Gillette Clear Gel Deodorant Effectiveness and FDA Status
This is a consumer product question, not a medical question, and the evidence provided relates to healthcare hand hygiene and wound management—not consumer deodorants or antiperspirants.
What the Evidence Actually Addresses
The provided studies focus on:
- Hand hygiene protocols for healthcare workers 1
- Wound management and surgical antisepsis 2
- Topical vehicle formulations for medical use 3
None of these sources contain FDA approval information or efficacy data specific to Gillette Clear Gel Deodorant.
General Information on Aluminum Zirconium Antiperspirants
Aluminum zirconium compounds are effective antiperspirants that work by forming gel plugs at sweat pores, reducing sweat flow and consequently body odor. 4, 5
Mechanism of Action
- Aluminum zirconium tetrachlorohydrate glycine complex is one of the most frequently used active ingredients in commercial antiperspirants 4
- These compounds reduce sweat production by obstructing sweat fluid from reaching the skin surface through gel-plug formation 5
- Antiperspirants are necessarily deodorants because they eliminate the substrate (sweat) that bacteria decompose to create odor 6
FDA Regulatory Status
- The FDA classifies antiperspirants as over-the-counter drugs, not cosmetics, because they alter a bodily function (sweating) 4, 7
- Aluminum and zirconium salts have been used in commercial products for over 40 years 7
- Zirconium salts are considered toxic and are partly regulated in Europe, though topical penetration through intact skin is considered very low 6
Safety Considerations
- After hydrolysis, aluminum-zirconium complexes cause intense skin acidification, requiring pH regulators and emollients in formulations 6
- The potential for systemic absorption through topical application is poorly understood but considered very low 6
- Concerns about aluminum's role in breast cancer and Alzheimer's disease remain scientifically controversial and unproven 6
For specific FDA approval status of Gillette Clear Gel Deodorant, consult the product label or FDA's drug database directly, as this information is not contained in the medical literature provided.