What is the Difference Between Aluminium Chlorohydrate and Aluminium Zirconium?

The key difference between aluminum chlorohydrate and aluminum zirconium is their effectiveness as antiperspirants. Aluminum chlorohydrate is comparatively less effective, while aluminum zirconium is more effective as an antiperspirant. Both compounds are inorganic salts containing aluminum, chlorine, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms, but aluminum zirconium also contains zirconium atoms.

• Aluminum chlorohydrate forms a temporary plug inside the sweat duct, helping to reduce the amount of sweat on the skin's surface. However, it is less effective than aluminum zirconium and may cause more irritation.
• Aluminum zirconium is a newer form of antiperspirant that has been found to be less irritating to the skin and provides more sweat protection. It works by blocking sweat ducts in a similar way to aluminum chloride but at a more superficial level, and the blockage lasts for around seven days. Aluminum zirconium trichlorohydrex produces much less hydrochloric acid (HCl), which is the chemical that causes skin irritation.

Both aluminum chlorohydrate and aluminum zirconium are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use in antiperspirants, with concentrations of up to 20% allowed in over-the-counter products.

Comparative Table: Aluminium Chlorohydrate vs Aluminium Zirconium

Here is a table comparing the differences between aluminum chlorohydrate and aluminum zirconium:

Aluminum chlorohydrate and aluminum zirconium are both used as antiperspirants, but aluminum zirconium is more effective and may be less irritating to the skin. Aluminum chlorohydrate is an inorganic compound containing aluminum, chlorine, hydrogen, and oxygen, while aluminum zirconium is an inorganic compound containing aluminum, zirconium, oxygen, hydrogen, and chlorine.