Botox: Safer for Sweaty People than Antiperspirant?

When it comes to deodorants, it's important to understand one essential distinction: Deodorants stop odor. Antiperspirants stop sweating. Problem is: Antiperspirants wreak havoc on both our bodies and the environment.

BO is undeniably bad, but sweating is actually a necessary bodily function. According to Dr. Rob Streisfeld, a Naturopathic Doctor, "your body is designed to sweat, so using chemicals and agents to block the natural process is never good." Conventional antiperspirants use chemical compounds like aluminum, formaldehyde, parabens (which can cause hormone disruption), and other chemicals to prevent the body from expelling toxins and stop sweating... which isn't a good thing.

Antiperspirants and Your Health

A study conducted by Chicago allergist Dr. Kris McGrath, found a connection between antiperspirants, underarm shaving and cancer. The findings suggest that Aluminum Chlorohydrate, a toxin present in antiperspirant, is more readily able to enter freshly shaven skin and directly access the underlying lymphatic system, which is connected to the breasts. Of the more than 400 Chicago-area breast cancer survivors interviewed, those who aggressively shaved their armpits and used antiperspirant were believed to have been diagnosed with breast cancer 22 years earlier than the non-users. Bigger than a localized Chicago study, a frightening parallel has been drawn between the increased global use of antiperspirant and the increased global rate of breast cancer incidence.

Antiperspirants and the Environment

More than wreaking havoc on our bodies, antiperspirants are actually harming the environment too. Look at the chemical breakdown of antiperspirants and think about their lifecycle. Parabens, derived from a toxic petrochemical (a bi-product of the oil business), are washed off our skin in the shower, therefore entering out water systems. And what about the half used tubes that are dumped and replaced by new fresh sticks? The plastic packaging piles up in landfills while the chemical remnants seep into the soil--the same soil that nourishes plants... that animals and people eat. Triclosan, one of the antibacterial ingredients in antiperspirant, also penetrates the soil, and therefore our waterways, and can't be filtered out during waste water treatment. In fact, it's one of most common chemicals found in our waterways. Sure, it kills bacteria, but it is also known to be toxic to algae. And what consume algae? Fish. What consumes fish? Humans... You get the picture.

So What's a Serious Sweater To Do?

For the average person, sweat isn't as much of an issue as stinking, so foregoing antiperspirant isn't really a problem as long as the deodorant is swathed on daily. And then there are those unlucky few (2.8% of the population to be exact) who suffer from a more serious sweat problem called Hyperhidrosis. It may seem trite to the average schwitzer, but Hyperhidrosis--excessive and unnatural sweating, can not only ruin clothes (even saturating leather jackets) resulting in dropping lots of dough on very un-green dry cleaning, but it can also be extremely embarrassing, and even confidence killing. For these people, not even antiperspirants help. So how do you know if you suffer from Hyperhidrosis? Antiperspirants don't help... not even a little.

For serious sweaters, a surprisingly greener option might be

Botox or Dysport

Sure, the common use of Botox is to stop the furrow on your forehead. But Botox has a slew of other uses that are actually even more effective. Like, for example, injections into the armpits. Sound extreme? It's not. In fact, it can completely change a serious sweater's attitude, amplify their confidence, and allow them to stop being scared to wear anything other than black and white tops (the only colors that hide circles of underarm sweat).

The Journal of Drugs in Dermatology published a study showing that, for the 2.8% of the population suffering from the "emotionally devastating" effects of severe hyperhidrosis, while topical aluminum chloride creams are the first line of defense, the FDA-approved Botulinum toxin type seems to be more effective.

When it comes to the safety and efficacy of botulinum toxin type A (Botox), a 16-month study reported in the Archives of Dermatology showed a "reduction from baseline in axillary sweating," and "subjects' satisfaction after treatments was consistently high, their quality of life improved, and there was a reduction in the impact of the disease on their lives. The safety profile of BTX-A after repeated treatments was excellent and no confirmed positive results for neutralizing antibodies to BTX-A occurred." In other words, botox injections in the pits for the purpose of combating excessive sweating was shown to be both safe and effective.

Dr. Gabriel Chiu, a plastic and reconstructive surgeon, and owner of Beverly Hills Plastic Surgery explains that Botox works by "blocking the release of a neurotransmitter which in turn prevents the muscle from contracting. Your sweat glands have a little ring of minuscule muscle around them. When those muscles are contracted it causes you to sweat. Botox prevents those micro muscles from contracting, resulting in less sweat for an average of 6-8 months." This isn't a new treatment, Botox is just not as well known as for the pits as it is for use on the face. But, in fact, Botox was FDA approved for use in the armpits in 2004.

But is Botox Green?

According to Dr. Chiu, "by all means!" In 1896, the bacteria taken from cured ham was first isolated as a source for a botulinum outbreak. Since then, it has been well-studied. The strain used for Botox and Dysprt (a newer product with very similar effects) is a purified protein that originates from Clostridium Botulinum, a rod-shaped bacteria commonly found in soil in Western US and Australia. The bacteria is cultured and grown in a sterile lab, then it is fermented, and purified with dialysis and acid purification.

