Aluminium zirconium tetrachlorohydrex gly

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Aluminium zirconium tetrachlorohydrex gly is a chemical compound used as an antiperspirant in many deodorant products. The compound is selected for its ability to close pores in the skin and prevent sweat production. Its anhydrous form gives it the added ability of absorbing moisture.

Contents 1 Functions 2 Health risks 3 Clothing stains 4 See also 5 References

[edit] Functions

Anhydrous aluminium zirconium tetrachlorohydrex gly has two major functions as an antiperspirant.

First, the aluminium forms a gel that clogs large numbers of pores in the skin, a clog that prevents the pores from releasing sweat. This clogging ability is common among aluminium-based antiperspirants (e.g., aluminium chlorohydrate).

Second, it absorbs some of the sweat produced by pores that didn't get clogged in the first place. The chemical compound itself is hygroscopic.

Because these two functions reduce underarm wetness, aluminium zirconium tetrachlorohydrex gly can be said to reduce body odour because it inhibits the bacterial breakdown of sweat.

[edit] Health risks

Though aluminium has been identified as a neurotoxin^[1], several studies^{[citation needed]} suggest that aluminium zirconium tetrachlorohydrex gly is not absorbed through the skin as readily as other aluminium compounds such as aluminium chloride. This finding would suggest a significantly lower chance of toxic effects associated with aluminium, though still unproven.

Some people^{[citation needed]} believe antiperspirants cause acne because of their pore clogging ability. However, aluminium compounds only close pores in areas to which they are applied, so as long as they are applied only to areas where acne is unlikely, these fears are baseless.

[edit] Clothing stains

When mixed with sweat, aluminium zirconium tetrachlorohydrex gly is known to stain clothing with a yellowish tint. [1]

[edit] See also

• Deodorant

[edit] References