# What is in anti-perspirants? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 17, 2003, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-in-anti-perspirants/155748 "2003-02-17T23:33:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![oldman\_withers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/9fc29f/32.png) [@oldman\_withers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/oldman_withers)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2003, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-in-anti-perspirants/155748/1 "2003-02-17T23:33:14Z")
Deodarants, more specifically anti-persperants, are a common commodity these days. What exactly is in them that inhibits perspiration, and what long-term effects would that have on your skin, if you were to say, stop using it after using it since puberty? Or, on the other side of the fence, is deodarant a placebo? Thanks in advance for the input. ---
**Author:** ![curly\_chick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7ba0ec/32.png) [@curly\_chick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/curly_chick)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2003, 9:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-in-anti-perspirants/155748/2 "2003-02-18T09:23:24Z")
The active ingredient in anti perspirants is Al[sub]2[/sub]O[sub]3[/sub]. Aluminium has long been suspected of having a link with Alzheimers disease. Whether or not this has been categorically proved or not, I don’t know. Anti perspirants and deodorants are two different things, an anti perspirant physically stops you sweating while a deodorant is just perfume, to mask the smell of any sweat. ---
**Author:** ![Bob\_Scene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19adc/32.png) [@Bob\_Scene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bob_Scene)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2003, 10:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-in-anti-perspirants/155748/3 "2003-02-18T10:19:34Z")
Also, some deodorants have a chemical like triclosan in them to stop bacteria from growing. Bacteria metabolizing the contents of your sweat make it smell stronger. ---
**Author:** ![Floater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/dc4da7/32.png) [@Floater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Floater)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2003, 10:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-in-anti-perspirants/155748/4 "2003-02-18T10:55:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by oldman\_withers \* > Deodarants, more specifically anti-persperants, are a common commodity these days. Deodorants and anti-perspirants are two different things. Anti-perspirants make you sweat less whereas deodorants make your sweat (if you don’t use an anti-perspirant) smell less. ---
**Author:** ![oldman\_withers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/9fc29f/32.png) [@oldman\_withers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/oldman_withers)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2003, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-in-anti-perspirants/155748/5 "2003-02-18T21:09:38Z")
I know that deodarants are different than anti-perspirants, though most products out there these days are a combo of the two. Good to know that my anti-perspirant is giving me Alzheimers. Thanks guys. ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2003, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-in-anti-perspirants/155748/6 "2003-02-19T00:10:40Z")
From Cecil’s latest (1997) column on the supposed link between aluminum and Alzheimer’s: [http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a971219.html](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a971219.html) > [@](#): > > In the 1960s and '70s researchers found that rabbits exposed to aluminum salts suffered severe neurological damage similar in some ways to Alzheimer’s. But close examination of the nerve tissue revealed significant differences and many researchers now think aluminum poisoning and Alzheimer’s are two completely different ailments. > > Aluminum hasn’t been ruled out as a contributor to Alzheimer’s. But it’s safe to say that what once seemed like a promising avenue of research doesn’t seem so promising now. Then again, who knows what they’ll be saying 13 years from now? ---
**Author:** ![Nametag](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nametag/32/406_2.png) [@Nametag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nametag)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2003, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-in-anti-perspirants/155748/7 "2003-02-19T03:48:04Z")
Aluminum-based antiperspirants do NOT contain Aluminum oxide - that’s an extremely hard, abrasive mineral used in sandpaper, grinding wheels, and gemstones (rubies, etc.) Aluminum CHLORIDE is sometimes used, but aluminum hydroxychloride is more common, as is aluminum zirconium tetrachlorohydrex-gly. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2003, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-in-anti-perspirants/155748/8 "2003-02-19T05:03:42Z")
> [@](#): > > Aluminium has long been suspected of having a link with Alzheimers disease. Whether or not this has been categorically proved or not, I don’t know. There has not been any proven link betwen Alzheimers and use of aluminium in deodorants or cooking ware. You can bet your bippy antiperspirants will be reformulated immediatly if such a link is ever made. ---
**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:** [February 19, 2003, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-in-anti-perspirants/155748/9 "2003-02-19T05:16:15Z")
Nametag has it right: > [@](#): > > Solid antiperspirants are made with several ingredients, including wax, a liquid emollient and an active-ingredient compound. It’s the active ingredient that gives antiperspirants their sweat-blocking power. All antiperspirants have an aluminum-based compound as their main ingredient. If you look at the back of an antiperspirant container, the aluminum-based compound is always the first ingredient listed. Here are a few of the common active ingredients: > > Aluminum chloride > Aluminum zirconium tricholorohydrex gly > Aluminum chlorohydrate > Aluminum hydroxybromide From [How Stuff Works.](http://www.howstuffworks.com/question627.htm) ---
**Author:** ![diffdam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@diffdam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/diffdam)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2003, 11:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-in-anti-perspirants/155748/10 "2003-02-19T11:54:28Z")
anti perspitants work by using a Lewis acid - usually a metal salt which produces acid when wet - iron salts will do if you dont like Al, but they stain.The trick is, acid closes the pores!