So How Does Botox Compare to Antiperspirant?

Dr. Chiu reminds us that we are talking about "excessive sweating," the kind of sweating that antiperspirant is no match against and in fact has no effect on. Antiperspirant inhibits sweat glands from producing sweat. The most common ingredient is aluminum oxide-- which has been proven toxic and possibly cancer causing. Aluminum ions cause sweat ducts to close, which prevents sweat from passing through and coming out. According to Dr. Chiu, "sweat is something that you need to do. Is it safe to stop it? No. Botox doesn't stop you from sweating altogether. It just stops you from sweating excessively. You still need to wear deodorant for the odor, which is from a different sweat gland."

But is Botox Safe for Animals?

We can't help but raise the question: What is our vanity and comfort worth? Is it worth another life? Sure, you may incessantly have sweat dripping down your arm and your pits are always saturated (and often dotted with in-growns and pimples since the warm moisture is a breeding ground for other icky bacteria), but have you stopped to consider the true pain, and sometimes death that botox testing does to critters... all in the name of science (and on behalf of keeping you dry)?

According to an article published by The Humane Society of the United States, "whether for therapeutic or cosmetic applications, batches of Botox must be tested before Allergan releases the product to doctors and dermatologists." And what does this potency test consist of? "This test involves giving mice a single injection of the product into their abdomen and seeing if animals die within 3-4 days. The mice are first assigned to one of various dose groups; each group will receive a different concentration of the product in order to estimate which strength will kill half of the targeted group. That concentration (the LD50 value) is then considered a single 'unit' of Botox; from there, Allergan packages a given number of units into a vial for human use." Brutal.

Now the question arises: If you need to test the stuff on animals, is it really good for the planet? Sure it's safe "enough" for people, but are there other unknown impacts (like the life of animals) that we aren't aware of?

Suddenly a simply sticky (and stinky) issue has become a matter of life or death for some innocent animals. So, in the end, ask yourself: is it worth it? Is Botox really "safe?" If you'd prefer to contribute to the welfare and livelihood of animals try the greenest option of them all and whip up your own underarm solution. For serious sweaters, it honestly won't stop the stream, but it will stop the stink.

Whatever you choose, don't clog your pores with chemicals. Even botox users still need to apply deodorant. It's best to try a natural deodorant that uses mineral salts, unprocessed oils, and herbs to balance pH and reduce bacterial growth. Many of them are infused with herbs that naturally have antiperspirant qualities too, like aloe, coriander, and lichen.

For Average Sweaters Try Natural Deodorant

Naturopathic doctor Dr. Streisfeld suggests that when buying deodorant, choose paraben-free products. Some purists prefer using baking soda and water as a natural, inexpensive alternative to deodorant. Dr. Streisfeld does note that natural deodorants aren't necessarily as effective as the conventional, so he suggests that in order to stay stink-free, you make a little effort and apply more often.

We tested them out, and these are a few that left us smelling like roses (lavender, aloe and herbs too):

Lavanila Laboratories The Healthy Deodorant is a natural deodorant that free of Aluminum, Parabens, Propylene Glycol, Talc, Phthalates and Triclosan, and packed with anti-oxidants, active botanicals and essential oils (like goji berry, Japanese honeysuckle, aloe, lemon and tea tree oils) to fight odor, condition, soothe and nourish the skin. Love the Vanilla Grapefruit scent!

MBeze Natural Skin Care Deodorette , made with natural and organic ingredients hand blended in small batches in the USA, is a stylish little deodorant perfect for freshening up on the fly (or really anytime anywhere). It's made with natural and organic ingredients like lime oil, Arrowroot powder, and Vitamin E, and without aluminum, parabens, or propylene glycol.

Erbaviva Lemon and Sage Organic Deodorant is a blend of organic extracts of sage, lemon, patchouli, and tea tree oils designed to sweetly counteract the growth of bacteria without clogging pores. Not to worry, it's aluminum and chemical-free! Available at Vert Eco Boutique in Los Angeles or online.

Dr. Hauschka Skin Care Fresh Deodorant is formulated with witch hazel and sage extracts to absorb odor without clogging pores and Zinc to reduce odor without wreaking havoc on delicate skin. It's spiked with citrus essential oils to keeps you smelling fresh!

Toms of Maine Long-Lasting Care may be the old natural standby, but it has a new unusual odor-killing weapon- Hops! Yes, the active ingredient in beer actually inhibits the growth of odor-causing bacteria on the skin while reducing the possibility of skin irritation. To gently intensify the anti-odor action, Zinc ricinoleate binds up odor molecules trapping and absorbs bad smells. We love the Lemongrass scent!

Kiss My Face Active Enzyme Stick Deodorant neutralizes odor using enzymatic protein from grains, while baking soda and purifying clays absorb any excess scent, keeping you clean smelling all day. We love that the dry stick is aluminum and paraben-free, plus it's colorless and non-staining so no fear of ruining your clothes!

Purist? If you're a purist, you may prefer to make your own deodorant using baking soda and water as a natural, inexpensive alternative to deodorant.