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Can deodorants cause cancer?

Dr Saleyha Ahsan answers one of those common worries that people have: that deodorants can cause cancer...

But you can relax – there is currently no good evidence that they do! Stopping yourself from sweating does not cause a build-up of toxins.

The controversy about this subject has mainly been about the chemicals involved. It seems that some of the chemicals used in antiperspirants might be absorbed into the body, and there have been concerns that some could cause cancer. However, big studies looking for links between using antiperspirants or deodorants and cancer have found none.

Women are advised not to use deodorants containing aluminium before going for breast screening, but that’s not because they can endanger your health, but because they can show up on the X-ray, making it difficult to read.

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