4 Safe Deodorant Ways to Use Sweat for Summer Sweat

As summer approaches, many people may be worried about sweating. Sweat not only makes your hair and clothes sticky, but it also creates an unclean impression because of its unpleasant odor.

What is sweat?

Sweat is a liquid that, along with urine, metabolizes water in the body. While the kidneys filter waste from the blood and excrete it through urine, the sweat glands discharge waste and water from the capillaries in various parts of the skin. Sweat is 99% water, and the rest is made up of urea, salt, lactic acid, potassium, and electrolytes. It is said that adults sweat an average of 1~2L per day.

Types of sweat glands

Sweat is expelled through eccrine and apocrine glands, which are a type of sweat gland. Each of the two glands has a different role and composition.

First of all, sweat produced by eccrine glands throughout the skin is mainly responsible for regulating body temperature, and it does not emit odor because it consists only of water and electrolytes.

On the other hand, the apocrine glands around the head, armpits, ear canal, breasts, and genitals produce secretions (ε-3-methyl-2-hexanoaic acid) and waste products that act on bacteria to produce fatty acids and ammonia, causing odor.

According to the Pumpenich Institute in Geneva, Switzerland, apocrine glands are more distributed in women. Twenty-four men and 25 women were given a sauna or bicycle ride for 15 minutes, and their armpit sweat was analyzed, and 5 mg of sulfur chemicals were detected in women and 0.5 mg in men.

4 Safe Deodorant Uses

First, when using deodorant, you should follow the number of uses suggested by each manufacturer. This is because excessive use of deodorants can lead to dermatitis with irritation or burning, as well as atrophy of sweat secreting cells.

It's also a good idea to choose a chemical-free deodorant instead of a regular deodorant. Brands such as Grahams, Crystal, and Burt's Bee use mineral salts instead of chemicals.

Second, deodorant is not recommended to be used within 24 hours of hair removal. This is because hair removal products contain a number of chemicals that work together to remove hair, and when they come into contact with the alcohol in deodorants, they can cause redness of the skin. In fact, in 2011, the Food and Drug Administration recommended restricting the simultaneous use of hair removal products and deodorants.

Third, it is necessary to wash deodorant thoroughly before and after use. Most deodorants are made to resist sweat, and when used in the presence of moisture, hydrochloric acid can form and cause severe irritation.

Fourth, it is recommended to use antiperspirants other than deodorants only 2~3 times a week. Sweat suppressants contain a large amount of aluminum chloride, which can cause swelling, red spots, and dry skin when used daily. It is also not recommended to use antiperspirants and deodorants at the same time.