FAQs
What is Naturally Occurring Alum and how is it different from Aluminum?
Many people confuse naturally occurring alum with the synthetic aluminum chemicals such as aluminum chlorhydrate or aluminum zirconium, the two most common active ingredients in conventional deodorants. There is a significant difference between naturally occurring alum and synthetic aluminum compounds. Naturally occurring alum is a large molecule which kills bacteria that is on the surface of the skin. Due to its size, it is generally not absorbed through the skin. It works by killing the bacteria which is the cause of body odor therefore one will continue to perspire, a healthy process since it is eliminating toxins in the body, but there will be no body odor.
The synthetic chemicals aluminum chlorhydrate and aluminum zirconium are generally marketed as antiperspirants and designed to block the pores from breathing. The danger is that toxins have no place to go since the pores in the skin are blocked. Buildup of toxins caused by long-term use of antiperspirants may be, many believe, one of the causes of rising rates of breast cancer in our society today. We, of course, cannot make claims that antiperspirants cause breast cancer, but there's a large and ever-growing body of evidence that makes logical associations between toxin buildup and cancers along with other diseases.
Toxicologists we've spoke with believe that anything considered large molecularly is not absorbed into the skin because of its size. Naturally occurring alum is a large molecule and simply not very easily absorbed into the body. We believe there is a significant difference between alum in its natural state and synthetic aluminum chlorhydrate and other synthetic compounds.
Please share this information with your customers so they will know the difference in their desire to use a safer and healthier natural deodorant.