Deodorant

Roll-on deodorant Rexona "Degree" brand

A deodorant is a substance applied to the body to prevent body odor caused by the bacterial breakdown of perspiration in armpits, feet, and other areas of the body. A subgroup of deodorants, antiperspirants, affect odor as well as prevent sweating by affecting sweat glands. Antiperspirants are typically applied to the underarms, while deodorants may also be used on feet and other areas in the form of body sprays.

In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration classifies and regulates most deodorants as cosmetics, but classifies antiperspirants as over-the-counter drugs.^[1]

The first commercial deodorant, Mum, was introduced and patented in the late nineteenth century by an inventor in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Edna Murphey.^[2] The product was briefly withdrawn from the market in the U.S.^[2] The modern formulation of the antiperspirant was patented by Jules Montenier on January 28, 1941.^[3] This formulation was first found in "Stopette" deodorant spray, which Time magazine called "the best-selling deodorant of the early 1950s".^[4]

There is a popular myth that deodorant use is linked to breast cancer, but so far no such causal link has been substantiated in research.^[5][6]

History[edit]

In 1888, the first commercial deodorant, Mum, was developed and patented by a U.S. inventor in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Edna Murphey.^[2] The small company was bought by Bristol-Myers in 1931 and in the late 1940s, Helen Barnett Diserens developed an underarm applicator based on the newly invented ball-point pen.^[7][8] In 1952, the company began marketing the product under the name Ban Roll-On.^[7][8][9] The product was briefly withdrawn from the market in the U.S.,^[2] but it is once again available at retailers in the U.S. under the brand Ban.^[10] In the UK it is sold under the names Mum Solid and Mum Pump Spray.^[2] Chattem acquired Ban deodorant brand in 1998^[11] and subsequently sold it to Kao Corporation in 2000.^[12]

In 1903, the first commercial antiperspirant was Everdry.[1] The modern formulation of the antiperspirant was patented by Jules Montenier on January 28, 1941.^[3] This patent addressed the problem of the excessive acidity of aluminum chloride and its excessive irritation of the skin, by combining it with a soluble nitrile or a similar compound.^[3] This formulation was first found in "Stopette" deodorant spray, which Time Magazine called "the best-selling deodorant of the early 1950s".^[4] "Stopette" gained its prominence as the first and long-time sponsor of the game show What's My Line?, and was later eclipsed by many other brands as the 1941 patent expired.^{[citation needed]}

Between 1942 and 1957 the market for deodorants increased 600 times to become a $70 million market. Deodorants were originally marketed primarily to women, but by 1957 the market had expanded to male users, and estimates were that 50% of men were using deodorants by that date. The Ban Roll-On product led the market in sales.^[13]

In the early 1960s, the first aerosol antiperspirant in the marketplace was Gillette's Right Guard, whose brand was later sold to Henkel in 2006.^[14] Aerosols were popular because they let the user dispense a spray without coming in contact with the underarm area. By the late 1960s, half of all the antiperspirants sold in the U.S. were aerosols, and continued to grow in all sales to 82% by the early 1970s. However, in the late 1970s two problems arose which greatly changed the popularity of these products. First, in 1977 the U.S. Food and Drug Administration banned the active ingredient used in aerosols, aluminium zirconium chemicals, due to safety concerns over long term inhalation. Second, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency limited the use of chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) propellants used in aerosols due to awareness that these gases can contribute to depleting the ozone layer. As the popularity of aerosols slowly decreased, stick antiperspirants became more popular.^{[citation needed]}

Overview[edit]

Stick antiperspirant/deodorant

Human perspiration is largely odorless until it is fermented by bacteria that thrive in hot, humid environments. The human underarm is among the most consistently warm areas on the surface of the human body, and sweat glands provide moisture, which when excreted, has a vital cooling effect. When adult armpits are washed with alkaline pH soap, the skin loses its acid mantle (pH 4.5 - 6), raising the skin pH and disrupting the skin barrier.^[15] As many bacteria thrive in this elevated pH environment,^[16] this makes the skin susceptible to bacterial colonization.^[16] The bacteria feed on the sweat from the apocrine glands and on dead skin and hair cells, releasing trans-3-methyl-2-hexenoic acid in their waste, which is the primary cause of body odor.^[17] Underarm hair wicks the moisture away from the skin and aids in keeping the skin dry enough to prevent or diminish bacterial colonization. The hair is less susceptible to bacterial growth and therefore is ideal for preventing the bacterial odor.^[18]

Deodorant[edit]

In the United States, deodorants are classified and regulated as cosmetics by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)^[1] and are designed to eliminate odor. Deodorants are often alcohol-based. Alcohol initially stimulates sweating, but may also temporarily kill bacteria. Other active ingredients in deodorants include sodium stearate, sodium chloride and stearyl alcohol. Deodorants can be formulated with other, more persistent antimicrobials such as triclosan that slow bacterial growth or with metal chelant compounds such as EDTA. Deodorants may contain perfume fragrances or natural essential oils intended to mask the odor of perspiration. In the past, deodorants included chemicals such as zinc oxide, acids, ammonium chloride, sodium bicarbonate and formaldehyde, but some of these ingredients were messy, irritating to the skin or even carcinogenic.^[19]

