Lewis, L., Carson, S., Bydder, S., Athifa, M., Williams, A.M., & Bremner, A. (2014). Evaluating the effects of aluminum-containing and non-aluminum containing deodorants on axillary skin toxicity during radiation therapy for breast cancer: A 3-armed randomized controlled trial. International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics, 90, 765–771.
To evaluate the effects of aluminum- and nonaluminum-containing deodorants
Patients were randomly assigned to use (a) just soap and water, (b) nonaluminum-containing deodorant and soap and water, or (c) aluminum-containing deodorant and soap and water. Low irritant soap was provided to study participants for use, as were both deodorants. The axilla of the breast or chest wall undergoing radiation was assessed weekly. One month after completion of treatment, patients were interviewed to assess their compliance with the treatment assignment.
PHASE OF CARE: Active antitumor treatment
Randomized, controlled, three-arm trial
There were no skin toxicities at two weeks, and at four weeks, less than 5% in all groups had at least grade 2 skin toxicity. At seven weeks, 66.7% of 12 remaining aluminum-containing users, 80% of the remaining 10 nonaluminum-containing deodorant users, and 58.8% of the 17 remaining controls had at least grade 2 toxicity. There was no statistically significant difference in axillary skin toxicity associated with study group, and there were no significant differences among groups in pain, itch, or burning sensation.
This study found no evidence that aluminum- or nonaluminum-containing deodorant use had an adverse effect on axillary skin toxicity during radiation therapy.
This study demonstrated that the use of deodorants, including aluminum-containing deodorant, did not adversely effect skin reactions during radiation therapy for breast cancer. Nurses can educate patients that they do not need to avoid using such deodorants during radiation therapy.