This is an archived article and the information in the story may be outdated. Please check the time stamp on the story to see when it was updated last.
By now, you've probably heard about the possible dangers associated with using most deodorants. Some of the most popular deodorant brands on the market — including those produced by brands many of us know and trust — are filled with chemicals that can pose major health risks.
This bad news doesn't mean you have to forego deodorants altogether (unless you want to, of course). There are a slew of natural deodorants on the market that won't harm your health. But, when it comes to separating the good from the bad, this is one of the worst deodorants you can use.
Photos: Shutterstock
Worst Deodorant Ingredients
If you read the label on a typical drugstore deodorant, there's a good chance it contains aluminum, which some studies have found could be linked to breast cancer and Alzheimer's disease (though more research is necessary). Keep perusing the list and you may find chemicals like parabens and phthalates, both of which are hormone disrupters that can cause a number of reproductive issues.
The first step in making better deodorant choices is giving the heave-ho to any deodorant that contains these ingredients. But, let's make it even easier by calling out deodorants that the Environmental Working Group considers among the worst for your health.
Five Of The Worst Deodorants
The EWG.org ranks deodorants on a scale of 1 to 10. Most products that ranked a 1 or are EWG certified are natural and contain identifable ingredients like activated charcoal. The worst ranked products include Weleda Deodorant Spray in Wild Rose, which received a 7 for allergies and immunotoxicity; Dove Dry Spray Antiperspirant, which scored a 6 for low cancer and developmental/reproductive toxicity and moderate to high allergies and immunotoxicity; and Ammens Medicated Deodorant Powder (score of 6) for allergies and immunotoxicity.
Bottom line: check labels carefully. And remember: it may seem like it sits on top of your skin, but the chemicals in deodorant are also absorbed by the body. If you aren't comfortable with a chemical in your body, don't apply it to your skin — just toss it and move on.
