|
 |
|
|
|
What makes a deodorant manly or made for a woman?
Male or female, your armpit is a hot, moist, safe place where bacteria breed like crazy. Compounds produced by these bacteria are responsible for body odor. When you're working out, playing sports, or just nervous as heck, the sweat you produce nourishes these bacteria, allowing them to reproduce. Antiperspirants help prevent body odor by inhibiting sweat.
|
|
|
|
|
Fragrant Facts
- On average, the human body produces about one-half quart of sweat a day.
- Under extreme conditions, humans have secreted up to three gallons of sweat in just 24 hours.
- Sweat from nervous tension and emotional stress comes from an entirely different set of pores than sweat from physical exertion. That's why animals can literally "smell your fear."
- The notion that we sweat to "purify" our bodies is a myth; we sweat to cool ourselves off.
- If people were unable to sweat they would be unable to tolerate temperatures above 80?F and could not exercise strenuously.
- The first product marketed specifically to combat underarm odor was introduced in 1888.
Antiperspirant vs. Deodorant
- An antiperspirant contains a chemical that actually reduces perspiration by decreasing flow from the eccrine glands, the body's primary source of sweat. The FDA considers this a physiological interaction and therefore classifies antiperspirants as drugs that are subject to agency review.
- A deodorant is designed merely to mask the odor caused when the skin's healthy bacteria interact with perspiration. A deodorant may simply add a perfume to the mix or may in fact kill odor-producing germs. Deodorants are classified as cosmetics, not drugs, and are therefore exempt from scrutiny under the watchful eye of the FDA.
- Many products contain both antiperspirant and deodorant agents.
Sweating Bullets
The human body produces sweat from two kinds of glands:
- Apocrine glands: found all over the skin at birth, most apocrine glands disappear gradually as our bodies mature, remaining in a few concentrated areas, including the armpits. Inactive during childhood, sweat production from these glands kicks in during puberty and diminishes with old age. They are a source of minimal amounts of odorless sweat and their precise function is actually unknown.
- Eccrine glands: responsible for most of the sweat we produce. Located in abundance all over the body's surface, they perform the necessary physiological function of regulating body heat. As eccrine sweat evaporates from the skin, it rapidly cools the body. Sweat production from eccrine glands can be triggered by many things, from a spicy enchilada to an embarrassing moment.
Keep in Mind
- No antiperspirant is effective at combating "nervous sweat." When the pressure's on, those particular sweat glands have a mind of their own.
- People's individual chemistry responds very differently to different products. If one doesn't work, trial and error will help you find one that does.
- Because an antiperspirant/deodorant will help control both wetness and odor, it is generally more effective than a product labeled as just a deodorant, which does nothing to inhibit wetness.
- If you tend to sweat profusely, your best bet is a product containing aluminum chloride.
|
|
|
|
|
Aluminum compounds
No one knows precisely how aluminum compounds work to reduce underarm wetness. Here are a few commonly held, albeit somewhat conflicting, theories:
- Aluminum compounds prevent sweat release by clogging sweat ducts. The pressure from sweat buildup in the ducts causes the sweat gland to stop secreting.
- Aluminum compounds may make sweat glands more permeable to water, allowing moisture to leak into the surrounding skin rather than force it to the skin's surface.
- Aluminum compounds could possibly block transmission of the nerve impulses that activate the sweat glands.
- Aluminum compounds do have some antibacterial action, helpful in diminishing odor in addition to wetness.
| Aluminum Compounds | Ingredient | Description |
|---|
| Aluminum chloride | ? | A most effective aluminum-based antiperspirant, it can greatly irritate the skin and discolor clothing. | | Aluminum chloride (alcohol-based) | ? | This antiperspirant is prescribed for extremely heavy sweaters. | | Aluminum chlorohydrate | ? | A safe and effective aluminum-based antiperspirant that causes relatively low irritation. | | Aluminum sulfate (buffered) | ? | Without the buffer ingredient of sodium aluminum lactate, this antiperspirant would be a highly irritating aluminum-based antiperspirant. When buffered, it is effective and irritation is less likely. |
|
|
|
|
|
Appropriate Uses
Antiperspirant
Reduces underarm perspiration and masks or controls body odor.
Deodorant
Masks or controls body odor.
Common Misconceptions
Antiperspirant
May claim to stop underarm perspiration. This claim is misleading because underarm perspiration is only reduced, not completely eliminated.
May also claim to kill the bacteria that cause underarm odor. This claim is misleading because there is little evidence that antiperspirants kill bacteria. They do, however, reduce underarm wetness, which in turn decreases bacterial growth.
Deodorant
May claim to reduce underarm perspiration. This claim is misleading because deodorants have no effect on the amount of perspiration. They only mask or control odor.
Taming Body Odor
- Apply only to clean, dry skin; no antiperspirant/deodorant will be able to tame an already sweaty pore.
- Never apply immediately after shaving or if there is a cut or open sore.
- The most effective time to apply an antiperspirant/deodorant is just before bed. This gives active ingredients the head start they need to perform their best.
- Apply as infrequently as two or three times a week or as frequently as twice a day, depending on effectiveness and skin sensitivity.
- If greater antiperspirant control is needed, seek help from a doctor or dermatologist who can prescribe a medicated solution or perform surgical procedures to help the problem.
|
|
|
|
|
Be Aware of Controversial Ingredients
- It is unknown whether aluminum is absorbed into the body or if it poses any danger.
- Aluminium chloride may cause skin irritation and allergic reactions in susceptible people.
- Aluminum chlorohydrate may cause infection of hair follicles, skin irritation, and allergic reactions.
- Aluminum sulfate is not proven safe and effective for use in deodorants.
Be Careful
- Do not use if you are allergic to aluminum salts, perfumes, or any other ingredient in the product.
- Apply sparingly to dry skin.
- Never apply immediately after shaving or if there is a cut or open sore.
- Avoid inhalation of aerosol products.
|
|
|
|
|
Websites, Organizations & Manufacturers
Sources & Further Reading
Books
- 1. Food & Drug Administration.Federal Register 5/11/90.
Find more books on health and wellness at  barnesandnoble.com.
| |
|
