Abstract
Excessive sweat often leads to unpleasant body odour. Some individuals may be unaware of their own odour due to specific anosmia, causing embarrassment and diminished self-confidence. Topical antiperspirants reduce sweat by forming a gel-like barrier. However, research on the long-standing use of aluminium salts as antiperspirants is limited, mostly conducted in vivo, which can be costly, time-consuming, and, and may not accurately reflect individual experiences and outcomes.
This Ph.D. research project is aimed to develop simple, animal-free platforms that mimic the small channel environment of human sweat ducts to assess antiperspirant effectiveness. Two common aluminium salts, Aluminium Chlorohydrate (ACH) and Activated Aluminium Sesquichlorohydrate (AASCH), were studied using three methods: bulk solution interaction, Franz diffusion cells, and sweat permeability experiments. These methods are used to evaluate factors affecting gel-plug formation, the elemental composition of the gel formed, and the gel’s ability to reduce the flow of the sweat solution.
Key findings of this PhD research project revealed three factors influencing gel formation: active species, concentration, and the presence of anionic species. Overall, these platforms enhance understanding of existing antiperspirant ingredients and offer cost-effective screening for potential new AP active ingredients, revolutionizing AP product evaluation.