Over-the-counter products labeled as "natural deodorant crystal" containing the chemical potassium alum, which contains aluminum, have gained new-found popularity as an alternative health product, in spite of concerns about possible contact dermatitis.^[20] A popular alternative to modern commercial deodorants is ammonium alum, which is a common type of alum, also containing aluminum, sold in crystal form and often referred to as a deodorant crystal. It has been used as a deodorant throughout history in Thailand, the Far East, Mexico and other countries.^{[citation needed]}

Vaginal deodorant, in the form of sprays, suppositories and wipes, is often used by women to take away the smell of the vagina. Vaginal deodorants can sometimes cause dermatitis.^[21]

Deodorant antiperspirant[edit]

Methenamine based antiperspirant for treatment of excessive sweating

In the United States, deodorants combined with antiperspirant agents are classified as drugs by the FDA.^[1] Antiperspirants attempt to stop or significantly reduce perspiration and thus reduce the moist climate in which bacteria thrive. Aluminium chloride, aluminium chlorohydrate, and aluminium-zirconium compounds, most notably aluminium zirconium tetrachlorohydrex gly and aluminium zirconium trichlorohydrex gly, are frequently used in antiperspirants. Aluminium chlorohydrate and aluminium-zirconium tetrachlorohydrate gly are the most frequent active ingredients in commercial antiperspirants.^[22] Aluminium-based complexes react with the electrolytes in the sweat to form a gel plug in the duct of the sweat gland. The plugs prevent the gland from excreting liquid and are removed over time by the natural sloughing of the skin. The metal salts work in another way to prevent sweat from reaching the surface of the skin: the aluminium salts interact with the keratin fibrils in the sweat ducts and form a physical plug that prevents sweat from reaching the skin’s surface. Aluminium salts also have a slight astringent effect on the pores; causing them to contract, further preventing sweat from reaching the surface of the skin.^[23] The blockage of a large number of sweat glands reduces the amount of sweat produced in the underarms, though this may vary from person to person. Methenamine in the form of cream and spray is successfully used for treatment of excessive sweating and related to it odour. Antiperspirants are usually better applied before bed.^[24]

Form[edit]

Deodorants and antiperspirants come in many forms. What is commonly used varies in different countries. In Europe, aerosol sprays are popular, as are cream and roll-on forms. In North America, solid or gel forms are dominant.^{[citation needed]}

Health effects[edit]

After using a deodorant containing zirconium, the skin may develop an allergic, axillary granuloma response.^[25] Antiperspirants with propylene glycol, when applied to the axillae, can cause irritation and may promote sensitization to other ingredients in the antiperspirant.^[26] Deodorant crystals containing synthetically made potassium alum were found to be a weak irritant to the skin.^[20] Unscented deodorant is available for those with sensitive skin.^{[citation needed]} Frequent use of deodorants was associated with blood concentrations of the synthetic musk galaxolide.^[27]

Aluminum toxicity[edit]

An aluminum-free deodorant. Deodorants without aluminum are sometimes recommended for patients with breast cancer or undergoing chemotherapy.

Aluminum is present most often in antiperspirants in the form of aluminum chlorohydrate.^[22] Aluminum chlorohydrate is not the same as the compound aluminum chloride, which has been established as a neurotoxin.^{[28][29][30][31]} At high doses, aluminum itself adversely affects the blood–brain barrier, is capable of causing DNA damage, and has adverse epigenetic effects.^[28][32]

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, in a monograph dedicated to analysing the safety of deodorants, concluded that "despite many investigators looking at this issue, the agency does not find data from topical and inhalation chronic exposure animal and human studies submitted to date sufficient to change the monograph status of aluminum containing antiperspirants", therefore allowing their use and vowing to keep monitoring the scientific literature.^[33] Members of the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (Europe) concluded that "due to the lack of adequate data on dermal penetration to estimate the internal dose of aluminium following cosmetic uses, risk assessment cannot be performed."^[34]

Breast cancer[edit]

The myth that breast cancer is believed to be linked with deodorant use has been widely circulated, and appears to originate from a spam email sent in 1999;^[5] however, there is no evidence to support the existence of such a link.^[6] One constituent of deodorant products which has given cause for concern are parabens, a chemical additive.^[35] According to the American Cancer Society "studies have not shown any direct link between parabens and any health problems, including breast cancer".^[35]

Kidney dysfunction[edit]

The FDA has "acknowledge[d] that small amounts of aluminium can be absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract and through the skin.", leading to a warning "that people with kidney disease may not be aware that the daily use of antiperspirant drug products containing aluminium may put them at a higher risk because of exposure to aluminium in the product."^[33] The agency warns people with kidney dysfunction to consult a doctor before using antiperspirants containing aluminum.^[33]

Aerosol burns and frostbite[edit]

If aerosol deodorant is held close to the skin for long enough, it can cause an aerosol burn—a form of frostbite.^[36][37] In controlled tests, spray deodorants have been shown to cause temperature drops of over 60 °C in a short period of time.^[36]

Clothing[edit]

Aluminium zirconium tetrachlorohydrex gly, a common antiperspirant, can react with sweat to create yellow stains on clothing. Underarm liners are an antiperspirant alternative that does not leave stains.^[38][39]

See also[edit]

• Air freshener
• Aluminum chlorhydrate
• Body odor
• Perfume
• Perspiration

References[edit]

External links[edit]

Look up deodorant or antiperspirant in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Deodorant.

• Antiperspirants/Deodorants and breast cancer