First, the safety of aluminium compounds is still under question. Second, do doctors here really prescribe such high concentrations of aluminium for local use? I haven't been to a dermatologist recently - does anyone know if this is true? Doesn't medical advice usually consist of preventive approaches to body odour - such as diet change and more water intake?? And couldn't excessive sweating be a sign of other things that might be wrong - such as loss of temperature control because of obesity or excessive stress?
If this level of aluminium in a local application is indeed prescription-based, then is it really advisable to drum it up for everyone?! I won't ask if these antiperspirants have FDA approval because the scientific evidence for or against aluminium is far from conclusive. However, I am very uneasy about these deodorant companies pushing a compound which potentially might have carcinogenic (or other disease-causing) effects.
This illustrated mechanism of these "clinical strength" antiperspirants does little to win my confidence in these products. It is so creepy that they are using this graphic to promote use of these products not only in the morning but additionally at night as well.
(From
)Sweating is a key element of several homeostatic processes in the body. These antiperspirants clearly block your sweat/sebaceous glands. Blocking the secretions of any gland results in backing up of secretions and quite possibly, interferes with all these homeostatic processes. Why on earth would anyone want to intentionally invite such complications? Body odour is primarily caused by bacteria that break-up proteins into certain smelly amino acids. It seems to me that blocking the glands that produce sweat, while keeping the surface dry, would only promote a local environment more prone to infections and ill-health internally.
Aggressive marketing of these high aluminium antiperspirants looks like a classic example of the wrong and ill-advised approach to a problem that can be resolved in better ways. Instead of drinking more water, switching to plant-based proteins, avoiding a high-meat diet and wearing natural-fibre air-circulation-enhancing clothes - which will naturally reduce body odour and promote gland-health, we are busy covering up the consequences of our poor eating habits with dodgy "clinical strength" trash.
So I once tried one of those stupid clinical strength brands (I think Degree), and got these horrible painful large bumps in my underarm. It was so bad that it hurt to have my arm down, clothing hurt it, but obviously I did not want to flaunt it with a tanktop. This lasted maybe 2 weeks coming and going. A year later I learn from some TV show that a certain % of people have horrible reactions to whatever ingredient and should never use it haha,. Yeah, stay away.
I totally agree. I hate it so much.
I completely agree about scents and perfumes...i don't even use scented laundry detergent. Scents make me itchy and sneezy.
I haven't used anti-perspirants in many years now. When I stopped using it, it took a little while to get used to, but now I could never go back. I generally use Tom's unscented. I recently ran out and found this crystal thing that I have that is a natural deoderant. It actually works surprisingly well. You just wet it and rub it under the arms. When I sweat it usually is because I should be sweating because of the heat or excercise and I don't care. Don't think I have any body odor problems....at least that I know of!
Again, I hate when people have scents on them. I think even if it is really expensive they still smell like a cheap whore. No offense cologne and perfume lovers, I know I am mostly alone in feeling that way.
Wow, I never considered that obesity would cause more sweating but it makes sense but it makes sense seeing its like being wrapped in a fat blanket.
Antiperspirants totally freak me out. I have never used one. In sixth grade I tried one and got this horrible painful rash. Looking back it was probably an allergy to the fragrance.
I use a natural mild deodorant and no antiperspirant. I actually prefer the smell of human to the overpowering perfume scent in most deodorants.
As for diet I find the things that affect my smell most are not meat but vegtable based spices and things like garlic and onions.
Some people actually have the sweat glands in their armpits removed.