# Are there any antiperspirants (not deodorants) that don't contain aluminum? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 11, 2012, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-antiperspirants-not-deodorants-that-dont-contain-aluminum/609165 "2012-01-11T15:11:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/it_s_not_rocket_surgery/32/312_2.png) [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/It_s_Not_Rocket_Surgery)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2012, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-antiperspirants-not-deodorants-that-dont-contain-aluminum/609165/1 "2012-01-11T15:11:54Z")
It appears that after decades of antiperspirant use, my pits are throwing up the white flag and getting a rash. I think it might be from the aluminum compounds in antiperspirant, and my doctor agrees. For further confirmation, my sister reports the same problem. I am looking for an antiperspirant that contains no aluminum, but it appears to be as fruitful as trying to find kosher ham. I am trying Tom’s of Maine, but there’s some ingredient in there that is actively irritating my pits, which even regular antiperspirants didn’t do. I’ve tried the deodorant crystal as well as other deodorant-only products, and had no luck. ☹ So, are there ANY antiperspirants that are aluminum-free? ---
**Author:** ![Sudden\_Kestrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecd19e/32.png) [@Sudden\_Kestrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sudden_Kestrel)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2012, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-antiperspirants-not-deodorants-that-dont-contain-aluminum/609165/2 "2012-01-11T15:52:10Z")
My husband developed a late-in-life allergy to something in his antiperspirant and solved it just by switching to an unscented variety. Have you tried something like Ban unscented? That’s what he uses now, and he’s been rash-free for at least 6 months. ---
**Author:** ![It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/it_s_not_rocket_surgery/32/312_2.png) [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/It_s_Not_Rocket_Surgery)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2012, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-antiperspirants-not-deodorants-that-dont-contain-aluminum/609165/3 "2012-01-11T16:28:15Z")
> [@Sudden\_Kestrel](#): > > My husband developed a late-in-life allergy to something in his antiperspirant and solved it just by switching to an unscented variety. Have you tried something like Ban unscented? That’s what he uses now, and he’s been rash-free for at least 6 months. Yeah, I last used [Almay’s fragrance-free antiperspirant](http://www.amazon.com/Almay-Anti-Perspirant-Deodorant-Clear-Fragrance/dp/B00008O2X5). No dice. ---
**Author:** ![Al\_Bundy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@Al\_Bundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al_Bundy)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2012, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-antiperspirants-not-deodorants-that-dont-contain-aluminum/609165/4 "2012-01-11T16:32:39Z")
I discovered this decades ago. You are not alone and the manufacturers know it too. Therefore, there are always alternatives sitting right there on the same shelf. The big secret is to rotate the package around and read the ingredients label. ---
**Author:** ![It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/it_s_not_rocket_surgery/32/312_2.png) [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/It_s_Not_Rocket_Surgery)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2012, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-antiperspirants-not-deodorants-that-dont-contain-aluminum/609165/5 "2012-01-11T16:44:32Z")
> [@Al\_Bundy](#): > > I discovered this decades ago. You are not alone and the manufacturers know it too. Therefore, there are always alternatives sitting right there on the same shelf. The big secret is to rotate the package around and read the ingredients label. Thanks for the snark, :rolleyes: but so far I have tried this and if the label says “anti-perspirant”, the ingredients say “Aluminum Zirconium Tetrachlorohydrex Gly” or another related aluminum ingredient. I’m hoping there’s an exception, maybe somewhere outside Target and Walgreens if necessary. ---
**Author:** ![Pai325](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Pai325](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pai325)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2012, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-antiperspirants-not-deodorants-that-dont-contain-aluminum/609165/6 "2012-01-11T16:55:12Z")
I have read that Adidas Action 3 anti - perspiration is aluminum free, but I read it was on an older website, so it may not be true. If you see it, though, check it out. Also, there might be some brands of women’s that don’t have it and don’t smell like a garden. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2012, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-antiperspirants-not-deodorants-that-dont-contain-aluminum/609165/7 "2012-01-11T16:59:26Z")
