryophyllus plant extracts (clove, blossom)

Salvia officinalis plant extracts (sage)

emulsifiers

alcohol denat.

fig. above| Only antiperspirants of the newest generation contain

natural plant extracts which can prevent skin irritations.

Recommended plant extracts are: sage (left); Usnea barbata (Old

Mans Beard, middle) and clove (right).

Experts Tip: To battle excessive sweating or Hyperhidrosis, persons concerned

should always prefer prescription strength antiperspirants with a percentage of20 % or higher.

People with sensitive skin should avoid products with various unacquainted

ingredients. Customers should become aware of the fact that many industrially

made antiperspirants contain a lot of substances which are therapeutically

obsolete:

colourants are added for the visual impression only

perfumes will only mask body odour, they cannot prevent its forming

conservatives simply allow fabrication and storage in very large numbers

acids of any kind will irritate the skin, allergic reactions can occur

disinfectants or germicides (e.g. triclosan) are controversial additives in

cosmetics as they can destroy the natural bacterial flora of the skin
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fig. above| Chemical structure of triclosan (polychloro phenoxy

phenol). Several studies indicated that triclosan could alter the

hormone regulation. It also contributes to making bacteria resistant to

antibiotics. Still, though, the cosmetic industry use triclosan as a

disinfectant in many products, for example in antiperspirants.

Of course, some ingredients, such as emulsifiers, are not avoidable as they

make safe and (bio)compatible liquids possible.

Denatured alcohol, as a further example, has a bad reputation, but in

association with antiperspirants it is the preferred medium for aluminium

chloride. The aluminium salt is known for its strong chemical reactions with

water by which hydrochloric acid and gas are formed. In some aqueous products

(with water instead of alcohol, see example above) this reaction is slowed down

by adding glycerin and/or cellulose. Nevertheless, condensate or sweat (by

using roll-ons) could get into the antiperspirant bottle continuously until

the reversal pointis eventually reached. By that, the forming of irritating acids isjust a question of time.

In general, customers should turn more attention on natural ingredients. Plant

extracts and organic oils are the best choice for people with sensitive skin

(especially women and children).

Raised suspicion: unacquainted ingredients

Parabens:

Parabens are the most widely used preservatives in cosmetic products. The

most common parabens used in cosmetic products

are methylparaben,propylparaben, and butylparaben.

A famous study published in 2004 (Darbre et al., Journal of Applied Toxicology)

detected parabens in breast tumors. However, the study left several questions

unanswered. For example, the study did not show that parabens cause cancer,

or that they are harmful in any way, and the study did not look at possible

paraben levels in normal tissue. In spite of that, a bustling unobjective
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discussion arose on the internet. Apprehensive people, mostly female customers

who regularly were using cosmetics (approx. 50 % of which contain parabens),

addressed the FDA (for example) and asked for an scientific evaluation of the

risks.

The FDA is aware that estrogenic activity in the body is associated with certain

forms of breast cancer. Although parabens can act similarly to estrogen, they

have been shown to have much less estrogenic activity than the bodys

naturally occurring estrogen. For example, a 1998 study (Routledge et al.,

in Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology) found that the most potent paraben

tested in the study, butylparaben, showed from 10,000- to 100,000-fold less

activity than naturally occurring estradiol (a form of estrogen). Further,

parabens are used at very low levels in cosmetics. In a review of the estrogenic

activity of parabens, (Golden et al., in Critical Reviews in Toxicology, 2005) theauthor concluded that based on maximum daily exposure estimates, it was

implausible that parabens could increase the risk associated with exposure to

estrogenic chemicals.

The FDA believes that at the present time there is no reason for consumers to

be concerned about the use of cosmetics containing parabens. However, the

agency will continue to evaluate new data in this area. If FDA determines that a

health hazard exists, the agency will advise the industry and the public.

Experts tip: However, people who arent sure about the whole buzz should

take a closer look at the label of their antiperspirant. There are several

antiperspirants without parabens. Some products do not contain preservatives

at all.

Triclosan:

Triclosan is an ingredient added to many consumer products to reduce or

prevent bacterial contamination (= disinfectantor germicide). It may be found

in products such as clothing, kitchenware, furniture, and cosmetics, for example

in antiperspirants/deodorants.Several studies indicated that triclosan could alter the hormone regulation. It

also contributes to making bacteria resistant to antibiotics a serious problem

for hospitals and clinics. Concerning the usage as a remedy for body odour in

antiperspirants, triclosan has been accused to eliminate the complete
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bacterial floraof the skin no matter if these germs are good or bad ones.

