Deodorant fears, debunked

It all started with a chain email.

IN a nutshell Hi, friends! How's everyone smelling these days? How about those of you using natural deodorant? Come on, you can be honest with us. Why do I ask? Because today we're talking about how a chain email from the 90s ignited baseless claims that antiperspirants cause breast cancer and how that rumor led to the rise of natural deodorants. We'll also be talking about: • how to banish BO from your clothes without laundry detergent • the argument for washing your laundry with hot water • a health tech billionaire's fall from grace • more health stories you need Stay sharp, Ginger Wojcik Newsletter Editor, Healthline

Written by Ginger Wojcik November 30, 2022 • 6 min read

what's got us buzzing Why the rumor about antiperspirants causing cancer refuses to go away It feels like the dangers of ingredients in personal care products are being uncovered all the time. Just last month, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) found that women who use chemical straighteners are twice as likely to develop uterine cancer. And in 2021, a study found that over half of cosmetic products contain potentially harmful PFAs — aka "forever chemicals." So it's easy to understand how fears about antiperspirants became so widespread. After all, it does feel suspicious that most breast tumors occur near the armpit. But as science shows us time and time again, just because something feels a certain way doesn't make it true. There has never been a human study that shows antiperspirant use is linked with higher rates of breast cancer. And the National Cancer Institute and American Cancer Society both dismiss this claim as false. The rumor got started in the 90s after a chain email circulated claiming that common ingredients in antiperspirants caused breast cancer. Then, research from 2003 and 2009 found weak, insubstantial evidence for the link, helping the rumor simmer throughout the aughts. Once "clean beauty" got popular, the demonization of antiperspirants accelerated and suddenly it seemed like everyone was wearing natural deodorant. "Natural deodorant" is a murky umbrella term that usually refers to deodorants that don't use aluminum or parabens. The Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, doesn't regulate the word "natural," so it's essentially meaningless. But that's a convo for another time. From personal experience (and many convos with friends), a natural deodorant that works half as well as the conventional options is a needle in a haystack. So I'll be sticking to my trusty Old Spice, for now at least. tl;dr: After a rumor circulated that ingredients in antiperspirants cause breast cancer, and with the rise in popularity of "clean beauty," natural deodorant went mainstream. To date, there have been no human studies to support the claim that antiperspirants cause cancer. But with more research coming out every year about the potential harms of certain ingredients, it's hard to fault those who hold fears about antiperspirants.

great finds Editor faves with health perks You know those great finds you just *have* to tell your friends about? That's how we feel about the products we recommend here. Every pick has been vetted by our editorial team, and we genuinely think it'll make your life better.       Ecoegg Laundry Egg As someone with exceptionally strong BO who's serious about clean clothes, I was heavily skeptical of the Ecoegg Laundry Egg at first. But after 11 months of exclusively using the egg, I can attest that this nifty little thing really works. So how does it work? According to Ecoegg's website, the mineral pellets inside of the egg lift dirt and grease off of clothing while also ionizing the water, which helps soften the fabric. Just be careful not to overfill your washer, as it can't handle huge loads. This award-winning egg is especially great for people with sensitive skin or allergies, as using too much laundry detergent can cause skin irritation. Plus, it may mean you can skip buying plastic detergent bottles for good! Shop now

say what   Look who's talking "I am devastated by my failings. Every day for the past years I have felt deep pain for those people who believe in us and those patients I worked so hard to serve." – Elizabeth Holmes     Once the youngest self-made woman billionaire in history, Elizabeth Holmes has been sentenced to 11 years and 3 months in prison for defrauding investors. Holmes started the health tech company Theranos, which falsely claimed their technology could run 1,000 tests from one drop of blood. It's been reported that up to 10% of all Theranos test results given to patients were inaccurate.

Wednesday Kick Start Should you wash clothes in hot or cold water? The Great Laundry Paradox is that hot water kills germs and banishes odors far better than cold water, but it can also cause colors to fade, clothes to shrink, and materials to wear out. While detergent is great at lifting dirt, grease, and microbes, it can't sanitize. To kill potentially infectious pathogens, wash water needs to be between 104 and 140°F (40 and 60°C). With some fabrics, you can use a disinfectant like bleach or chlorine to sanitize in lieu of hot water. (Just avoid using those chemicals with wool, silk, mohair, or spandex.) How necessary is it really to sanitize your clothes? That depends. Any item that gets close to poo needs the hot water treatment (think: underwear, leggings, bathing suits). High traffic items like kitchen towels, bathmats, and shower curtains are also breeding grounds for bacteria. One study found that over a third of kitchen towels contained E. coli. Eek! A 2001 study found that people who used communal washing machines without bleach were more likely to get sick than those who didn't. So if you go to the laundromat or use a shared machine, consider sanitizing all your laundry. For the rest of your laundry, it's really up to you. As mentioned, most fabrics will last a lot longer if washed in cold water (your energy bill will drop a little too). Just please stop putting your denim in the freezer. It won't get rid of dirt, odor, and most bacteria.

health stories you need What we're reading next Is a vaccine for dementia in the cards anytime soon? Learn how a dementia vaccine would work, the current state of research, and how quickly one may be available to the public. 5 tips for coping with holiday depression. Want to keep negative thoughts from squashing the joy of the season? This advice may help. Want to live longer? Find a purpose. The study found that having a purpose lowers people's chance of death. The results were especially strong for women.

you're up I recently learned that I'm allergic to dust mites. While this information answers the question of my lifelong sneeziness, it also presents a new question: "How the F am I going to keep all these dust mites at bay?" (FYI: Dust mites are microscopic bugs that live, poop, and die all over your mattress, sheets, pillows, etc. They can be killed, but they're pretty much impossible to get rid of permanently.) The best way to manage your bed's dust mite population is by frequently washing your bedding in at least 130°F (54°C) water. With this new reality, it seems foolish to ever buy expensive sheets. After all, won't they wear out from all the hot water? It also led me to wonder how everyone else is caring for their sheets. We want to know: How often do you wash your sheets? Do you use cold or hot water? Let us know at wellnesswire@healthline.com.

Thanks for reading! Your homework for tonight is to reflect on one thing you truly love about yourself (and maybe to wash your sheets). We'll be back on Friday.

Until next time, Take care of yourself, and we'll see you again soon!     This edition was powered by many cups of rosehip and hibiscus tea.   View in browser Did a friend send you this email? Subscribe here. To see all newsletters, click here. Privacy    |    Unsubscribe © 2022 Healthline Media 1423 Red Ventures Drive, Fort Mill, SC 29707