When external temperature rises, a natural function of the human body starts; this is perspiration, a way to reduce body temperature due to evaporation.
In the summer months we often use deodorants and perfumes, to eradicate or cover body odour. Perfumes cover the odour with another stronger and pleasant smell, while deodorants neutralise the fatty acid bacterial waste products responsible for body odour.
Cooking soda (sodium bicarbonate) and formaldehyde were the first two chemical compounds which kill bacteria and were used in deodorants. However, later studies showed that formaldehyde is toxic and carcinogenic, while cooking soda is an irritant, particularly for the sensitive underarm skin.
What types of preparations are used to manage sweating today?
- Deodorants, which neutralise bacterial waste that cause the sweaty smell.
The main substances currently used for deodorant action are zinc, zinc ricinoleate and cooking soda.
Cooking soda (HCO3- ions) and zinc compounds are amphoteric substances; in other words, they can react with both acidic and alkalic bacterial waste, which also emits an unpleasant odour. In other words, the bacteria are not killed, but their microbial fatty acid waste, responsible for body odour, is neutralised, without blocking skin pores or interfering with the body cooling process and, which is more important, without altering natural skin flora.
- Antiperspirants, which prevent perspiration and, for this reason, maintain a dry environment that does not allow bacteria to thrive.
The vast majority of antiperspirants contain compounds based on aluminium.
These aluminium compounds abound in nature or are man-made. As bacteriostatic agents, they kill the bacteria in underarm flora.
Examples of antiperspirant substances are the following:
- Aluminium chlorohydrate
- Aluminium zirconium
- Potassium or ammonium alum
The molecule of Potassium alum is almost 36 times heavier than water. It is impossible to be absorbed by our skin through the surface.
The truth, however, differs because aluminium compounds release aluminium ions (Al3+) in an aqueous or alcoholic solution; these ions can connect to the sweat gland ducts and inhibit perspiration. When these ‘natural deodorant crystals’ are rubbed on wet skin, the compound is dissolved and spreads on the skin, releasing aluminium ions and creating a mildly acidic solution that is an adverse environment for bacteria. According to many scientists, potassium, or ammonium alum in deodorants/anti-perspirants is equally undesirable with all other ‘non-organic’ or ‘non-natural’ aluminium compounds. All such substances together are used in most commercially available antiperspirants.
We often hear about ‘natural’ deodorants not containing aluminium, but they do contain one of the compounds above. In other words, reality is quite different from claims.
Let us be honest: Although aluminium is abundant on the earth crust, IT IS NOT NECESSARY NOT EVEN IN THE MINUTEST QUANTITY IN OUR BODIES. Various studies have investigated aluminium compounds and have connected them to cancer, kidney diseases and dementia. Aluminium is widely recognised as a neurotoxin, found in increased concentrations in the brain of persons with Alzheimer’s disease. Unfortunately, if we use antiperspirants or deodorants containing aluminium compounds, we keep exposing ourselves to the cumulative impact of this substance.
Silicone (or, else, aluminium) salts usually account for 25% of the content of antiperspirant or deodorant products. A single underarm application results in about 0.012% of aluminium being absorbed. If this number is multiplied by one or two times a day throughout one’s life, the result is exposure to a huge amount of aluminium.
There is documented research on the allegedly safe antiperspirants based on aluminium alum and found in most health food shops (deodorant crystals). Their manufacturing companies claim that inorganic salts are too large to be absorbed and, therefore, are no hazard. However, no strong evidence supports this claim, and it would, therefore, be wise to avoid using such products.
So, is there a safe solution for the problem of body odour?
Yes, there is, and it is found in truly natural deodorants. It is a solution that is friendly to the human body as well as the environment.
These products tackle the problem of odour by preventing the process of bacterial growth, without blocking skin pores or interfering with the body cooling function of perspiration. They are hypo-allergenic and free of toxic or irritating ingredients, such as aluminium, alcohol or soda.
Such a deodorant has been created by ZЄLIA, and we are proudly presenting it to you. NATURAL HERBAL DEODORANT of the DIONE series contains essential rosemary and orange oils, offering exceptional freshness for 24 hours; the product is suitable for women and men.
It contains an innovative blend of plant stem cells, probiotics and polysaccharides, which does not affect normal sweating, is compatible with the skin’s natural microbiome, but prevents the formation of odor from the metabolic products of bacteria we have in our skin.
The certifications of this raw material are: preservative free, cosmos approved, preserving biodiversity, micromiome compatible, 100% natural origin. In other words, it is a biological deodorant, which combines effectiveness with respect for the skin, but also the environment.
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