Axe currently has a lot of deodorant products that are free of aluminum, dyes, and parabens. Despite consistent efforts of the brand to come across as safe, concerns over the chemicals used in their deodorant combinations remain strong. Natural deodorants tend to have an advantage over Axe any day for their relatively safer combination of natural ingredients such as essential oils and baking soda.
The possible presence of benzene in Axe products is a matter of immense concern due to the carcinogenic nature of the compound. The item does not find a mention in the ingredients list similar to how several chemicals, possible allergens, get collectively referred to as ‘fragrance chemicals.’
Overuse of deodorants, be it natural or chemical, can be associated with severe health risks.
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Axe Deodorant Ingredients
Axe has a range of deodorant products with varying fragrance qualities. Their Invisible variety has considerably more ingredients as compared to their solid dry items. Still, in both types, you will find the essential element to be the FDA-approved aluminum zirconium tetrachlorohydrex gly.
The following are some of the common ingredients you will find across Axe deodorant products:
- Aluminum Zirconium Tetrachlorohydrex Gly
- Cyclopentasiloxane
- Water
- PPG-14 Butyl Ether
- Stearyl Alcohol
- PEG-8 Distearate
- Hydrogenated Castor Oil
- Talc
- Butylated Hydroxytoluene (BHT)
Aluminum zirconium tetrachlorohydrex gly becomes an essential component as it helps reduce sweat production by the closing of pores, limits bacterial growth, and absorbs extra moisture. The remaining ingredients work towards the proper conditioning of the skin and stabilizing the chemical mix. The synthetic petroleum product PPG-14 Butyl Ether helps in the easy application of the deodorant.
In contrast to the items mentioned above, Axe Black is an aluminum-free variety that contains di propylene glycol, propylene glycol, sodium stearate, alkyl benzoate, simethicone, BHT, disodium EDTA, and fragrance chemicals.
Does Axe Deodorant Cause Cancer?
A lack of solid scientific evidence may restrain one from explicitly linking Axe deodorants to cancer. BHT is a possible carcinogenic ingredient, but its cancer-causing properties only reveal themselves on absorption through the bloodstream. Also, note that the amount of this component found in Axe is significantly low to impart such a toxic effect.
Most studies focus on the ability of aluminum to stimulate estrogen production, thereby increasing the risk of breast cancer due to the plausible absorption of the element through the cuts in the skin. Therefore, the population that routinely shave their underarms is at higher risk.
Despite a lack of scientific backing, the fact that an aluminum-based ingredient is the most significant in a daily use product like a deodorant should be a cause of concern.
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Does Axe Deodorant Cause Armpit Pains, Boils, or Lumps?
The danger of armpit pains, boils, or lumps due to the use of Axe deodorants can be due to a few reasons:
- Allergy: Axe, like any major deodorant brand in the market, had issues in the past disclosing those fragrance chemicals used in their products. The common symptoms of deodorant allergy (caused by aluminum, fragrance chemicals, preservatives, or dyes) include itching, redness, blisters, and flaking skin. If all the chemicals in the product do not get mentioned in the ingredients list, it makes it challenging for one to recognize what they are allergic to.
- Aerosol Burn: You might injure your armpit with a deodorant due to the sudden cooling of the aerosol spray on your skin. The condition, also called aerosol-induced frostbite, results in immense pain from the skin freeze. Such cases are primarily associated with prolonged use and have seen a rise among teens.
- pH Imbalance: This condition typically happens when one shifts from chemical deodorants like Axe to more natural options. Unlike aluminum in Axe that closes off the pores in the skin to reduce odor, natural deodorants use hypoallergenic ingredients such as baking soda, corn starch, and essential oils that do not clog your skin pores of the underarms to keep them dry. The result of the shift will be an inflammation of the lymph nodes.
Note that the alkaline nature of baking soda can result in pH imbalance if you were to overuse natural deodorants. Discolored skin and cracking in the underarms may also point towards stress, diet, and hormonal fluctuations.
Do Axe Deodorants Have Aluminum?
In many Axe deodorants, aluminum zirconium tetrachlorohydrex gly is one of its primary ingredients. Aluminum, in simple terms, is that component in a deodorant that prevents you from sweating. Several research pieces have found the possible association of aluminum exposure with breast cancer and contact dermatitis.
However, Axe currently has a new range of deodorants free of aluminum and paraben, such as the Phoenix, Black, or the Light Scent Deodorant Stick varieties.
Does Axe Deodorant Have Benzene?
Though you would not find benzene or any of its related compounds in the ingredients list of Axe deodorants, the brand’s aerosol products (along with the items of Dove, Secret, and Old Spice, among others) have gotten recalled recently due to benzene contamination.
Benzene is a carcinogen, and prolonged exposure can have severe and varying consequences on your health. It can damage your bone marrow and lead to leukemia.
This fact is alarming as the items such as antiperspirant sprays, antifungal sprays, and sunscreens are widely manufactured and used by members of all age groups.
Does Axe Deodorant Have Parabens?
Parabens are chemical preservatives used in industrial products (including cosmetics) to increase their shelf life by limiting bacterial growth. Parabens have found their place as a preservative from the fifties, and though there has been regulation set for its use, mediated application of the same on your body should not be of utmost concern. But in case the presence of parabens worries you, Axe also has deodorant varieties that are free of the particular component.
Is Axe Deodorant Gluten-Free?
It is not clear whether Axe products contain gluten, for they do not test their products for this particular item. On their website, Axe claims that if any ingredient deriving from wheat, barley, rye, or oats gets used in the manufacturing of the product, it will appear labeled as ‘Hydrolysed Wheat Protein.’
