Antiperspirants: no proof of a link with breast cancer

Publication Date:20/09/2007

A new study has looked at whether a build-up of aluminium in breast tissue could be linked to breast cancer. Aluminium is the ingredient in antiperspirants that blocks your pores and stops you sweating. There are so many stories about cancer risks that it's often hard to know which ones to believe. But, based on the research so far, there doesn't seem to be any reason to worry about antiperspirants.

What do we know already?

In the past, articles in newspapers and on the internet have claimed that underarm antiperspirants might cause breast cancer. Reports have suggested that antiperspirants contain substances which can be absorbed through the skin or enter the body if the underarm skin is cut while shaving.

Yet researchers have never found any proof of a link between antiperspirants and breast cancer. The largest study, which involved over 1,600 women and was published in 2002, found no increased risk in women who used either antiperspirants or deodorants, whether or not they shaved under the arm.

The original scare may have started because women who go for mammograms (breast screening) are asked not to use antiperspirants. This has nothing to do with a risk of cancer. It's because antiperspirants leave a coating on your skin that can interfere with the mammogram.

A new study has looked at whether a build-up of aluminium in breast tissue could be linked to breast cancer. However, the study just looked at aluminium build-up. It didn't look at whether it was caused by antiperspirants containing aluminium.

What does the new study say?

Researchers tested tissue samples from 17 women with breast cancer, and found more aluminium in the breast tissue nearer the armpit than anywhere else in the breast. Breast cancer is more common in this part of the breast. The researchers think that this could mean there's a link between breast cancer and aluminium build-up in your body.

This link could be important, but it's not clear whether it has anything to do with antiperspirants. The study didn't test whether the aluminium build-up was caused by antiperspirants, or whether aluminium from antiperspirants can get through the skin into the breasts. The researchers say that another possibility is that breast tumours attract aluminium that is already present in women's bodies.

The researchers only looked at women who had breast cancer. They did tests on tissue that had been removed during surgery for breast cancer. They couldn't do similar tests on healthy women, so it's impossible to say whether the aluminium levels they found were unusual.

Where does the study come from?

The study was done by researchers from Keele and Reading Universities, and from the University Hospital of South Manchester. It was published in the Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry, which is published by a company called Elsevier. The research was partly paid for by a charity called The Genesis Appeal, which works to find ways of preventing breast cancer.

What does this mean for me?

It's only natural for us to want to reduce our risk of serious illnesses. But when newspapers print health scares, they're sometimes reporting on research that's in very early stages. The risks are often completely unproven, but get more coverage than they deserve.

That's the case here. Although it's impossible to prove that anything is completely safe, experts agree that there's no convincing evidence of a link between antiperspirants and breast cancer.

If you'd rather avoid products containing aluminium, you can use deodorants instead of antiperspirants. These aim to cover up body odour with perfume. They don't block your pores, and they don't contain aluminium.

What should I do now?

Doctors know for certain that some things do increase your risk of breast cancer. Sadly, these are often things that you can't change. Two of the main risk factors for breast cancer are getting older and having a family history of the disease. Other things which might increase your risk include not having children or having them later, starting your periods earlier than average or going through the menopause late (after 54).

There are other possible risk factors for breast cancer which you may be able to influence. For example, breastfeeding your children seems to reduce the risk of breast cancer. Taking hormone replacement therapy (HRT) slightly increases the risk, as does being obese (very overweight) after the menopause. Alcohol slightly increases the risk, so it's a good idea to drink in moderation.

If you're over 50, the most important thing you can do is go for regular screening. Women between 50 and 70 are invited for mammograms every three years, and women over 70 can ask to be screened. Screening helps to catch cancers early, before they can spread. Most women who get treatment for early breast cancer make a good recovery.

If you're outside the age group for screening and are worried about breast cancer for any reason, make an appointment to talk to your doctor.

To read more, see our information on breast cancer.

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This information does not replace medical advice. If you are concerned you might have a medical problem please ask your Boots pharmacy team in your local Boots store, or see your doctor.