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Sweat Facts: 7 Things We Need to Clear Up About Your Deodorant

Let’s talk about sweat facts. In particular, many of the myths surrounding natural deodorants. Because when it comes to this topic, there’s no shortage of information on the internet. Sadly, many of them make no sense at all. We’re discussing 7 that it’s time to bust. Let’s go! Shop All Apothekari Natural Deodorants For EVERYTHING you wanted to know about natural deodorant, read this post. Why Do We Sweat? Facts When it comes to sweating and body odor, there are lots of misconceptions. Time to set the facts straight. Myth 1: Do You Have to Detox Before Using a Natural Deodorant? One of the biggest cringeworthy sweat facts advice floating around is that when it comes to using deodorants is that you need to do a ‘detox’ when switching over from an antiperspirant to a deodorant. Truth: First, your skin isn’t a “detox” organ. That’s what our livers are for. The main purpose of skin is to act as a barrier – keeping harmful substances out and the good ones in. Second, there’s absolutely no evidence to support the notion of detox when it comes to deodorant. As you transition over from using an anti-perspirant to a deodorant, the antiperspirant plugs that block sweat glands will dissipate until they are no longer blocking the glands. This occurs naturally and there’s nothing you can do to help the process along. You may start sweating more. And, the bacteria that live on your skin will feed on this sweat, leading to odor. Enter your deodorant. It’s as simple as stopping the antiperspirant one day and applying a deodorant the next. No product is required to help the process along. Myth 2: Is It Safe to Use Baking Soda As a Deodorant? The truth? Baking soda may be good for cleaning your kitchen sink, but it’s an ingredient that you should avoid putting on your skin. Baking soda (also known as sodium bicarbonate) has a high pH. This makes it highly irritating to skin, which is slightly acidic (much lower pH). Applying baking soda not only disrupts the skin’s pH, it also disturbs your skin’s protective barrier and its microbiome (the collection of bacteria that help keep skin healthy). It can be very irritating, leading to rashes, redness or burning. Myth 3: Is Magnesium Hydroxide Safe in Deodorant? Truth: The pH of magnesium hydroxide is even higher than that of baking soda, making it potentially even more irritating than baking soda! (so the answer is no!) Myth 4: Can You Use Kaolin Clay in Deodorant? Yes, you can because kaolin clay absorbs wetness, thereby reducing odor. Truth: Here’s the problem—If you’ve switched to a deodorant because you want to avoid the aluminum in an anti-perspirant, you may be interested to learn that kaolin clay is made up of several minerals including kaolin, silicon and aluminum!If you’re trying to avoid aluminum, you should avoid deodorants containing kaolin clay as well. Myth 5: Are Parabens Linked to Cancer? Parabens are a class of highly effective preservatives used to keep foods and cosmetics safe. A 2004 British study found traces of parabens in the breast tissue of 19 out of 20 women. And, because parabens have some mild estrogenic effect, some researchers concluded that parabens are linked to breast cancer and reproductive issues. Truth: Although it’s often touted about as a scientific sweat fact, it’s important to note that parabens are included in cosmetics at very low percentages and that their estrogenic effect is very, very mild. Parabens are also found naturally in foods. Estrogen can play a role in breast cancer, but there is no evidence that people who use paraben-containing products face an increased risk. We can’t say that they’re categorically bad for us, but if you are concerned, other preservatives are available. All Apothekari products are paraben free. Myth 6: Is Aluminum in Deodorant Harmful? Truth: While it’s been suggested that there’s a possible connection between aluminum and breast cancer, there’s no scientific evidence that links its use to the development of breast cancer. In fact, a 2014 review concluded there was no clear evidence showing that the use of aluminum-containing underarm antiperspirants or cosmetics increases the risk of breast cancer (5) Willhite CC, Karyakina NA, Yokel RA, et al. Systematic review of potential health risks posed by pharmaceutical, occupational and consumer exposures to metallic and nanoscale aluminum, aluminum oxides, aluminum hydroxide and its soluble salts. Critical Reviews in Toxicology 2014; 44 Suppl 4:1-80. The Alzheimer’s concern? A few studies from the 1960s found high levels of aluminum in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients. But the findings haven’t been replicated in later research and the conclusion is that there isn’t any link between the two. The real problem with aluminum? It stains your white clothes yellow. And, many people are sensitive to it. These are the real reasons to avoid using aluminum. You’ll be pleased to know that Apothekari deodorants are aluminum free. Myth 7: Do You Really Need to Use Deodorant? I absolutely (DEFINITELY) need it, but you may not! Truth: Research has shown that if you possess a gene called ABCC11, that you may not need a deodorant! Researchers have known about this gene for a while, although most of the work on it has focused on its connection to earwax–people with this gene variant are more likely to have “dry” earwax, compared to “wet” or “sticky”. Although researchers aren’t quite sure how the gene affects both earwax and sweat odor, they believe it has to do with the production of amino acids. When it comes to body odor, the presence of this gene means your armpits produce less of an amino acid that leads to bacteria growth. These bacteria, when combined with sweat, lead to body odor. Fewer bacteria, less odor. It’s thought that only 2 percent or so of the population have this gene and that it’s more common in East Asian populations. Maybe you want to go au naturale to see if you can give it a miss? Any Other Sweat Facts You’d Like to Know? I hope that this post has helped to provide some clarity around the confusion about deodorants. Let us know if you have any questions and we’ll be happy to help.

