# Does white deodorant cause cancer? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 23, 2004, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-white-deodorant-cause-cancer/241638 "2004-04-23T14:48:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![smootman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4af34b/32.png) [@smootman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smootman)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2004, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-white-deodorant-cause-cancer/241638/1 "2004-04-23T14:48:47Z")
I accidentally bought white deodorant yesterday and when I told my fiancé about it, she looked at me like I had been caught throwing eggs at the neighbor’s house. Her mom instilled in her a few years back that white deodorant causes cancer…! So, I looked at her and said, “I’m sorry… I’m going to post the SD tomorrow and see about this.” Anyone? ---
**Author:** ![elfbabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b782af/32.png) [@elfbabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfbabe)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2004, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-white-deodorant-cause-cancer/241638/2 "2004-04-23T15:02:36Z")
It has been alleged that antiperspirants contribute to breast cancer. [Snopes.com](http://Snopes.com) [has an article](http://www.snopes.com/toxins/breast.htm) on it which mentions two recent studies. One in 2002, involving 813 women with breast cancer and 793 without, found no link between antiperspirants and cancer. One in 2004 involved 400 breast cancer survivors and found a link between “aggressively” using antiperspirant/shaving underarms and having cancer earlier in life. The second study has apparently been criticized for statistical weaknesses. I don’t know what this has to do with WHITE deodorant, though. Perhaps white deodorant is more often deodorant/antiperspirant? Does it contain something that other colors of deodorant don’t? ---
**Author:** ![Jurph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/50afbb/32.png) [@Jurph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jurph)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2004, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-white-deodorant-cause-cancer/241638/3 "2004-04-23T15:03:59Z")
I’m still up in the air about “cancer,” but the majority of modern deodorants do expose you to large amounts of aluminum compounds, which IIRC have been implicated in causing Alzheimer’s. My fiancée worked at a nutritionist’s office where they took hair & urine samples to determine what elements had built up to dangerous concentrations in the body. They used nutritional supplements and behavior changes to cut heavy metals from the body. After patients stopped drinking from aluminum cans and using aluminum-based deodorants, many of them had much lower levels of aluminum in their systems (they may also have taken Chlorella, which helps purge metals). Because this was combined with many other changes (diet including supplements designed to purge Cadmium, Lead, Titanium, and other heavy metals from the body), I can’t say if it was strictly the aluminum that was making these people feel lethargic, but most of the patients at her office reported weight loss, increased energy, and other general feelings of good health. The rumor I heard that is most similar to your wife’s claim was that white deodorants block pores and cause breast cancer (since the breasts are so close to the armpits) – as far as I know, that’s all pseudoscience, but I’ll listen if someone’s got a cite. Personally, I use a non-aluminum deodorant 6 days a week and find it amazingly effective; I stick to my old anti-perspirant on Mondays, when I brief the boss, because the deodorant doesn’t stop sweat, it just neutralizes the odor and reduces (instead of dessicating) the sweat. When I brief the boss, I need the protection they advertise for on TV – “when you’re in a tight spot,” etc. etc. ---
**Author:** ![DeVena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dec6dc/32.png) [@DeVena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeVena)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2004, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-white-deodorant-cause-cancer/241638/4 "2004-04-23T15:04:20Z")
[The Master speaks.](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/000303.html) > [@](#): > > Nonetheless, it seems pretty certain this particular scare story is false. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2004, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-white-deodorant-cause-cancer/241638/5 "2004-04-23T15:05:48Z")
For shame! Two replies and no link to Cecil’s [article](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/000303.html). ---
**Author:** ![elfbabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b782af/32.png) [@elfbabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfbabe)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2004, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-white-deodorant-cause-cancer/241638/6 "2004-04-23T15:18:37Z")
Ohh, the shame. Must do penance. ---
**Author:** ![CurtC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ce73a5/32.png) [@CurtC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CurtC)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2004, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-white-deodorant-cause-cancer/241638/7 "2004-04-23T18:04:41Z")
> [@](#): > > _Jurph wrote:_ > …aluminum compounds, which IIRC have been implicated in causing Alzheimer’s. Implicated at one time maybe, but as far as I can tell there are no Alzheimers researchers who now believe that aluminum plays a causative role in the disease. > [@](#): > > My fiancée worked at a nutritionist’s office where they took hair & urine samples to determine what elements had built up to dangerous concentrations in the body. Your fiancée worked for a [quack](http://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/hair.html).