Buzz
Deodorants work by stopping bacteria from growing, which helps control body odor, but they don’t decrease the amount you sweat. Check out more images related to men's health.
Pixland/ThinkstockSweating is your body's way of regulating temperature. Excessive sweating, or hyperhidrosis, affects roughly 2.8 percent of Americans, as reported by the Mayo Clinic. For those with this condition, standard deodorants may not be enough to manage both odor and moisture effectively.
To address excessive sweating, it’s important to understand how your body produces sweat and which products can help. Your body has two sweat glands: eccrine and apocrine glands. Eccrine glands, located throughout your skin, produce most of your sweat—a salty liquid that cools you as it evaporates. Apocrine glands, found in hair-rich areas like your scalp, underarms, and groin, release a thicker sweat rich in proteins and fats.
To manage excessive underarm sweating, also referred to as axillary hyperhidrosis, medical professionals recommend antiperspirants with 15 to 20 percent aluminum-based compounds. Key ingredients to look for include aluminum chloride or aluminum zirconium trichlorohydrex glycine, typically found in over-the-counter products. If these aren’t effective, prescription-strength antiperspirants with higher aluminum concentrations (20 to 25 percent or more) may be necessary.
Antiperspirants are effective in managing sweat. They primarily contain aluminum salts, which work by blocking sweat ducts, reducing both wetness and body odor. Deodorants, however, focus on masking odor rather than stopping sweat. Many deodorants use triclosan, an antimicrobial agent, to limit bacterial growth on the skin. Triclosan is widely used in various products, from household items to personal care, and helps control odor by reducing bacteria.
Sweat itself is odorless. The unpleasant smell arises when sweat interacts with bacteria on the skin, producing metabolic byproducts. Using antimicrobial substances like triclosan alters the axillary flora, the bacteria in the underarm area. Reducing bacterial presence decreases metabolic waste, thereby minimizing body odor.
To determine if an over-the-counter deodorant contains triclosan, check the "Drug Facts" section on the product label, where it will be listed among the ingredients.
