Skin Care without Toxins: Get out the Funk!
When I first started making changes to my skin care I wanted to to focus on skin care without toxins and I started at probably the last place most women would consider: my deodorant. Why? There has been some research that has shown a link between antiperspirants and deodorants that have aluminum, and parabens and breast cancer.
According to Darbre, PD “Aluminium is known to have a genotoxic profile, capable of causing both DNA alterations and epigenetic effects, and this would be consistent with a potential role in breast cancer if such effects occurred in breast cells. Oestrogen is a well established influence in breast cancer and its action, dependent on intracellular receptors which function as ligand-activated zinc finger transcription factors, suggests one possible point of interference from aluminium. Results reported here demonstrate that aluminium in the form of aluminium chloride or aluminium chlorhydrate can interfere with the function of oestrogen receptors of MCF7 human breast cancer cells both in terms of ligand binding and in terms of oestrogen-regulated reporter gene expression.”
Additionally, there are other studies, which I’ve listed in the references that had me looking into other more natural options for deodorant.
Of course, I went out and bought the usual available at the Big Chain Organic food store and the Local Mom & Pop organic food store. Much to my dismay none of them worked. Can you say hello body odor. Pepe Le Pew had nothing on me. Good thing I was working from home during this trial and error phase!
Eventually I stumbled on my deoderant of choice. I’ve even gone out and tried other brands and even made my own from scratch. Every time I keep coming back to my favourite deodorant. Oyin Funk Butter. I do not get body odor when I use this product. I also don’t have any negative reactions when using it! I’ve been using it for over 3 years now. For me that’s a WIN. A cosmetic product I can use without issues for 3 years running!
Remember Optimal Health isn’t just about the foods we eat. Its about our total environment and how that environment impacts us. And Biohacking is the way to figure out how to achieve Optimal Health – and that includes the cosmetics you use on your skin.
Gretchen
References:
Darbre PD. Aluminium, antiperspirants and breast cancer. Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry2005; 99(9):1912–1919. [PubMed Abstract]
Harvey PW, Everett DJ. Significance of the detection of esters of p-hydroxybenzoic acid (parabens) in human breast tumours. Journal of Applied Toxicology 2004; 24(1):1–4. [PubMed Abstract]
Darbre PD, Aljarrah A, Miller WR, et al. Concentrations of parabens in human breast tumours.Journal of Applied Toxicology 2004; 24(1):5–13. [PubMed Abstract]
Mirick DK, Davis S, Thomas DB. Antiperspirant use and the risk of breast cancer. Journal of the National Cancer Institute 2002; 94(20):1578–1580. [PubMed Abstract]
McGrath KG. An earlier age of breast cancer diagnosis related to more frequent use of antiperspirants/deodorants and underarm shaving. European Journal of Cancer 2003; 12(6):479–485. [PubMed Abstract]
Fakri S, Al-Azzawi A, Al-Tawil N. Antiperspirant use as a risk factor for breast cancer in Iraq.Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal 2006; 12(3–4):478–482. [PubMed Abstract]
