Deodorant or antiperspirant - what is the difference between them?

Author: Katjuša Reja Mozetič

The science of sweating - sweat excretion

Sweating is a completely natural physiological process and is also essential for the normal functioning of the organism. The body performs several functions by excreting sweat:

• first and foremost, sweating is necessary for regulating body temperature
• moisturizes the skin
• pheromones (chemical signals) are excreted through sweat in some parts of the body
• research shows that there is also a special natural antibiotic in sweat that protects our skin from unwanted bacteria
• through sweat, some toxic substances are also excreted (detoxification of the body).

Anatomy of sweating

Sweating - as a way to cool the body - is characteristic of primates and horses. Human sweat is produced in sweat glands. It forms in the coiled part of the gland and penetrates to the surface of the skin through a duct that opens at the skin's surface into a pore. We have two types of sweat glands:

• eccrine or ordinary glands, which we have all over the body (about 60 per cm² of skin) and are primarily responsible for regulating the body's temperature
• apocrine glands or apocrine sweat glands, which we primarily have under the armpits, in the external auditory canal, around the nipples, and genitals. These glands respond mainly to emotional stimuli (fear, stress, sexual arousal, ...).

Both types of glands differ not only in location in the body but also in size and in the composition of the sweat they produce. Ordinary glands are smaller and are active from birth. The apocrine glands, however, become active only at puberty. The sweat from ordinary glands contains only water and minerals, while the sweat from apocrine glands also contains proteins and fatty acids. PURE SWEAT HAS NO ODOR, that could be detected. Unpleasant body odor is the result of THE DECOMPOSITION OF BACTERIA AND YEAST, which feed on proteins and fatty acids. Therefore, we only detect unpleasant odors in areas where we have apocrine glands.

So microorganisms (MO) are responsible for unpleasant body odor. If we want to reduce body odor, we must somehow prevent the growth of MO. This can be done in two ways:

• create an unfavorable microclimate for the growth of MO - they need moisture and food (proteins, fatty acids, slightly acidic pH) for growth,
• prevent the secretion of sweat (MO have no moisture and food for growth).

Deodorants are characterized by fighting unpleasant odors in the right way, that is, by creating as unfavorable an environment as possible for the growth of microorganisms (MO). Antiperspirants, however, contain substances (mostly aluminum salts) that block the sebaceous glands and thus prevent the secretion of sweat.

Antiperspirants

Antiperspirants clog the sweat glands and thus prevent sweating.

They contain the active ingredient aluminum salts (20-25 %), which react with sweat to form a gel and thus prevent sweating.

No sweat, no MO, no unpleasant odor. Completely logical and simple operation… What about side effects?

• Antiperspirants block the natural physiological process in our body – thermoregulation (regulating body temperature).
• Antiperspirants clog pores and thus prevent the excretion of toxins (poisonous substances). This increases the burden on the liver. You have probably noticed that sweat has a different smell if you have overindulged in heavy food or/alcohol. This is because the body detoxifies through sweating as well.
• Pheromones (chemical signals) are also secreted through the scent glands, which ensure the appropriate chemistry between the sexes, but antiperspirants block them.
• Numerous studies link the use of aluminum antiperspirants to the development of breast cancer and Alzheimer's disease. You can read more about this here or here.

Deodorants

Deodorants contain ingredients that do not prevent sweating, but prevent the growth of MO. I have already mentioned that the unpleasant odor of our sweat is caused by MO that feed on our sweat. Therefore, deodorants contain ingredients that:

• bind water – reduce the feeling of wetness during secretion and prevent the growth of MO, which need a moist environment to grow,
• they have antimicrobial action (preventing the growth of MO),
• react or interact with fatty acids, proteins, and other products in our sweat – thus they take away food MO and have no chance of growth.

Deodorants do not interfere with the natural physiological process of the body and thus have no negative effect on the functioning and health of the body. However, it must be acknowledged that no deodorant provides 24-hour protection. In the case of excessive sweating, it is necessary to apply deodorant multiple times: always dab the area (armpits) with a tissue beforehand, if possible rinse beforehand and reapply deodorant on dry and clean skin. This way, you will definitely not develop an unpleasant odor.

Some simple tips for reducing sweating:

• You will reduce sweating under the armpits if you depilate or shave under your arms.
• Wear clothes made of natural and not synthetic materials; airy tunics, linen, and clothes that 'breathe' are ideal.
• In summer, give up drinks with ice, although I know they are quite refreshing. The body tries to warm them to body temperature and therefore sweats even more.
• Showering with cold water when sweating does not help, as the body needs to circulate blood even more in this case, which again stimulates sweating. However, it helps if you let cold water run over your armpits for about half a minute.
• Give up fabric softener for clothes that we wear directly on the body. Softener is not recommended in summer because it thickens the fibers. The skin thus has a harder time releasing moisture.
• Coffee, alcohol, and spicy food also increase sweating, so limit their use on hot days.

Adjustment period

I often hear statements that natural deodorant has no effect. If you have carefully read the blog up to this point, you will understand why an adjustment period is necessary when switching to natural deodorant. If you have recently stopped using synthetic deodorant or even antiperspirants and switched to using natural deodorants, your body needs some time to adjust to the change. The adjustment period varies greatly in intensity and duration from person to person. In addition to individual characteristics, many factors such as gender, age, diet, health status, stress, medication, etc. influence the chemical response of the body. I would like to emphasize that the use of deodorants has a much greater impact on your body's chemical response than the use of other cosmetic products. It is important to know that:

• A deodorant that is effective for one person may not suit another person,
• A deodorant that initially has no effect can work excellently after an adjustment period,
• Allergic reactions are most often the result of too high a concentration of baking soda – try using a deodorant with less soda.

Of course, all of this applies to a healthy person who sweats normally. In the case of excessive sweating or even insufficient sweating, it is necessary to seek medical help.

If you want to prepare such a deodorant yourself, the recipe is available at the link below:

• Recipe for an effective natural deodorant

You can also see how to prepare a natural deodorant here:

You can explore the natural deodorant we prepared for you at Noni Luisa here:

• Natural deodorant Lavender and lemongrass

 I wish you a healthy sweat, without unpleasant odor!

Katyusha 👋