Antiperspirants are one of the most commonly used cosmetic products. The main purpose of their use is to provide users with pleasant freshness for a long time.
Sweating is a normal physiological function of our body. It involves the diffusion of water vapor from deeper layers of the skin through the surface of the epidermis. In addition to its protective function, the skin also serves as a secretory organ. The human body secretes more than two liters of fluid per day, some of which is excreted through the skin. Sweat glands play an important role in this process.
Sweat is virtually odorless and, as long as it is not produced too much, usually does not cause serious problems. The unpleasant odor occurs due to its decomposition caused by microorganisms. Unfortunately, this process happens quite quickly, especially during periods when it becomes warm outside, that is, in the summer. This issue can be completely eliminated with appropriate antibacterial measures.
Deodorants
Classic scented deodorants should be used by people who sweat moderately. Typical products of this type contain ingredients that prevent bacterial growth, including: hexachlorophene, irgasan, triclosan, or quaternary ammonium salts. These drugs also use compounds such as farnesol or bisabolol. In their recipes, d-usnic acid, classified as lichen acids, increasingly appears. Significant ingredients in deodorants are fragrances, designed to hide the possible odor of sweat. When we use our favorite perfume every day and don’t want the deodorant to conflict with it, it is useful to choose a product that is unscented or has the same scent as the perfume.
Many deodorants contain ethyl alcohol, which has a drying effect. For people with dry and sensitive skin, this may cause irritation. Deodorants are often enriched with caring substances, such as vitamins C, E, D-panthenol or ceramides. They may also contain irritation soothing agents such as allantoin or aloe extract. However, it should be remembered that deodorizing preparations are cosmetics that only limit the growth of bacteria, but do not suppress the secretion of sweat. Usually, their effect is short-lived and limited to a few hours.
To solve the problem of excessive sweating, there are products that not only mask the odor, but also limit the activity of the sweat glands, i.e., so-called antiperspirants.
Antiperspirants
These products, like deodorants, contain fragrances and antibacterial agents, but their formulation is additionally enriched with ingredients that reduce sweat. Very typically, these products have a delicate aroma that does not interfere with the perfume used.
The main ingredients of antiperspirants are non-irritating alkaline aluminum salts, which not only inhibit the growth of bacteria, but also limit the activity of sweat glands. These ingredients, under the influence of temperature and humidity, turn into a gel on the skin, which does not clog the pores, but only narrows them, effectively limiting their activity, thereby significantly reducing the problem of excessive sweating.
Natural remedies used for this type of condition also include tannins and herbal preparations such as sage, thyme, rosemary, and oak bark extracts. Recently, natural magnesium silicate, that is, talc, has been increasingly used in antiperspirant preparations. This raw material absorbs sweat and neutralizes the associated odor. By drying the skin, it limits the development of bacterial microflora. It is gentle on the skin and does not cause irritation. This is a great antiperspirant system that washes off easily during your evening bath. Antiperspirant lasts much longer than regular deodorant. The effect of its use is felt for up to several hours. Therefore, it can be used only once a day, preferably after a morning bath, followed by a cool shower, which further narrows the openings of the sebaceous glands. However, there are a few things to pay attention to when using antiperspirants.
First, these products should be used on clean and dry skin, because only then will they be able to fully satisfy the user, providing him with a feeling of dryness in the areas where he sweats the most. Secondly, when using these types of products, you should be very careful when applying them, since the talc or aluminum salts contained in the formulation may appear as deposits after the carrier evaporates, leaving visible white marks on clothing. You should not use drugs of this type before going to the beach or visiting a solarium – they can cause local changes in skin color.
Nice to remember
Sweating is a process necessary for the proper functioning of the body, which, among other things, regulates its temperature and maintains the acidic pH of the skin. For safety reasons, the cosmetic product used should not completely block this process. For this reason, when using antiperspirants, remember that they should not be used on the entire body, but only under the arms, and in the evening, thoroughly wash off any remaining drug from the skin. You should absolutely not use this type of medication at night.
