The BfR assesses the ingredients of cosmetic products with regard to their health safety, particularly when fresh scientific data becomes available.
In its most recent assessment of the dermal intake of aluminium salts from antiperspirants, the Institute reported it found levels of around 10.5µg.
According to BfR, to prevent too high an intake of aluminium, excessive use of antiperspirants containing aluminium should be avoided. In addition to this, deodorants that do not contain aluminium salts should be used after shaving or if the skin in the armpits is damaged.
The estimated intake of aluminium from antiperspirants could possibly lie within the range determined by the European Food Safety Authority as the tolerable weekly intake.
Keeping on top of cosmetic regulation...
In a bid to keep on top of cosmetic regulation the Institute also recently dedicated a Q&A section on the risk assessment of hazardous substances in cosmetics.
The dedicated area provides consumers with information on a fairly large range of cosmetic products, from shampoos to creams, toothpastes, lipsticks and sunscreen applications.
The BfR hopes this section of the site will help to debunk any concerns about human health risks on certain products.
"Repeatedly, there are critical public reports and discussions about several ingredients of cosmetic products, such as preservatives and UV filters, and for this reason, consumers often ask whether cosmetics can pose a fundamental health risk," say reps.