> [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](#): > > Thanks for the snark, :rolleyes: but so far I have tried this and if the label says “anti-perspirant”, the ingredients say “Aluminum Zirconium Tetrachlorohydrex Gly” or another related aluminum ingredient. I’m hoping there’s an exception, maybe somewhere outside Target and Walgreens if necessary. I used to work in the industry. The issue is that an “anti-perspirant” is actually an OTC drug (as it affects a bodily function). The only active ingredients which the FDA allows manufacturers to put in a product and call it an anti-perspirant are several different aluminum salts. There have occasionally been funky products like the “crystal” that claim to reduce perspiration without aluminum salts, but I’ve never heard of one which works well. Short of it: no, you’re not going to find an actual anti-perspirant product (at least, not at a big store) which doesn’t contain aluminum salts. ---
**Author:** ![beagledave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6de8d8/32.png) [@beagledave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beagledave)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2012, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-antiperspirants-not-deodorants-that-dont-contain-aluminum/609165/8 "2012-01-11T17:02:44Z")
> **[Amazon.com : HyperDri Aluminum-Free Antiperspirant : Beauty & Personal Care](https://www.amazon.com/HyperDri-Aluminum-Free-Antiperspirant/dp/B010VV0UV6)** > > HyperDri is a revolutionary antiperspirant. HyperDri is the WORLD'S FIRST aluminum-free antiperspirant. There have been many aluminum-free “deodorants”, but none that address the wetness issue of Hyperhidrosis. They only address the odor issue.... “HyperDri is a revolutionary antiperspirant. HyperDri is the WORLD’S FIRST aluminum-free antiperspirant. There have been many aluminum-free “deodorants”, but none that addressed the wetness issue of Hyperhidrosis” ---
**Author:** ![It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/it_s_not_rocket_surgery/32/312_2.png) [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/It_s_Not_Rocket_Surgery)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2012, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-antiperspirants-not-deodorants-that-dont-contain-aluminum/609165/9 "2012-01-11T17:11:08Z")
> [@Pai325](#): > > I have read that Adidas Action 3 anti - perspiration is aluminum free, but I read it was on an older website, so it may not be true. If you see it, though, check it out. Also, there might be some brands of women’s that don’t have it and don’t smell like a garden. It looks like the Adidas stuff has been discontinued. Figures. ---
**Author:** ![It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/it_s_not_rocket_surgery/32/312_2.png) [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/It_s_Not_Rocket_Surgery)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2012, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-antiperspirants-not-deodorants-that-dont-contain-aluminum/609165/10 "2012-01-11T17:13:23Z")
> [@beagledave](#): > > [http://www.amazon.com/HyperDri-Aluminum-Free-Antiperspirant/dp/B0041HVLKG](http://www.amazon.com/HyperDri-Aluminum-Free-Antiperspirant/dp/B0041HVLKG) > > “HyperDri is a revolutionary antiperspirant. HyperDri is the WORLD’S FIRST aluminum-free antiperspirant. There have been many aluminum-free “deodorants”, but none that addressed the wetness issue of Hyperhidrosis” Wow - $25 a pop! I may have to bite the bullet and try it, though. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2012, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-antiperspirants-not-deodorants-that-dont-contain-aluminum/609165/11 "2012-01-11T17:19:59Z")
Holy hell, that’s expensive. If you do try it, come back and let us know if/how well it worked out for you, okay? ---
**Author:** ![It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/it_s_not_rocket_surgery/32/312_2.png) [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/It_s_Not_Rocket_Surgery)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2012, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-antiperspirants-not-deodorants-that-dont-contain-aluminum/609165/12 "2012-01-11T17:32:06Z")
> [@purplehorseshoe](#): > > Holy hell, that’s expensive. If you do try it, come back and let us know if/how well it worked out for you, okay? Um, I dunno. Apparently you have to apply it with your hands, which increases the ick factor. Then again, I would have the driest hands on the block. ---
**Author:** ![Al\_Bundy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@Al\_Bundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al_Bundy)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2012, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-antiperspirants-not-deodorants-that-dont-contain-aluminum/609165/13 "2012-01-11T22:48:19Z")
> [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](#): > > Thanks for the snark, :rolleyes: but so far I have tried this and if the label says “anti-perspirant”, the ingredients say “Aluminum Zirconium Tetrachlorohydrex Gly” or another related aluminum ingredient. I’m hoping there’s an exception, maybe somewhere outside Target and Walgreens if necessary. My comment was not meant to be mean spirited. I find both types on my shelves. I would suggest trying the dollar stores. You might save money and your skin. Propylene glycol is what the non aluminum ones use. I have a Right Guard Sport I’m reading from now. It cost a dollar at Dollar Tree. This is a popular brand. ---
