Does Aluminum in Deodorant Cause Cancer?
The evidence does not show that it does. The National Cancer Institute says some scientists have suggested a possible connection because antiperspirants and deodorants are applied near the breast, but that no scientific evidence links the use of these products to the development of breast cancer. It says no studies to date have confirmed any substantial adverse effects of aluminum that could contribute to increased breast cancer risk, and that a 2014 review found no clear evidence that aluminum-containing underarm antiperspirants or cosmetics increase the risk.
The American Cancer Society says the studies linking breast cancer risk and antiperspirant use are limited to case-control studies with mixed results, and that there is currently limited evidence to conclude antiperspirant use increases breast cancer risk. It says one study found only 0.012 percent of aluminum from underarm antiperspirants was absorbed, that other research showed no meaningful difference in aluminum levels between breast tissue with cancer and surrounding healthy tissue, and that overall there is no strong evidence these products increase the aluminum in breast tissue.
Antiperspirants are regulated as drugs. The FDA defines an antiperspirant as a drug product applied topically that reduces the production of sweat at that site, and says deodorants that are also antiperspirants are cosmetic and drug products that must comply with the requirements for both.
Sources checked September 15, 2026. Every point below links the page it came from.
The sources behind this answer
- Government sourceThe National Cancer Institute says several scientists have suggested a possible connection between underarm antiperspirants or deodorants and breast cancer, but no scientific evidence links their use to the development of breast cancer. National Cancer Institute ↗
- StudyNCI says no studies to date have confirmed any substantial adverse effects of aluminum that could contribute to increased breast cancer risk, and a 2014 review found no clear evidence that aluminum-containing antiperspirants increase the risk. National Cancer Institute ↗
- Medical referenceThe American Cancer Society says studies linking breast cancer risk and antiperspirant use are limited to case-control studies with mixed results, and there is currently limited evidence that antiperspirant use increases breast cancer risk. American Cancer Society ↗
- Medical referenceThe American Cancer Society says one study found only 0.012 percent of aluminum from underarm antiperspirants was absorbed, and that overall there is no strong evidence these products increase aluminum in breast tissue. American Cancer Society ↗
- Regulatory filingThe FDA says deodorants that are also antiperspirants are cosmetic and drug products that must comply with the requirements for both cosmetics and drugs. US FDA ↗
- Regulatory filingFDA regulation 21 CFR part 350 defines an antiperspirant as a drug product applied topically that reduces the production of perspiration at that site. eCFR, 21 CFR part 350 ↗
Sources checked September 15, 2026. A brand statement is the company’s own claim, which we report but have not verified. Our grades are model-based estimates, not lab tests.