Deodorant

[brawburd]

Anti-Perspirant with or without Deodorant? Is one or the other more effective?

[darth vader]

They are both effective at what they do. I think you're possibly wanting to know why the two types? Manufacturers often make the anti-p (which is supposed to block up your sweat glands) without deodorant as people are more sensitive to deodorants and can get rashes, so they make both types. (Plus sometimes people simply don't want an overpowering smell!)

[Cathy]

As I understand it a deodorant on it's own is healthier than an anti-perspirant. The deodorant allows your body to sweat and cool itself, rather than blocking the sweat glands.

[Miss Zippy]

Following on from Cathy's answer, there was/is some concern that using anti-perspirant (not deodorant by itself) could be a contributing factor to women contracting breast cancer; either because toxins in the lymph glands under the arms could not escape due to the sweat glands being blocked by the anit-p's, or because of the aluminiuim used in anti-p's travelled into the body. I haven't read anything about this recently though, so don't know if this has been borne out by research either way.

[KARL]

As has already been stated, anti-perspirant is designed to reduce or totally prevent sweating in the areas where applied, and deodorant is designed to mask unwanted odour(s). I subscribe to the belief that artificially interfering with bodily functions on a systematic and habitual basis is to take signifacant risks. Deodorant only covers up anything untoward but does not eliminate it - rather like air fresheners only overpower general smells in the same way noise drowns out speech. To my way of thinking, it is by far best to reduce or eliminate the causes of unwanted smells. This is not always possible, but knowing the source is essential. In the case of odours generated by sweat on the skin, it is caused by micro-organisms digesting the substances contained in our sweat (pure virgin sweat is odourless). As they do so they multiply and give off wastes. Reduce or remove the fauna and you will reduce or remove the odours. Obviously, washing is important but since (I think this is correct) a lot of the fauna consists of yeasts, they are killed by vinegar, a totally natural product. After washing (and well after shaving underarms, if you do) wet a bit of cotton wool in vinegar and rub over skin. Leave vinegar on and (if you wish) wash off after some hours (perhaps overnight). Do this regularly and I would expect you not to need either deodorant or anti-perspirant, although this does depend a bit on your personal characteristics, including how heavily dressed you need to be to feel comfortable indoors (i.e. heating levels - the colder the house, the thicker the jumper and the more the underarm sweat - even more important to wash self and clothes frequently).