Deodorants have become a normal part of our daily lives for a long time, but are they really as safe as traditional perfumes?
Most deodorants today contain harmful chemicals that can negatively affect your health and the environment.
Today, we’ll be taking a look at the Degree Deodorant lineup to see if it’s toxic or safe in this comprehensive guide.
Taking a first glance at the label, it doesn’t seem like Degree Deodorant is toxic.
Ingredients like butane and isobutane may pose a potential risk to your health if it hasn’t been treated properly, however.
Table of Contents
What makes a deodorant toxic?
Before we start analyzing all the Degree Deodorant variants, we need to know what actually makes a deodorant toxic in the first place.
Triclosan is a chemical used to destroy odor-causing bacteria on your skin. Scientific studies have shown Triclosan to be an endocrine disruptor. It also increases the chances of breast cancer.
The FDA has banned the use of triclosan in hand soaps due to its health concerns, both to people and aquatic life.
Phthalates are a chemical used in almost all personal care products, but they have been linked with some health concerns in humans. They can disrupt the endocrine system in males and cause the early onset of puberty in females, which can potentially lead to breast cancer later on in life.
Parabens are generally used as preservatives in personal care products. They have the ability to permeate through the skin. They are very similar in structure to the natural hormone in women called estrogen. Exposure to parabens may potentially lead to breast cancer.
Fragrances, or more specifically, artificial fragrances, can contain various dangerous chemicals in them. Since manufacturers aren’t required to publish all of the ingredients used on the label, they can hide a lot of the harmful chemicals under fragrances.
Some of these chemicals have been identified as phthalates and parabens across various products.
This is why it’s recommended to use a deodorant with a natural and light fragrance.
Diethanolamine, more commonly known as DEA is used in many personal care products. The process of creating DEA, known as Ethoxyilation, creates 1,4-dioxane as a byproduct, which is known to cause cancer in people.
Butane and Isobutane are used as propellants in deodorants. There have been some concerns about these gasses, as they can get contaminated by 1,3-butadiene. This chemical can cause cancer and reproductive toxicity in people.
Aluminum is a metal that’s frequently used in deodorants to block your sweat glands to prevent sweating. Excessive exposure to Aluminium can cause genomic instability, which can cause frequent mutations and increased chances of tumor growth.
There are also CFCs and similar compounds that can have a devastating impact on the environment.
Chlorofluorocarbons were very prevalent in the past, but studies have shown that they can destroy the ozone layer of the earth and cause many holes in it.
This causes harmful ultraviolet radiation from the sun and other places in the universe to enter the atmosphere. Increased exposure to radiation can increase the chances of cancer exponentially.
Degree Deodorant Ingredients
- Aluminium Chlorohydrate
The only active ingredient in Degree Deodorants is Aluminium Chlorohydrate. It isn’t a cause for concern though.
This is because the FDA has deemed Aluminium Chlorohydrate safe in deodorants and antiperspirants as long as they’re below 25% in concentration.
Degree Deodorants can contain 23.3% or 20.2% Aluminium Chlorohydrate, depending on the variant you select.
Other non-active ingredients are the same across all the variants, and we will be discussing them briefly.
- Butane and Isobutane
They are used in the product to help the fragrance release through a gas medium.
Normal butane can be highly toxic if inhaled directly, however, the butane used in deodorants is purified of these contaminants and is usually safe.
If these gasses are not properly purified and get contaminated with 1,3-butadiene, they have the potential to cause cancer and reproductive toxicity as we’ve discussed above.
- Cyclopentasiloxane
Cyclopentasiloxane is a kind of silicone used to keep your skin soft, smooth, and plump. It doesn’t get absorbed into the skin, it evaporates away from it instead.
This is why it’s used in many cosmetics like deodorants where the product needs to evaporate quickly.
- Hydrofluorocarbon 152A or 1,1-Difluoroethane
It is used to help the product expel from the can. It has an ozone depletion potential of zero, making it safe to use for the environment.
- PPG-14 Butyl Ether
This is used to keep your skin soft and smooth. It is not toxic to people, but it can cause mild irritation on the skin and eyes if exposed.
- Disteardimonium Hectorite
Disteardimonium Hectorite is usually used as a thickening agent in cosmetics. It helps absorb water and oil present on the skin.
- Fragrances
Degree Deodorant contains fragrances that are pretty safe for human use. All the fragrant contents in the deodorant have a concentration of less than 0.01%.
Since these chemicals are used in such a small amount, they get expelled through the excretory system fairly easily.
All of the other ingredients in the product are usually used for promoting the shelf life of the product. They are also used to increase the efficiency of the product.