The question of whether you can use cosmetics containing gluten if you have a gluten allergy is currently a topic of debate. While some posit the plausible absorption of gluten through the skin as a reason for avoiding many cosmetics, several people believe in avoiding products containing gluten regardless of whether you have celiac disease or not. As of now, gluten in deodorants remains a grey area.
Is there Horse Testosterone in Axe Deodorants?
No, nothing suggests the presence of actual horse testosterone as an ingredient in Axe deodorants. One can identify a relationship between the two from the range of advertisements that the brand had produced in the early 2000s, the kind on which even the present-day marketing of its products get based. These advertisements were both popular and notorious for imparting questionable notions of masculinity and an even problematic lack of female resistance.
Is Axe Deodorant Safe for a Child?
Axe is not the most recommended deodorant when it comes to children. Since the young have more sensitive skin, deodorants (and not antiperspirants, yes, there is a difference!) made of natural ingredients are easily preferred.
Is Axe Deodorant Safe for a 10 Year Old?
A 10-year-old child does not sweat as much as adults. Even then, at an age when puberty supposedly begins, one may require to use deodorants to fight their body odor for personal hygiene reasons. Here, natural deodorants get the first preference instead of Axe products for how the latter contain chemicals that may be potentially harmful to sensitive skin.
Is Axe Deodorant Safe for Pregnancy?
It is safe to use Axe deodorants by and around pregnant women. But make sure to check the ingredients list and confirm that the particular Axe product you might be using contains no parabens as that compound is associated with congenital disabilities in the newborn. Even among natural options, certain ingredients present are unsuitable for use around pregnant women.
While the usage of deodorants during pregnancy to maintain personal hygiene is preferred, the best thing to do is to make an appropriate choice after consulting your doctor.
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Is Axe Deodorant Safe for Breastfeeding?
Breastfeeding mothers should be extremely cautious while using deodorants for two reasons:
- The mother may absorb harmful chemicals through the underarm skin that then gets transferred to the baby through breastfeeding.
- If the mother uses a spray bottle, drops of deodorants may easily stick to the breasts and arms. This way, the baby may come in direct contact with all the chemicals in the deodorant.
Due to their chemical combination and heavy perfume, Axe deodorants do not identify as a safe option for a breastfeeding mother.
Is Axe Deodorant Safe for Private Parts?
The skin of your genitals is more delicate and thus cannot have deodorant chemicals directly sprayed over. Doing so may result in irritation, even requiring a physician’s help in severe cases. Rather than using a deodorant, the better option remains to wash the area thoroughly using water and perhaps an antibacterial soap.
Another option is to use baby powder or baby wipes that lack cornstarch and talc. The instructions on the deodorant will let you know if the product is appropriate for use on delicate skin. Despite your efforts, if such odor from the private parts persists, you might want to consider getting professional help due to the possibility of STDs.
Is Axe Deodorant Good for Sensitive Skin?
For individuals with sensitive skin, Axe has deodorant options that are free of dyes, aluminum, and parabens.
But the major problem remains how there is still uncertainty in the exact contents of what usually gets labeled as ‘fragrance chemicals.’ If your skin is sensitive, the recommendation is to try out those Axe items that contain the least problematic ingredients first, such as Phoenix, Balck, Excite, Apollo, You, or Essence.
Axe perfume sticks with dimethicone as its essential ingredient may be a good option for people with sensitive skin.
Is Axe Deodorant Good for Excessive Sweating?
Yes, Axe deodorants are a great solution to excessive sweating. Their range of deodorants also acts as antiperspirants by closing off the skin pores and limiting sweat production. Look out for Axe products free of aluminum that protect against sweat and odor for nearly 48 hours.
Is Axe Deodorant Good for Dark Underarms?
No, Axe deodorants are not a solution for dark underarms. Indeed, it could be the prolonged use of deodorants with alcohol, parabens, fragrances, etc., that must have caused the thick and dark underarm skin in the first place. Axe deodorants containing aluminum also add considerably to the formation of dark underarms.
Is Axe Deodorant Good for a Teenage Girl?
Yes, there is no good reason why teenage girls should not use Axe deodorant, unless, of course, they find the strong fragrance repulsive. The brand’s products are indeed aimed at males (especially teens) and have a strong perfume that might not add up well with the subtlety of colognes that girls typically opt for.
Anarchy is a variety of Axe that has versions marketed separately for males and females.
Is Axe Deodorant Good for Menopause?
Axe deodorants containing aluminum may have negative impacts on females going through menopause. Many females experience erratic temperature changes during this phase due to the fluctuation of the estrogen levels in their bodies. Aluminum is an element that can influence estrogen production, and if it were to get absorbed through the skin from a deodorant, the addition only complicates the hormone problem.
Showering more often and using Axe deodorants free of aluminum and paraben can help with menopause sweating, commonly referred to as hot flushes.
Is Axe Deodorant Good for Athletes?
Yes, Axe deodorants have varieties that are perfect for athletes who wish to combat heavy sweating from their intense activity. They help reduce odor and moisturize the skin without making it dry or being too sticky.
AOS Natural Sports Deodorant is an alternative that male athletes can consider over Axe due to the lack of toxic chemicals. For females, Thinksport Natural Sports Deodorant is a non-sticky natural option with its fragrance derived from tea leaves and aloe vera.
References:
- https://www.axe.com/in/en/products/deodorant.html
- https://www.ewg.org/skindeep/browse/brands/866-AXE/?brand=AXE&category=antiperspirant%2Fdeodorant
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