Antiperspirant Vs. Deodorant

deodDo you sweat a lot? Overactive sweat glands can put one in an embarrassing situation. For those who have a strong body odor, using personal hygiene products such as antiperspirants or deodorants becomes extremely essential. The market is flooded with these products and you have a great variety to choose from. But before you make a choice, it would be advisable to enlighten yourself about the difference between the two. In case you sweat profusely, you might already be using either of the two products to get rid of the bad odor. Antiperspirant vs. deodorant? Which one do you prefer? Most people think that there is no difference between these two products. In case you also thought so, it's time to get a clearer picture.

What Causes Unpleasant Odor?

First of all, let's discuss a little about the sweat glands. There are two types of sweat glands. Once we reach puberty, these glands become fully developed. Eccrine glands secrete water and salt and help in cooling and regulating body temperature. The apocrine glands are the ones that cause terrible body odor. Along with the sweat, fats and proteins are secreted on the surface of our skin. As the sweat collects, the warm and moist surface becomes the playing grounds for the bacteria and that causes bad odor. In case you sweat profusely, you will have to try various options to get rid of the bad odor. When you use an antiperspirant, the pores are blocked and this prevents the release of sweat. On the other hand, when you use a deodorant, though you continue to perspire, the bad odor is tackled by the antiseptic action against the bacteria.

How is an Antiperspirant Different From a Deodorant

The major difference between these products is that they have a different mechanism or chemical process to counter the problem of perspiration. The antiperspirants use chemicals or powerful astringents to clog or block the pores. Therefore, when the pores are blocked, there will be no perspiration. Mostly an antiperspirant contains chemicals such as aluminum or zirconium to block the pores. You might be wondering how these chemicals function? The active ingredient aluminum chloride forms a gel like plug which clogs the pores and keeps you sweat free.

The deodorant, on the other hand, doesn't prevent you from sweating, but prevents bacteria from thriving on body parts where you sweat. A chemical called triclosan makes the underarm skin too acidic and that prevents your armpit from becoming a home to the bacteria, thus, reducing chances of bad odor.

Now that you are aware how these products work, you might be wondering which one is more suitable for you. In case you sweat a lot, you could use an antiperspirant to prevent sweating. Being sweat free might make you feel more comfortable. For those who don't wish to interfere in the natural process of sweating by clogging the pores, using a deodorant would be a better option.

So, is it safe to use these products? Well, studies are being conducted to determine the health risks involved in using these personal hygiene products. Some studies state the connection between the regular use of these products to certain health problems. Research has indicated that aluminum compounds used in the antiperspirants can get assimilated in the blood stream and cause serious health issues. Researchers are trying to establish a link between the use of antiperspirants and the Alzheimer's disease. In case of deodorants, avoid the ones that contain parabens. It is believed that the ones that contain parabens might affect estrogen levels. Some studies suggest that regular use could make one susceptible to breast cancer. Check the label before buying any of these products. In case you are not too keen on using them, you could even try out the natural alternatives to counter the problem of bad odor.

On a concluding note, consumers need to be careful while buying these products. You could select an antiperspirant if you sweat profusely, and in case you don't, you could use a deodorant to tackle the problem of bad odor. If you don't sweat too much, you could avoid using them frequently. If you experience any adverse reactions, you could switch to natural deodorants.