Mineral Salts vs. aluminum chloride

[Eileen Lloyd]

The active ingredients in the mineral salts crystals are:
Magnesium Chloride, Sodium Chloride, Calcium Chloride, Potassium
Chloride, Bromide, Sulphates, and Bicarbonate

The active ingredient in commercial *anti-perspirants* is aluminum
chloride. This is the ingredient that people are trying to avoid -- but
notice that it is NOT an ingredient in mineral salts.

Yes, they are all salts, but no they don't work in the same way. I
checked with my mother (who is a biochemist and the author of two
Biochemistry textbooks and who teaches biochemistry at Temple Medical
School in Philadelphia) and she said that mineral salts would create a
salty environment in which bacteria could not survive, thereby stopping
the cycle which creates the odor -- not, however, stopping sweating and
moisture. Aluminum chloride causes the body not to release moisture
where it has been topically applied. Without moisture the bacteria
don't grow.

Two different actions. Two different ingredients.

Whew, who knew this would generate so much "conversation"

Eileen

[Karl Pollak]

Eileen Lloyd <kid...@voicenet.com> wrote:

>The active ingredients in the mineral salts crystals are:
>Magnesium Chloride, Sodium Chloride, Calcium Chloride, Potassium
>Chloride, Bromide, Sulphates, and Bicarbonate

According to the people whom I asked to list the ingredients off their
labels, the active ingredient in these "crystals" is alum.

>The active ingredient in commercial *anti-perspirants* is aluminum
>chloride. This is the ingredient that people are trying to avoid -- but
>notice that it is NOT an ingredient in mineral salts.

Well, simplified, but essentially correct. The chemicals used are a
bit more complex than aluminum chloride, but some are based on it.

>Yes, they are all salts, but no they don't work in the same way. I
>checked with my mother (who is a biochemist and the author of two
>Biochemistry textbooks and who teaches biochemistry at Temple Medical
>School in Philadelphia) and she said that mineral salts would create a
>salty environment in which bacteria could not survive, thereby stopping
>the cycle which creates the odor -- not, however, stopping sweating and
>moisture. Aluminum chloride causes the body not to release moisture
>where it has been topically applied. Without moisture the bacteria
>don't grow.

Has mom also mentioned anything about the dermatological effects of
applying caustic minerals to your skin? I don't have an argument with
her statements, after all, hot brine is recommended by many dentists
as a good antiseptic mouth wash. (1/2 teaspoon of sodium chloride,
a.k.a. kitchen salt, dissolved in a glass of hot water). Same effect.
Kills germs in your mouth. No germs, no odour, much fewer cavities.

But I am concerned about these salts dissolving in the sweat to form
acids and their effect on the skin. Kind of tossing the baby out with
the bathwater, don't you think?

>Two different actions. Two different ingredients.

Also two, equally harmfull effects. ??

----------------------
Karl Pollak
[Respond in this newsgroup only. Send _no_ e-mail]

[Colleen Card]

I used the mineral salt deoderent for about a year. The only side
effects I experienced was sensitivity after shaving. I quit after
about a year because I started to get painful ingrown hairs when I
used it after shaving. I do have sensitive skin though. The whole rock
($10) lasted me over that year though. Very frugal.

>Has mom also mentioned anything about the dermatological effects of
>applying caustic minerals to your skin? I don't have an argument with
>her statements, after all, hot brine is recommended by many dentists
>as a good antiseptic mouth wash. (1/2 teaspoon of sodium chloride,
>a.k.a. kitchen salt, dissolved in a glass of hot water). Same effect.
>Kills germs in your mouth. No germs, no odour, much fewer cavities.

>But I am concerned about these salts dissolving in the sweat to form
>acids and their effect on the skin. Kind of tossing the baby out with
>the bathwater, don't you think?

>>Two different actions. Two different ingredients.

>Also two, equally harmfull effects. ??

>----------------------
>Karl Pollak
>[Respond in this newsgroup only. Send _no_ e-mail]

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