When looking at the shelves upon shelves of personal hygiene products at the drug store do you often ponder the very common question: what’s the difference between deodorant and antiperspirant? Often, or choice of personal hygiene products, particularly when it comes to sweat, come down to physiology. Your odor and sweat levels will obviously determine the type of protection you need. Read on to discover the main differences between deodorants and antiperspirants:
1. Function
Even though each product has a different purpose, it has become quite common confusing both terms. Many brands make a combination of them to give both benefits in their products. If body odor is your main concern, deodorants are the quickest way to fix that issue. Its ingredients prevent bacteria buildup that causes odor. Luckily, there are many options you can try to adapt to your preferences. Each company uses its formula, modifying intensity, ingredients, and fragrance. On the other hand, when excessive sweating is the most concerning problem, you can apply these products as a temporary solution. Its single purpose is reducing sweating, which helps to treat hyperhidrosis effectively. You may also find antiperspirants that neutralize odor, which is a secondary effect some brands include in the formula. What antiperspirants do is momentarily blocking the sweat glands, keeping clean and dry skin.
2. The application
The application frequency will depend on the purpose of both products. For instance, deodorant is applied to the underarms to fulfill its primary function. The frequency of application will depend on your activity; you can use it throughout the day as many times as needed. Antiperspirants, alternatively, are only recommended for excessive sweating. Unlike deodorants, you should use antiperspirants more carefully. Their effect will vary depending on the intensity, but there are basic guidelines you can follow. Luckily, most antiperspirants last 12-48 hours protecting your skin. You can enjoy its benefits without having to apply it again until the next day. If you want to use antiperspirants to prepare for some activity, make sure to apply it a couple of hours before the event. Since the ingredients take time to take effect, we recommend using it the night before.
3. Ingredients
Deodorants tend to contain a range of antibacterials and fragrances. The ingredient selection is so diverse that the classification would be endless; you could select your favorite one sorting by aroma and intensity. The most common ingredients utilized are synthetic fragrances, triclosan, coconut oil, hops, mineral salts, among others. Antiperspirants, on the other hand, contain aluminum, which is what specifically makes it an antiperspirant. These products use mostly artificial ingredients to interrupt the natural cooling system of the body (that is why the FDA considers it a clinical drug for hyperhydrosis). Aluminum and its derivatives are the only elements known to produce these effects. The rest of aluminum-free components will not reduce heavy sweating but could include secondary effects like odor inhibition (that depends on the formula selected by the brand).