Underarm Sweating
Aluminum Chloride
Aluminum chloride is a specific name you will see in the active-ingredient line of many antiperspirants, and it is worth knowing what it is.
Aluminum chloride is one of the aluminum-based active ingredients used in antiperspirants to reduce wetness. Like other aluminum salts, it forms a temporary plug at the sweat duct so less sweat reaches the skin. Higher-concentration forms appear in stronger over-the-counter and prescription products.
What aluminum chloride is
Aluminum chloride is a member of the aluminum-salt family used as the active ingredient in antiperspirants. Its presence on a label marks a product as a wetness-reducer — an antiperspirant rather than a deodorant.
Related names include aluminum chlorohydrate and aluminum zirconium compounds; they belong to the same class and work in a similar way.
How it works
In contact with the moisture at a sweat duct, aluminum chloride forms a soft, temporary gel that narrows the duct opening, reducing how much sweat reaches the surface for a time. The effect is superficial and wears off, which is why antiperspirants are reapplied.
More concentrated forms of aluminum chloride are what sit behind clinical-strength over-the-counter products and some prescription options a clinician can discuss.
Reading it on a label
Seeing aluminum chloride listed as an active ingredient tells you the product is designed to reduce wetness. Major health organizations do not support common alarmist claims about aluminum antiperspirants; specific medical concerns are best raised with a clinician or pharmacist.
Frequently asked questions
What does aluminum chloride do in antiperspirant?
It is the active ingredient that reduces wetness, forming a temporary plug at the sweat duct so less sweat reaches the skin. More concentrated forms appear in clinical-strength and prescription products.
Is aluminum chloride the same as aluminum chlorohydrate?
They are related aluminum salts used as antiperspirant actives and work in a similar way, but they are distinct compounds. Aluminum chloride, especially the hexahydrate form, tends to appear in stronger products; chlorohydrate is common in everyday ones.
Sources & further reading
Reputable organizations with more on sweating and related topics. Offered for further reading and general education, not as citations for any specific claim on this page.
General educational information about sweating. Not medical advice, and not a substitute for diagnosis or treatment by a qualified healthcare professional.