What are the side effects from extra-strenght antiperspirant sports lotions?

February 1, 2007 4:38 PM

Have you experienced any side effects from extended use of extra-strenght, aluminun chloride based antiperspirant sports lotions? And what configures extended use? Twice a day for a week? Everyday for a year?

I have been reading about aluminum chloride lotions and wipes that prevent sweating of the hands and face when playing sports. I have read all the AskMeFi posts on excessive sweating and they mention several brands, but nobody talks clearly about the side effects of prolonged use.

Do they mess up the skin? Do the hands wind up looking like a cracked dry river bed? How about the neck? And what about the hair - can you use them on your head?

Current or former users, please respond!

posted by AnyGuelmann to health (2 comments total)

When I used an deoderant + antipersperant with aluminum, it made my underarms itch. Of course, I only ever really used one in middle school (15+ years ago), and when my arms started to itch, I mentioned it to my dad, and he said that he could not wear anti-persperant for the same reason. So since then I have bought deoderant-only... uh, deoderant, without really looking at the ingredients. They stopped making my old deoderant, so I switched to Tom's of Maine, which also has no aluminum, and that works fine for me. I mentioned this to a coworker once and she confirmed that she had the same problem, and was using a deoderant without aluminum and having good results.

There are some rumours that consumption of aluminum can increase one's risk of Alzheimer's and other ailments, perhaps another MeFite could provide that information?
posted by sarahnade at 10:36 PM on February 1, 2007

Not a sports deodorant per se, but I use a 20% aluminium chloride product called Driclor which you apply at night to dry skin and then wash off in the morning. When I first starting using it (nightly) it stung a little, and a LOT after I'd shaved my pits. Now, several years later, I use it only once per month and rarely sweat at all from my pits, with no apparent side effects whatsoever.

My sister also uses Driclor (we are a bit of a sweaty bunch) and uses it on places other than her pits (her face, under her breasts) and there was a little bit of dryness initially which was fixed by some remedial moisturising, but as it is used less and less frequently as time goes on it becomes a non-issue.

When I first started using it, I researched as much as I could on the dangers of high-aluminium deodorant. I couldn't find any reports conclusively linking such products with Alzheimer's or any other effects more dangerous than itchiness and stinging. That was a few years ago, though, so the situation may have changed.

I would say try it, and see how it goes.
posted by goo at 11:21 PM on February 1, 2007