Antiperspirants are products that are designed to reduce sweating and body odor. They are available as separate products or as a combination of deodorant and antiperspirant. Antiperspirants contain active ingredients that block the release of perspiration from sweat glands, and the most common active ingredient is aluminum-based compounds. These compounds plug up sweat ducts to temporarily stop the flow of moisture to the skin. Other ingredients in antiperspirants include emollient oil, alcohol, and preservatives. Emollient oil is added to keep the product from flaking once it dries on the skin, while alcohol helps the product evaporate quickly from the surface of the skin, creating a cooling sensation and preventing microbes in the armpits from producing unpleasant odors. Preservatives are added to protect the product from bacteria, yeasts, and molds.

There have been concerns about the safety of antiperspirants, particularly regarding the use of aluminum-based compounds. However, there is no scientific evidence to suggest that antiperspirant ingredients pose any sort of health risk. Parabens, another ingredient found in some antiperspirants, have been linked to breast cancer, but the link is questionable at best. Most major brands of antiperspirants are paraben-free these days, though the preservative is still found in some products such as makeup, moisturizers, shaving products, and hair products.

In summary, antiperspirants are products that reduce sweating and body odor. They contain active ingredients such as aluminum-based compounds, as well as other ingredients like emollient oil, alcohol, and preservatives. While there have been concerns about the safety of antiperspirants, there is no scientific evidence to suggest that they pose any sort of health risk.