Hi there! Thank you for your question. Antiperspirants and deodorants are made from aluminum-based compounds. These compounds form a plug at the sweat ducts to stop the flow of sweat to the skin surface. A few members of the scientific community have suggested that there could possibly be a relationship between underarm antiperspirants or deodorants are applied near the breast and contain potentially carcinogenic ingredients.

These claim are made on the basis of :

1. Aluminum-containing underarm antiperspirants, which are applied frequently and left on the skin near the breast, may be absorbed by the skin and have estrogen-like (hormonal) effects.

2. Aluminum may have direct activity in breast tissue.

3. Parabens, which are preservatives used in some deodorants and antiperspirants that have been shown to mimic the activity of estrogen in the body’s cells. It has been reported that parabens are found in breast tumors, but there is no evidence that they cause breast cancer. Also most deodorants do not use parabens anymore.

Estrogen can promote the growth of breast cancer cells, so some scientists have suggested that the aluminum-based compounds in antiperspirants may contribute to the development of breast cancer. However, no studies to date have confirmed any substantial evidence of the above claims.

In one study in 2002, the results showed that the use of underarm antiperspirant or deodorant does not increase breast cancer risk. It also showed that there is no increased risk when a woman used deodorant and blade razor for shaving. The study was based on 813 women with breast cancer and 793 women with no history of breast cancer. Many other studies done in 2014, 2006 and 2003 also shared similar results.

Because studies have provided results that suggest that is no relationship between antiperspirants/deodorants and breast, it is safe to say that they do not cause breast cancer but additional research would be needed to further confirm this.

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