Should i use antiperspirant

Deodorant fights odor by killing bacteria with alcohol, while antiperspirant does that and stops up your sweat glands temporarily with an aluminum compound. The aluminum compound reacts with the salt in sweat to form a gel that temporarily blocks the ducts. Burstein, M.

The proximity of the underarm to the area of the breast where most cancers arise is purely coincidental, too. Yet the antiperspirant myth persists. Burstein says. Since many products actually include both antiperspirant and deodorant ingredients, you may not even be thinking too much about your decision to use one or the other. It's really an issue of personal choice.

Decide based on your personal needs. First, consider which sweat side effect you want to deal with: the wetness or the smell - or both? For some, the sweat-and-stink-fighting combo of a two-in-one works best.

Others opt for deodorant only. Choose your preferred scent, or lack of scent, and consider how you like a product to feel when you put it on - do you prefer wet or dry? Options exist for sensitive skin, and there are also a variety of natural, aluminum-free alternatives, like the ones made from mineral salt crystals. Some antiperspirants and deodorants are labeled as "sport" or "clinical-strength". Some are available by prescription, while others can be found on drugstore shelves.

For those with hyperhidrosis extreme sweating , this kind of product may help to reduce perspiration and the odour that comes with it. And it may work well on days when we need a little more sweat-proofing going for a job interview, running a marathon - that kind of day.

For normal days, a regular-strength formula will probably do. Keep in mind that no products completely eliminate sweat. A while back, people began sending around emails warning about the link between aluminum in antiperspirants and breast cancer risk.

If you use it in the morning right after your shower, your skin might be too wet to absorb the formula properly. If you apply it when you're rushing out the door, your antiperspirant may not have enough time to block your sweat glands. Antiperspirant formulas need time to soak into your pores to prevent sweat.

Otherwise, it will not be as effective throughout the day. The nighttime application gives the formula enough time to properly soak into your skin and stop sweat in its tracks for the next 24 hours.

Antiperspirant temporarily blocks your sweat glands to prevent sweat and is safe to use as a daily solution to sweat and stink. Cleanse your skin with a gentle cleanser to remove any sweat, dirt, or grime from your skin. If you have sensitive skin or have recently shaved, use an antiperspirant that is designed to be gentle on skin.

Dry your skin completely. After showering, towel off and allow your skin to dry. For better drying and to prevent extra moisture on your skin, leave your steamy bathroom and apply antiperspirant in a less humid room. Apply a thin layer of antiperspirant to your skin. But—avoid any body parts with a mucous membrane such as your mouth, eyes, and genitals. Optional: Apply another thin layer when you wake up in the morning.

A drugstore antiperspirant like Degree or Old Spice might be sufficient for light to mild sweating. How strong is it? Antiperspirants come in all shapes, sizes and strengths. There are two quick ways to determine the strength of an antiperspirant:. First , the label will indicate a general antiperspirant strength level i. For the most severe sweating cases, a prescription antiperspirant might be the best option. Second , the active ingredient and percentage will indicate how strong an antiperspirant is.

Aluminum Chloride is typically the strongest active found in over-the-counter antiperspirants. Common active ingredients include: Aluminum Zirconium, Aluminum sesquichlorohydrate, aluminum chloride, aluminum chlorohydrate, and aluminum hydroxybromid. Does it work, does it have social proof? This one is easy. Check the reviews. Google, Amazon, and Walmart have thousands of customer reviews. Look for anti-perspirant brands that have lots of reviews with more positive than negative. Avoid unknown brands with little feedback.

Look for FDA approved formulas and avoid products from China. The bacteria that makes your stink is responsible for breaking down the sweat on your skin and turning it into acid. Is Antiperspirant bad? In fact, beyond skin irritation and itching, antiperspirant is relatively harmless.

Honestly, this is like asking if food or water is better? You need them both. Antiperspirants typically use some sort of aluminum to temporarily block the sweat glands from releasing moisture. Instead, they contain fragrances and antibacterials to reduce odor. Common antibacterials include alcohol, baking soda, coconut oil and cornstarch.

As long as you use antiperspirant and deodorant correctly, you can certainly use them together to control sweat and eliminate foul body odor. If you apply your antiperspirant and deodorant at the same time, the results will likely be… disappointing. Antiperspirant needs time to activate on the skin without the interference of moisture, sweat, soap or deodorant residue.

To get the best results when using a combination of antiperspirant and deodorants, follow these tips:. If body odor is the problem , start comparing deodorant brands. Choosing the best deodorant is easy. For most people, it just comes down to what smells better. Believe it or not, antiperspirants and deodorants are a fairly modern invention. Before the late s, people mostly drenched themselves with perfumes in an attempt to hide their horrible body stench.

The ancient Romans and Greeks literally bathed in perfume and soaked their clothes in it. Some even doused it on their horses and pets. Those who suffered from excessive sweating usually tried to hide it with strategic clothing and sweat pads.

The first deodorant hit the market in It was called Mums and it was more of a paste rather than the sticks, gels and sprays were used to today. Shortly thereafter, the first underarm antiperspirant, Everdry, came out in