**Author:** ![FluffyBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecb155/32.png) [@FluffyBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FluffyBob)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2012, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-antiperspirants-not-deodorants-that-dont-contain-aluminum/609165/14 "2012-01-12T15:12:17Z")
Those deodorant stones are an aluminum compound, I always found it kind of funny. It is pretty much just a crystalline form of the active ingredient in most deodorant. They never seemed to work worth a darn, I assume a solution is a more effective method of application. I know you are looking for anti-antiperspirants specifically, but it is worth mentioning that for those of us that can not stand antiperspirants, there does not seem to be much choice for either unscented or effective non aluminum compound based products. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2012, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-antiperspirants-not-deodorants-that-dont-contain-aluminum/609165/15 "2012-01-12T20:57:02Z")
> [@Al\_Bundy](#): > > You might save money and your skin. Propylene glycol is what the non aluminum ones use. I have a Right Guard Sport I’m reading from now. It cost a dollar at Dollar Tree. This is a popular brand. That’s not an anti-perspirant; it’s a deodorant. While the two terms tend to get used interchangeably, they mean different things. Read the front of the label; I guarantee you it doesn’t contain the word “anti-perspirant”. It’ll help keep you from smelling, but it won’t do a thing to keep your underarms dry. ---
**Author:** ![Canadjun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/76d3ee/32.png) [@Canadjun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Canadjun)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2012, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-antiperspirants-not-deodorants-that-dont-contain-aluminum/609165/16 "2012-01-12T21:25:18Z")
> [@Al\_Bundy](#): > > My comment was not meant to be mean spirited. I find both types on my shelves. I would suggest trying the dollar stores. You might save money and your skin. Propylene glycol is what the non aluminum ones use. I have a Right Guard Sport I’m reading from now. It cost a dollar at Dollar Tree. This is a popular brand. Just googled Right Guard and I see a picture of the Right Guard Sport package, distinctly saying **deodorant** , not antiperspirant, on the front. ---
**Author:** ![Al\_Bundy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@Al\_Bundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al_Bundy)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2012, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-antiperspirants-not-deodorants-that-dont-contain-aluminum/609165/17 "2012-01-12T22:36:40Z")
> [@Canadjun](#): > > Just googled Right Guard and I see a picture of the Right Guard Sport package, distinctly saying **deodorant** , not antiperspirant, on the front. I stand corrected on this important nuance. I do use the terms interchangeably because I don’t have a problem staying dry. I don’t want to stink too much though. Like the ad said, “Never let em’ see you sweat.” Go ahead, watch me sweat. I don’t care, but at least you don’t have to hold your nose. PS. Another personal opinion is that I would not want something to stop my sweat. I want my natural radiator mechanism working unimpaired. ---
**Author:** ![Amblydoper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/fbc32d/32.png) [@Amblydoper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amblydoper)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2012, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-antiperspirants-not-deodorants-that-dont-contain-aluminum/609165/18 "2012-01-13T23:46:49Z")
> [@Al\_Bundy](#): > > PS. Another personal opinion is that I would not want something to stop my sweat. I want my natural radiator mechanism working unimpaired. Some people have leaky radiators. ---
**Author:** ![hazni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/958977/32.png) [@hazni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hazni)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2013, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-antiperspirants-not-deodorants-that-dont-contain-aluminum/609165/19 "2013-02-07T15:43:31Z")
I second the Klima hyper-dri. Best antiperspirant I have tried. I know its a bit pricey, but worth it to not soak my shirt during meetings. It took a few days to really kick in, but I wont bother with anything else now. ---
**Author:** ![Motorgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e36b37/32.png) [@Motorgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Motorgirl)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2013, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-antiperspirants-not-deodorants-that-dont-contain-aluminum/609165/20 "2013-02-07T16:12:34Z")
> [@Amblydoper](#): > > Some people have leaky radiators. I don’t see much of a cooling effect from pit sweat unless I am wearing a sleeveless shirt (which is almost never), so I opt for the stink-controlling properties of antiperspirant. 😃 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-antiperspirants-not-deodorants-that-dont-contain-aluminum/609165.md?page=2)