Helmut Melzer
They are just everywhere on our body: sweat cells but a secretion to regulate primarily the body temperature. Originally an evolutionary advantage: This made it possible for the early humans to hunt longer, without having to look after the game without exhaustion. But a second purpose is the wet on the skin: In hot flashes of a completely different kind, the contained sexual perfumes praise us pheromones as potential love partners.
But actually the secretion from the pores is completely odorless, consists to 99 percent of water and otherwise mainly of electrolytes, amino acids and urea. Only when sneaky bacteria break down the sweat into short-chain formic acid does some of the nose raise alarm.
If you still want to remain sociable, then a deodorant is recommended.
Already in ancient times, various substances were used to cover the body odor, today deodorants are highly developed products with many functions: They serve to odor cover, antimicrobial act against bacteria, as an antiperspirant to control the sweat glands, odor-absorbing, as enzyme inhibitors against enzymes involved and as antioxidants Control of oxidation processes.
Harmful ingredients
Countless ingredients ensure that a deodorant also works. But doctors and various organizations warn that the ingredients of conventional deodorants are harmful to health. Aluminum compounds, parabens, alcohols etc. can cause allergies and other serious illnesses. The environmental organization Global 2000 recently examined around 400 cosmetic products. Conclusion: More than a third of conventional personal care products contain chemicals that have an effect on hormones. "The result of our cosmetics check is so worrying because the substances found are chemicals whose hormonally damaging potential on animals has been clearly demonstrated," explains Helmut Burtscher, biochemist at the non-governmental organization: "With the When using cosmetic products, these substances get into the body, where they can disturb the hormonal balance and cause irreversible damage to health. "
Aluminum in deodorant
The German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment has tested 2014's heavily criticized aluminum compounds in cosmetics that have the antiperspirant effect in deodorants. In particular, a possible involvement in the development of Alzheimer's and breast cancer is repeatedly questioned. As background information: Everybody already takes in aluminum every day via food. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has calculated the tolerance limit: for a 60 kilogram adult, a systemic dose of 8,6 micrograms per day is considered harmless. Back to the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment: Here, the estimated aluminum intake from antiperspirants was evaluated. Result: Already on various cosmetic products, the body absorbs more with 10,5 micrograms of aluminum than recommended by EFSA - daily, food not included. Nevertheless, a connection to breast cancer can not be proven scientifically. The list of possible health effects is long.
A common, undesirable ingredient in deodorants is antibacterial alcohol. The arguments: He dry out the skin, making them sensitive to harmful germs and injuries.
Alternative natural cosmetics deodorants
No question, natural cosmetics creates in the face of warnings for remedy. Numerous manufacturers already offer effective deodorants without parabens or aluminum.
The Swiss organic cosmetics manufacturer Farfalla is just one of them. Why do the alternative products work without questionable ingredients? "Farfalla uses a complex with the main ingredient triethylcitrate, which has a bactericidal effect. In addition, we select natural, well-dosed oils that support this process, such as sage and citrus. As slightly astringent substances (contraction effect on the pores, note d.) We use witch hazel and pomegranate water. The goal of Farfalla deodorants, however, is not primarily anti-sweat, but the prevention of bad odor by bacteria, "explains Jean-Claude Richard, of Farfalla Product Development.
Triethylcitrate is a citric acid triethyl ester which is formed from the esterification of ethanol with vegetable citric acid. This deodorant is very well tolerated and a good alternative to the many problematic deodorants on the market. Especially the manufacturers of natural cosmetics are setting a good example. But even among the conventional suppliers, some manufacturers have already succeeded in banishing the problem substances from many products. Only 2014 has announced the Rewe Group, the private brands of the questionable ingredients to free - and kept its word. In the meantime, all care products from the bi good line have been certified by the NaTrue seal of approval and are therefore manufactured without synthetic colors and fragrances, paraffins, parabens, silicones and aluminum chlorides.
Or just lemon?
Anyone who wants to counteract evil odors quite naturally, of course, can resort to the well-tried home remedy lemon: The acidic constituents (such as ascorbic acid) have an astringent effect, ie the skin contracts, which narrows the sweat pores and reduces the sweat emissions becomes.
The most essential, questionable ingredients of cosmetics, listed by Global 2000.
Frequent occurrence
- Methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben, butylparaben are preservatives.
- Ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate - UV filter
- Alcohol denate. - denatured alcohol (may contain hormonally active chemicals)
- Cyclomethicone (alternative name: Cyclotetrasiloxane) - conditioner for the skin and hair
- Triclosan - preservative
Rare occurrence
- Resorcinol - Hair Dye (Caution: common with hair dye)
- Bezonphenone 1, Benzophenone 2 - UV absorber
- BHA - antioxidant
- Diethyl phthalates - denaturing, softening, hair conditioning
- 4-Methylbenzylidene Camphor, 3 Benzylidene Camphor - UV Filters
- Hydroxycinnamic Acid - skin care product
- Boric Acid - for protection against bacteria
- Dihydroxybiphenyl - Skin protection
ToxFox - Check products by mobile phone
Nearly a third of cosmetics and personal care products contain hormonal chemicals that can damage your health. The App "ToxFox", designed by the "German Federal Government for the Environment and Nature Conservation", makes it possible to find out in a matter of seconds, by scanning the barcode, whether a cosmetic product contains hormonally active chemicals and, if so, which ones.
For Apple and Android!
