A Clean Healthy Sweat
Are you an antiperspirant girl or do you use deodorant only? Did you know there is a difference? What exactly IS the difference? Are they equally effective, or is one better than the other?
In the world of skincare, under arm sweat is a subject not much talked about. As women, we do not like to draw attention to the tell-tale signs of overactive sweat glands. But let’s face it, some of us just sweat more than others and getting an effective product that is safe and clean is paramount. No matter the activity sweat could be rolling down our backs, our face and we have noticeably wet and sometimes smelly areas on our clothing. Finding our special outfit soaked, is not very romantic, nor, should I say, feminine?
The purpose of antiperspirants is to block the sweat gland ducts. Ingredients such as aluminum chloride compounds – aluminum tetrachlorohydrex gyland being one of them, remain among the most effective agents on the market today but also the most controversial. These aluminum compounds mix with sweat to form a gel-like plug that stops up the sweat gland duct (as well as causing it to constrict). The more pores that are plugged, the less you will physically sweat. While the American Cancer Society states that no evidence confirms the link between aluminum use in antiperspirants and breast cancer, “what is known is that the aluminum salts from antiperspirants may be absorbed through your skin and collect in breast tissue” (healthline.com). The plugging process is temporary – the plug will eventually come off with sloughing the skin. Residual effects do vary between individuals, but to speed it along, some like to use a baking soda mixture to physically remove the product as it might leave a waxy residue, particularly after a sweaty day and/or work out.
God designed our bodies to sweat. We have sweat glands all over our bodies, but they are more numerous on the forehead, armpits, the palms of hands and soles of feet. Sweat is mainly water, but it does contain some salts. Perspiration’s main purpose is to regulate our body temperature – as the water in the sweat evaporates, the surface of our skin cools (betterhealth.vic.gov.au). Sweat itself does not have an odor, but it can when bacteria on the skin break down the acids on the sweat – it’s the bacteria waste products that cause the odor. A quick way to combat the odor is to shower and put on clean, dry clothing.
Encountering sweat and odor is a regular part of our day. Have you ever been on public transportation and could not wait to exit? Even if your stop was miles away? We all know that tell-tale smell, and we do NOT want to be that one that drives people away. But, do we do more harm than good by blocking something that God designed our bodies to do? Applying antiperspirant on our foreheads seems ridiculous, but under arms seems more fair game. Is it? Is applying a plug to our sweat gland ducts beneficial or harmful? Are there more ingredients in antiperspirant that can be harmful that we should watch out for? How can we control odor and at the same time allow our bodies to act the way they are designed?
Deodorants, as opposed to antiperspirants, are designed to neutralize the odor and yet allow the body to sweat. When applied to skin, deodorants turn the skin acidic and less attractive to bacteria, which is the culprit of body odor. Typically, deodorants use fragrances to help aid in masking any odor, but fragrances are known to be harmful to our health by potentially causing allergic reactions. Fragrances commonly contain synthetic chemicals, so it is better to chose a safe clean deodorant without the harsh or damaging fragrances. Opt for natural fragrances in deodorants, ones that use essential oils to provide the sweet smell; also many essential oils have beneficial properties to aid in reducing bacterial overgrowth, further reducing odors.
When transitioning away from antiperspirants to deodorants sage advice may be in line. Doing a detox is helpful to fully remove the antiperspirant plugs and allowing your body to adjust to actually perspiring. Many people prefer to detox with a charcoal mask and/or charcoal cleansing bars. This was pretty simple to do during stay-at-home orders, but now can be accomplished with astute timing. Apply charcoal mask directly to the underarm area, and allow to dry; shower as usual. Doing this a couple of times per week for 2-3 weeks should effectively detox. Using a charcoal cleansing bar daily can be beneficial too. If possible, going without any deodorant is best, but if you cannot stand it, use a safe clean deodorant. You will notice that your body will adjust as time goes on and you will find that odor and actual sweating is reduced.
One of the active ingredients in deodorant is baking soda and a few do have adverse reactions to it, such as skin irritation. Trial and error may be in order to find the deodorant that works best for you and one that does not cause any irritations. Safe clean deodorants come in traditional stick form, but creams are becoming more common. This may be very different for you, but give them a try. A simple swipe with the product on your fingertips is all it takes to have an odor free day.
Deodorants can be very effective in combatting odor and minimizing perspiration. Choosing a deodorant over an antiperspirant will allow your body to perspire without plugging up the sweat gland ducts. Using safe clean deodorants can be a regular part of your skincare routine that will provide the assurance you need for a sweet-smelling day.
