HOW SAFE ARE DEODORANTS & ANTIPERSPIRANTS? - Sweating is the release of a salty liquid from body's sweat glands. This process is also called perspiration.
- Sweating helps your body to stay cool. How much you sweat depends on how many sweat glands you have.
- Women have more sweat glands then men, but men's glands are more active.
- People sweat more when they exercise, or in response to situations that make them nervous, angry, embarrassed, or afraid.
- Sweat itself is virtually odorless. Bacteria use it as a breeding ground and multiply rapidly.
- The products of bacterial breakdown of keratin proteins into acids on the surface of your skin is what actually causes unpleasant smell.
- Body odor is most profound in our feet, armpits, groin and genital area.
DEODORANTS & ANTIPERSPIRANTS- ARE THEY THE SAME? When we say "deodorant" we're often talking about a single product that contains both deodorant & antiperspirant.
Most people think that deodorants & antiperspirants are the same thing, but they aren't.
Deodorants - Deodorants are designed to eliminate odor, they are alcohol based with antimicrobials such as triclosan to slow bacterial growth.
- They may contain perfume fragrances or natural essential oils to mask the odor of perspiration.
- Deodorants work by neutralizing the smell of the sweat and by antiseptic action against bacteria.
Antiperspirants - They work by clogging, closing, or blocking the pores with powerful astringents such as aluminium salts so that they can't release sweat.
- Antiperspirants are typically applied to the underarms, whereas deodorants can also be used on feet and other areas.
Perfumes, on the other hand, are totally different product which merely help mask the body odor, not remove it.
Deodorants are classified and regulated as cosmetics by US FDA, whereas antiperspirants are classified as drugs.
WHAT ARE NATURAL DEODORANTS? - Conventional deodorants invariably contain antiperspirants that interfere with natural sweating of the body.
- Natural deodorants use natural herbs and plant extracts to stop your sweat from breaking down and smelling bad.
- Natural deodorants are free from PEGs, parabens, aluminium compounds and antibacterials like triclosan.
WHY CHOOSE A NATURAL DEODORANT OVER AN ANTIPERSPIRANT? - Deodorants don't interfere with sweating, a natural process of body for cooling.
- They just make the skin more acidic and unfriendly for bacteria.
- Antiperspirants should only be used on advise of dermatologists for conditions of excessive sweating or hyperhidrosis.
DO WE REALLY NEED DEODORANTS? New research shows that more than 75% of the people with a particular genotype don't produce under-arm odor but use deodorant anyway.
This implies that most of the people who are using deodorants, actually don't require them.
DO DEODORANTS HAVE ANY HEALTH HAZARDS? Regular prolonged use may induce several health problems.
- Compounds of aluminium, zinc and zirconium, which are astringent salts can cause skin irritation, inflammation and rashes
- Compounds of zinc and zirconium can be toxic to lungs if inhaled
- Prolonged use of antiperspirants can cause underarms nodules/granulomas
- Triclosan in deodorants can cause liver damage
- Propellants used in aerosol spray can cause cardiac arrhythmias if inhaled in high concentration
- Aerosols carry a risk of being accidentally sprayed into the eyes
- there have been no published epidemiological studies to support or refute the claim that antiperspirants use causes breast cancer.
- Aluminium compounds can accumulate in the brain and have been associated with Alzheimer's disease
TAKE HOME ADVISE - Choosing a deodorant that works best for you can be tricky. It's important to read labels.
- Even deodorants labeled as natural, herbal, or botanical may contain harmful ingredients.
- Excessive prolonged usage should be avoided.
- As antiperspirants are actually drugs, so should be used under advise of a dermatologist.
WHEN TO SEE YOUR DERMATOLOGIST?If you are experiencing drenched clothing, social embarrassment or inability to control odor as a result of sweating you are probably suffering from hyperhidrosis and its the right time to see a dermatologist.