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5 of the Most Surprising Ways to Stop Body Odor

If you’re human, you’re going to sweat, but you don’t have to suffer with body odor! Using a deodorant can help and you can also try some lifestyle changes. Here are 5 that may surprise you. Shop All Apothekari Natural Deodorants For EVERYTHING you wanted to know about body odor and natural deodorant, read this post. How Do You Stop Body Odor Naturally? 5 Lifestyle Tips 1. Apply Deodorant at Night Applying deodorant in the morning after we shower or bathe is part of a routine for most of us. But if it’s not doing the trick for you, try applying deodorant in the morning as well as at night. Deodorant works better when applied to dry skin, which is more likely right before you hop into bed. 2. Watch What You Eat Most of us know that strong smelling foods like garlic, curry and onions can lead to body odor. But did you know that these other foods can also have an impact? Cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage and kale are very high in fiber and sulfur-containing substances, which break down into hydrogen sulfide leading to a rotten egg kind of smell. There’s also some evidence to suggest that individuals who consume a lot of alcohol may be more prone to body odor. This is because alcohol metabolizes into acetaldehyde, which can contribute to greater body odor. Lastly, eating too much red meat (due to its high fat content) may lead to odor as the bacteria on your skin feed on the fatty acids. 3. Shave Your Pits We’re not judging, but if you want to go au naturel, you should be aware that hair can slow the evaporation of sweat, contributing to more bacteria that increases the chance of body odor. Washing or changing your clothing more often can help. 4. Choose Your Fabrics Carefully Natural fibers (linen, silk, cotton, light wool like merino) breathe and minimize sweating. Newer high-tech fibers wick away moisture, helping you to stay dry, leaving bacteria without anything to feed on. You can also try to dress in layers, which helps to soak up the sweat. 5. Ditch the Fabric Softener Fabric softeners may promise sweeter smelling clothing, but they sit on the surface of clothing fibers, preventing air flow and sweat evaporation. This not only prevents air circulation, but also decreases the efficacy of detergent when you wash your clothes resulting in even more smelly clothing! What Not to Do Although you may have read that anti-bacterial soaps and washes are a good idea, they aren’t worth it in the long run. Antibacterial soaps kill bacteria or stop their growth and it’s not healthy at all. Research has shown antibacterial soaps may impact hormone levels and increase the risk of bacterial resistance. Plus, your body needs bacteria to maintain a healthy, balanced environment on your skin. How Do I Stop My Armpits From Smelling? If you’re following good personal hygiene practice and still can’t manage the odor, it may be time to see a doctor. We’ve written about what causes sweat before, but a medical condition may be responsible. Your doctor can help determine if that’s the cause. Hyperhidrosis is excessive sweating, which can be hereditary or caused by a range of factors including stress, nervousness, diabetes, menopause, thyroid issues, etc. Trimethylaminuria (a.k.a. fish odor syndrome), is a metabolic disorder that prevents the body from breaking down a smelly compound called trimethylamine. Prescription treatments including strong antiperspirants, Botox or electromagnetic therapy may be suitable options. Ask your physician. What Medical Condition Causes Body Odor? Here are some medically related reasons that you may experience body odor. Diabetes. Not body odor per se, but fruity smelling breath may be a sign of diabetic ketoacidosis, which occurs when your body is running low on insulin, causing your blood sugar to spike. Because your body can’t break down carbohydrates for energy, it breaks down fatty acids for fuel, which creates a build-up of acidic chemicals called ketones in the blood. One such acid, acetone, causes the fruity smell. If this is you, check in with your doctor ASAP, as the complications can be life threatening. Stinky skin (stronger than normal body odor) could be a sign of skin infections, as a result of the byproducts of bacterial growth. Liver and kidney disease and hyperthyroidism, can lead to excessive sweat and increased BO. Stinky feet may be signs of a fungal infection (like athlete’s foot), especially if you see dry, scaly skin around your toes, redness and blisters.

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