AMMONIUM ALUM

Name / description

Ammonium Alum; Aluminium Ammonium Bis(sulphate)

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Function(s) of this ingredient in cosmetic products

ANTIPERSPIRANT

Reduces perspiration

ASTRINGENT

Contracting and/or tightening the skin

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Origin

synthetic

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Occurrence in cosmetics

In sweat-reducing cosmetic and bodycare products (antiperspirants)

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Occurrence in other products

In the paper industry, tanneries, for water treatments; in medicine as astringent; in the food industry as firming agent and stabiliser (in the EU it is approved as a food additive under the designation E 523)

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Background information on use in cosmetics

In cosmetic products ammonium alum occurs mainly as antiperspirant ingredient. Antiperspirants or antihidrotics are basically different in their application and effect from deodorants. They regulate sweat secretions; deodorants, by contrast, contain odour inhibiting and antibacterial ingredients which are to mainly absorb and cover the sweat odour. Usual antiperspirants have a sweat-reducing effect of approximately 20 to 60 %. The higher the active ingredient concentration and the lower the pH value of the product, the stronger the efficacy of the antiperspirant. At the beginning of the application the sweat regulating effect increases significantly and remains on a constant level in the event of a regular use. Antiperspirants based on aluminium salts have proven themselves in decades of practical application against excessive sweat secretion.

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Links to scientific assessments

Opinion of the SCCS (2019) on the safety of aluminium in cosmetic products

Opinion of the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR, 2020) on Aluminium

Opinion of the SCCS (2021) on the safety of aluminium in lipsticks

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Why are we talking about it?

Aluminium salts are suspected of increasing the risks of breast cancer and Alzheimer's disease. The facts: The most recent assessment by independent European scientists was published in May 2022. Their conclusion was based on all available scientific data and confirms that cosmetic products containing aluminium salts are safe for consumers, for the following reasons: - Only a very small proportion of aluminum from dermally applied cosmetic products can penetrate the skin, and the total amount of aluminum from cosmetics becoming systemically available via different exposure routes is safe; - There are no reliable indications of a causal association between aluminium exposure and breast cancer; - There are no reliable indications of a causal association between aluminium exposure and neurodegenerative diseases. The Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) thus concluded that antiperspirants containing aluminium salts are safe, even on shaved or depilated skin. Safety of the use of aluminium salts in cosmetic products was evaluated by numerous expert committees (European, French, German, American etc.) already prior to 2022 on the basis of a comprehensive set of toxicology studies. These studies did not indicate a carcinogenic potential of aluminium salts, whether orally ingested or applied to the skin. Although aluminium may induce neurotoxic effects at high doses in animals, no causal link has been established between aluminium salts and Alzheimer's disease. The presence of aluminium in lesions characteristic of Alzheimer's disease (so-called plaques) does not imply a causal association. In addition to cosmetic products, other sources such as food, drinking water or pharmaceuticals (in particular antacids) do substantially contribute to total exposure of humans towards aluminum. However, even if the assessment is based on total exposure from all known sources, there is no safety concern for consumers. Key points to take away: The numerous studies conducted on aluminum salts have never been able to establish a causal association between aluminum salts applied to the skin and breast cancer or Alzheimer's disease. Recently conducted, scientifically robust studies (2019) using dermal administration of aluminum salts present in cosmetics, including antiperspirants, have confirmed their very low percutaneous penetration (approximately 0.00052 % on healthy skin), which is also insignificant if applied on shaved or depilated skin. Only an extremely small proportion of aluminum present in antiperspirants will become bioavailable, thus no toxic effects have to be expected. The SCCS concluded that exposure to aluminum resulting from daily applications of cosmetic products does not add significantly to the systemic body burden of aluminum from other sources. Sources: Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety: Opinion SCCS/1613/19 (2019) (https://ec.europa.eu/health/system/files/2021-11/sccs_o_235.pdf) + Addendum (https://ec.europa.eu/health/system/files/2021-04/sccs_o_248_0.pdf)

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Belongs to the following substance groups

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Regulating cosmetics

Cosmetics Ingredients are subject to regulation. Please note, different regulations may apply to cosmetic ingredients outside the EU.