These ingredients kill odor-causing bacteria, keep the skin soft and smooth, and prevent excess sweat in your body.
Is Degree Deodrant Safe for sensitive skin?
No, Degree Deodorant is not safe for sensitive skin as it contains aluminum and fragrances.
People who suffer from sensitive skin or other dermatological conditions can experience severe irritation, burning, and rashes after using most self-care products these days.
It is better to look for a deodorant that does not contain any aluminum, alcohol, or fragrance, as these chemicals are the main cause of skin irritation.
Does Degree Deodorant cause cancer?
No, Degree Deodorant does not cause cancer. When we talk about personal care products causing cancer, we usually mean that one of its key ingredients has been linked as a carcinogen.
Carcinogens are chemicals that are very similar in structure to our body’s hormones. These chemicals are absorbed by the body through various sources like air, food, water, etc.
Degree Deodorant does not contain any carcinogens.
Is Degree Deodorant fragrance-free?
Degree Deodorant is available in nine different variants. Some of these variants have an associated scent with them.
All of these variants contain fragrances, however. They’re fine to use if you just want a lightweight scent with your deodorant.
If you’re looking for a fragrance-free alternative due to medical conditions, however, we would recommend avoiding this product.
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Does Degree Deodorant have aluminum in it?
Yes, Degree Deodorant has aluminum in it in the form of Aluminum Chlorohydrate. Despite some claims labeling aluminum as a carcinogen, aluminum Chlorohydrate has been marked as a safe additive by the FDA under controlled amounts.
Degree Deodorant can contain 20.2% or 23.3% aluminum chlorohydrate, depending on the variant you choose. This amount falls under the safe parameters of 25% set by the FDA.
Does Degree Deodorant contain any alcohol in it?
No, Degree Deodorant does not contain any alcohol in it. Alcohol is primarily used in cosmetics because it evaporates very quickly, keeping the skin dry.
This comes in handy when we talk about deodorants since their function is to keep skin dry and sweat-free.
The problem with alcohol is that it can cause extreme irritation to many people, even those who do not suffer from sensitive skin.
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Does Degree Deodorant have benzene in it?
No, Degree Deodorant does not contain any benzene in it. Benzene was a chemical widely used for its preservative properties, but several studies have shown its connection with a decrease in red blood cell levels and an increase in the risk of blood cancer.
Does Degree Deodorant have parabens in it?
No, Degree Deodorant does not contain any parabens in it. Parabens are widely used in cosmetics for their preservative properties and cheap cost of production.
They have been linked with a negative environmental impact on the environment since they don’t break down easily.
Parabens are washed off your body and flow directly into the drain and wastewater storage. They can bind with organic molecules and contaminate natural soil and underground water, leading to the devastation of aquatic life.
They also carry a risk of causing breast cancer, as they resemble estrogen a lot, but this claim hasn’t been proven rigorously.
Does Degree Deodorant contain phthalates in it?
No, Degree Deodorant does not contain any phthalates in it. Phthalates are mainly used as plasticizers in the production of plastics. They do not pose any acute toxicity.
Long-term exposure to them has been linked with the disruption of the endocrine and endocannabinoid systems in humans.
Phthalates also remain in the environment for a long time as they do not degrade through natural means. This is why phthalates are found in large amounts in the atmosphere and water bodies.
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Does Degree Deodorant have baking soda in it?
Baking Soda, or Sodium bicarbonate, has been used as an anti-odor remedy for a long time. Degree Deodorant does not contain any baking soda in it.
Baking soda is not harmful to your skin and it is regularly used in food as an additive as well.
Is Degree Deodorant safe around children?
Degree Deodorant is safe for children as long as they don’t use it internally. Using Degree Deodorant around children will not cause any health effects, but it can be a fire hazard around kids, just like any deodorant.
Deodorants use gases like Butane and Propane which are highly flammable. This is why it’s a good idea to keep it out of reach of children if you do plan to use it.
Is Degree Deodorant Safe for Pets?
Degree Deodorant should be safe to use if you don’t have your pets in the same room while using it.
It’s hard to gauge how the chemicals will affect dogs and cats, but pets typically have a highly sensitive olfactory system, and it’s hence a good idea to keep their exposure to deodorants to a minimum.
The Bottom Line
After everything we’ve seen about Degree Deodorants and their various ingredients, it’s safe to say that Degree Deodorants are not toxic and safe to use every day, as long as you don’t have sensitive skin.
We hope that this guide was able to assist you with your purchase.
References:
- https://www.degreedeodorant.com/us/
- https://www.ewg.org/skindeep/browse/brands/860-Degree/?brand=Degree&category=antiperspirant%2Fdeodorant
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