Is deodorant better with or without aluminum?

The main difference between aluminum-free deodorant and aluminum-containing deodorant is that the former blocks odor, while the second blocks sweat. Sweating is our healthy way of cooling the body, and the sweat in our armpits is activated by the nervous system through the apocrine glands. Switching to an aluminum-free deodorant can certainly be a good first step in preventing irritation. However, some aluminum-free deodorants contain astringents, such as alcohol, that remove all bacteria from the skin to prevent odor.

Alcohol dries out the skin a lot and, over time, can cause skin problems, such as rashes and inflammation. That's why our aluminum-free deodorants use botanicals to control odor-causing bacteria without alcohol or other drying chemicals. It also has cornstarch to control sweat quickly without clogging pores, plus aloe vera to soothe the skin. So, if your goal is to stop sweat and odor, antiperspirants containing aluminum are still your best and safest option.

Before we can continue to discuss the switch to a natural deodorant, we need to clarify something. Antiperspirants and deodorants work differently in their methods of reducing body odor, says Aragona Giuseppe, MD, GP and medical advisor to Prescription Doctor. Simply put, an antiperspirant will contain aluminum. The function of aluminum is to reduce perspiration by preventing sweat from leaving the body, thus stopping adverse odor and keeping the body dry.

Conversely, a deodorant works to neutralize natural body odor by masking it. My choice to switch to a natural deodorant was simple, but the transition didn't go as well as I had planned. In terms of personal care, natural alternatives, from toothpaste and deodorant to shampoo and body lotion, seem to be everywhere. Some people who quickly switched from an antiperspirant containing aluminum to a natural deodorant have seen unpleasant results on social media, such as a bad smell, significant sweating, and irritation of the underarm area.

Now, 10 years after my transition to natural deodorant, I finally see natural varieties that give free rein to conventional hygiene.