Maintaining good personal hygiene matters for many people, helping them feel confident at home and in their communities. Yet there are daily cleaning habits that often slip into being done incorrectly without anyone noticing.
One common slip is with deodorants. If you finish a morning shower, dry off well and apply a generous amount of antiperspirant to stay dry during the day, you might be doing it wrong.
Deodorants and antiperspirants are not the same thing.
People often use the terms interchangeably, but deodorants and antiperspirants are not the same product. Deodorants target the bacteria that cause odor, while antiperspirants contain ingredients that sit on the sweat glands to limit sweat production.
Sweat and bad odor are two different things
Sweat itself has no odor. It is a clear, odorless liquid made of water and minerals. The odor comes from bacteria on the skin that metabolize sweat and produce scent compounds similar to onions or vinegar.
Because the odor stems from bacteria rather than the sweat itself, deodorants work by acting on bacteria with their antibacterial ingredients.
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Sweat prevention tips for the underarms
Antiperspirants that curb armpit sweating are most effective when applied before bed to dry skin. An expert from the Institute of Quirón de Xesus University in Barcelona confirmed that aluminum chloride hexahydrate, a common antiperspirant ingredient, reduces sweating by reaching the sweat glands during the night. This is most effective when skin is dry before sleep, as daytime application may not penetrate as well.
During sleep, sweat production slows and the underarms stay drier. A shower can leave skin damp, which limits the depth of antiperspirant penetration. On a dry surface, the product can work more effectively.
Sweat and odor prevention: how to apply deodorant and antiperspirant well
Choosing a format that fits personal preference, whether spray or solid, is the first step. Apply evenly to the entire underarm area, including folds and areas beyond hair, for full coverage. If you notice white residue on clothing, consider using less product.
If you use antiperspirant, applying it once at night is typical. Showering the next morning is fine, since the residue can continue to act on the skin and help control odor for up to 24 hours. If deodorant is your choice, apply after a shower or when you start to notice scent during the day.