Jackson Free Press

Could there possibly be a connection? The possibility of this is under further study.

According to the authors of a review in the April issue of the Journal of Applied Toxicology, chemicals that mimic the body's natural hormone estrogen are known to affect breast cancer risk. And there's increasing evidence that aluminum salts, which account for 25 percent of the volume of some antiperspirants, can get through the skin and into the body, where they can mimic estrogen.

"Since estrogen is known to be involved in the development and progression of human breast cancer, any components of the environment that have estrogenic activity and which can enter the human breast could theoretically influence a woman's risk of breast cancer," article author Dr. Philippa Darbre, of the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Reading in the U.K., said in a prepared statement.

Since antiperspirants are sprayed into the armpits, exposure to aluminum salts is concentrated near the breasts. Furthermore, women often apply antiperspirants immediately after shaving their armpits, which means the skin there is likely to be damaged and less able to keep out the aluminum salts.

Does anyone know of more natural alternatives to commercial deodorant brands besides baking soda (can be messy) or nothing at all (P.U.)?