Ditch your deodorant!

Most of us apply deodorant or antiperspirant every single day—often without ever checking the label. But what goes onto your skin doesn’t just stay on the surface. Your underarm area contains sweat glands, lymphatic channels, and thin, regularly shaved skin that can increase absorption. In recent years, researchers have raised concerns about certain ingredients found in common deodorant and antiperspirant formulations. Some may interfere with hormones, others may irritate or damage the skin barrier, and a few belong to the family of so-called “forever chemicals”, chemicals that stay in your body for a long, long time and that is not a good thing.

Below is a quick breakdown of the most common additive classes found in many roll-on and spray deodorants—and the potential risks associated with each:

• PFAS (“Forever Chemicals”) – Linked to immune, hormonal, and developmental problems.
• Aluminum Salts – block sweat ducts, altering natural skin function. It shows estrogen-like activity and is potentially linked to increased breast cancer risk
• Parabens (Preservatives) – Known hormonal disruptors that mimic estrogen ( female hormone )
• Phthalates* (Often Hidden Under “Fragrance”) – Disrupt hormone signaling in multiple pathways. Linked to reproductive and developmental effects ( *Frequently undisclosed due to “fragrance” loopholes )
• Synthetic Fragrances – Can contain hundreds of undisclosed chemicals and are common triggers for contact dermatitis and allergies

These are just some of the most frequent, but the list continues with other additives such as synthetic antimicrobials (e.g., Triclosan), talc and others that can accumulate in the body, carry cancer-increasing risks, and more.