What is Deodorants & Antiperspirants?

Facts You Need To Discover about Deodorants & Antiperspirants

While many people believe that deodorants and antiperspirant sticks work the same, the two are very different. The two serve different purposes. Deodorants are agents that mask odors caused by perspiration. Antiperspirants stop the body from producing sweat by clogging the sweat ducts using powerful astringents. Choosing which is best for you is a personal choice. Deciding which is more of a problem for you, odor or sweating, can be a deciding factor.

If sweating is not a main concern for you, but odor is, then you may want to try using deodorant. Deodorants don’t do anything to stop sweating. Instead, it works with sweat to produce a pleasant odor instead of an unpleasant one that can occur with excessive sweating. The ingredients in deodorant neutralize odor by interacting with perspiration by releasing antiseptic agents to control the bacterial level of sweat, which causes the odor.

Many people prefer deodorant to antiperspirants because it allows the body to continue to sweat, the body’s natural cooling process, but keeps odors under control. Many deodorants come in a variety of scents ranging from floral to sea breeze that are released when the person starts to sweat. Unscented deodorants can also be purchased. Also a big advantage to using deodorant is that it can also be made at home in your kitchen, unlike antiperspirants that are chemically based, using simple household items such as baking soda.

Some people may not mind sweating but there are those of us who do mind. Sweating causes embarrassment for some and creates uncomfortable situations, especially people who sweat heavily.



Antiperspirants can be a heavy sweater’s best friend. It completely blocks the body’s sweat ducts by using its active ingredient, an aluminum compound, to clog or close the sweat ducts preventing the sweat glands from being drained. This causes the sweating process to be temporarily cut off. Antiperspirants can work from anywhere between twelve and forty-eight hours depending on which brand you purchase. While antiperspirants stop the body from producing sweat it is not harmful. Since the body has sweat ducts all over, the sweat will simply find another outlet. However, prolonged excessive use of antiperspirants can become harmful to the user over time. Excessive use can cause permanent damage to the duct, causing a painful lump to form under the arm, requiring surgical removal. Another downside to using an antiperspirant is its main component, aluminum, which has been found to be directly related to Alzheimer’s disease.

There are also other factors to consider before choosing which is best for you such as your lifestyle. If you can’t decide which is best for you or unsure of which is best for you. You can always opt for a product that combines both the deodorant and antiperspirant properties. These control both odor and sweating. Of course, if you d