Some germs, of course, are needful and important for healthy skin conditions.

Experts tip: Since triclosan became part of many health discussions a lot of

cosmetic manufacturers have updated the recipes of their products, thus there a

serveral antiperspirants avaiable that do not contain triclosan or other

disinfectants.

Pentapeptides:

Some products are sold as alternative antiperspirants that do not contain any

aluminium salts. As an equivalent for the renowned AlCl3, an unknown and quite

ominous ingredient namedpentapeptide shall do the work of sweat reduction.

Peptides are shortpolymers ofamino acids (a pentapeptide has 5 amino acids)

linked by peptide bonds, but this is roughly all that customers might be able to

find out. Pentapeptides originally were tested for regeneration of wounded skin,later they found their way into anti-wrinkle creams and related products.

Anyhow, it was never explained how these polymers could work as anti-

perspirantion agents. The FDA is still collecting scientific data, so there is no

final conclusion if pentapeptides are hazardous for humans or not.

Experts tip: As long as there is no final evaluation or statement by the FDA

people should avoid revolutionary technologies. Still, over 97 % of all

antiperspirants trust in the classic effect of AlCl3.

Nanoscale silver (nanoparticles)

Nanotechnology(the common short form is nanotech) is now used in the

development and production of foods, color additives, dietary supplements,

cosmetics, drugs and clothing fabrics. A nanometeris one-billionth of a meter,

or one 25-millionth of an inch. A nanoparticle is defined as any molecular

particle that is less than 100 nanometers in size.

Nanoparticles play a role in dozens ofeverydayproducts. Scientists estimate

between 350 and 700 products manufactured in at least 17 different countries

on the market employ nanotech. In cosmetical antiperspirants, nanoscaled silver

(silver nanoparticles) is used for several reasons: Disinfectant: Silver, as a natural metal, has germicidal effects and kills

many lower organisms effectively without harm to higher animals. For

example, silver is capable of rendering stored drinking water potable for a

long period of time. Many metallic surfaces of medical devices,

refridgerators and washing machines are nowadays covered with a thin

layer of nanosilver in order to prevent growth of bacteria. Fabrics of


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sportive clothing are often impregnated with silver nanoparticles for similar

reasons (prevention of body odour). In antiperspirants, the same silver

compounds shall reduce the development of BO as well.

Conveyor: the nanosilver enables transdermal transport and resorption.

By slipping through cell membranes which are made from wider scaled

molecules it allows ingredients of all kinds to sink into

the dermis (transcellular osmosis). This could be an issue, as AlCl3 is not

meant to enter the deeper parts of the skin.

Cleaning agent: nanoscaled silver particles allow to create clean

conditions on the skin. The microscopical rough surface of the spreaded

particles has similar effects as the outer face of a lotus leave which easilyrejects dirt and dust. This effect is known as lotus effect.

Nanoscale silver was introduced to the public as an innovative and spectacular

technology which offers millions of chances. In no time, industry has avariciously

adopted this invention to create endless variations. Today there are reams of

products that use nanotech. A billion dollar business.

Ever since, critical observers said that the rampant use of nanoparticles came

much too fast, without any regulation and previous research. As a matter of

fact, there were no long-time studies, or official informations if these particles

could be dangerous in any way. Not until much later, when a comparable

discussion about hazardous dieselfine particles led to strict laws (regulated

exhaust emissions), critics reminded the responsible authorities to re-examine

nanotech.
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photo above| Electron microscope image of nanoscale silver. Scientist

are still not sure if nano particles could be hazardous to health and

environment. What could happen if nanosilver pollutes the hydrologic

circle? Will animals, for example fishes, develop cellular deformations?

Subsequent evaluation:

The nanotech article on wikipedia.org quotes several recent studies

concerningnanotoxicology, it says: nanoparticles present possible dangers,

both medically and environmentally. Most of these are due to the high surface

to volume ratio, which can make the particles very reactive or catalytic. They

are also able to pass through cell membranes in organisms, and their

interactions with biological systems are relatively unknown. (complete article)

*Aluminium hexahydrate (also known as aluminium chlorohydrate) is apure and hydrated (by water purification) form of aluminium chloride.

It is used in high-quality antiperspirants for an improved drying effect.
http://www.wikipedia.org/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nanotoxicologyhttp://www.wikipedia.org/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nanotoxicology

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Ingredients of Antiperspirants