DEODORANTS OR ANTIPERSPIRANTS?

Skin Care  -  3/03/2018
DEODORANTS OR ANTIPERSPIRANTS?

Most people may not be able to differentiate between Deodorants or Antiperspirants since they are both believed to be some sort of ‘sprays’ that perform the same duty. Well, they might be similar in some ways but they are both totally unique and different entities. At the end of this article, you should be able to identify which one of the two you are most comfortable in, so let us go ahead and dig right in.

 

To begin with, let us differentiate between the two terms. Deodorant is a substance applied to the body to prevent body odor caused by the bacterial breakdown of perspiration in armpits, feet, and other areas of the body while Antiperspirant is a substance that is applied to the skin, especially under the arms, to prevent or reduce perspiration.

 

How do they work?

Deodorant: Our armpits are home to many sweat glands, creating two warm and tucked-away spots where bacteria can thrive. To make our armpits a little less bacteria-friendly, deodorants contain ingredients that are acidic or salty. No bacteria to mix with the sweat means no smell. Some deodorants also contain fragrance or perfumes to mask unpleasant body odors.

Antiperspirant: Check the label of most antiperspirant, and you’ll find aluminum compounds as the active ingredients. These compounds absorb into the skin, temporarily plugging up the sweat ducts, stemming the flow of sweat. That “plug” only lasts for a little while, so that’s why people have to reapply antiperspirant to keep dry.

Which one should you use?

Most products include both antiperspirant and deodorant ingredients hence you may not even be thinking too much about your decision to use one or the other. It all comes down to personal choice. Decide based on your personal needs. First, consider which sweat side effect you want to deal with: the wetness or the smell – or both?

What does deodorant do?

There are around 1 million bacteria per square centimeter on our skin. Deodorants work to reduce this number of bacteria by either killing it off completely, or slowing its reproduction. The strength of the antimicrobial ingredients will play a part in how long you stay odor-free. The fewer bacteria, the less smelly your sweat!

One of the biggest benefits of using a deodorant is the ease of use and the versatility. Deodorants are available as sticks, roll-ons, creams or sprays and they aren’t just for the underarms! Many deodorant products can be applied to the feet or other ‘smelly’ areas. Another benefit is the antibacterial ingredients in deodorants work to reduce harmful bacteria.

What does antiperspirants do?

If soggy shirts and sweaty pits are your primary concern, you’ll want to explore a extra strength antiperspirant. Antiperspirants are effective in eliminating odor because they stop up the bacterias food supply (protein packed sweat). The chemicals in antiperspirant formulas are designed to “plug up” the pores of your underarms, preventing sweat from escaping. Antiperspirants becomes a kind of temporary ‘plug’ near the top of the sweat glands. This blocks or contracts the sweat glands, reducing the amount of sweat that can escape to the pores on the skin. No sweat means those fats and proteins can’t reach the skin and react with bacteria. And that means no smell!

Like deodorant, most antiperspirants are available in many forms, such as sticks, roll-ons, towellettes, gels or creams. Antiperspirants are best applied to affected areas after bathing, while the skin is clean and sweat-free. It’s also best to apply antiperspirants at night when sweat glands are less active

Antiperspirant vs Deodorant: When to Use What

What’s better for your situation? Deodorant or Antiperspirant?

  1. Do you just want to get to the end of the day without smelling foul?

Your choice of deodorant should do the trick. Some deodorants have a longer lasting fragrance, but most will be able to control odor for the average sweater.

  1. Soggy underarms cramping your style?

Reach for a reputable antiperspirant. Antiperspirants are the only thing that can really reduce your sweating. If you have an excessive sweating problem or struggle with hyperhidrosis, look for a strong antiperspirant that can control sweat without staining your shirts.

There you have. At the end of it all, it all comes down to personal preference. Visit any of our Goodlife stores, and we can carry on the conversation and help you pick out what you really need from our wide range of products.