Recently, Rexona conducted a large-scale study, during which a number of discouraging findings were made. It turns out that in Russia only every second woman constantly uses deodorant. The rest either consider antiperspirants an overkill, or treat them with great suspicion, considering them useless, or even completely harmful. Woman’s Day has collected the most popular myths about deodorants and asked an expert to comment on them.
Myth 1. Antiperspirants are useless, they only mask the smell
Many women who refuse to use antiperspirants believe that the main purpose of these products is to mask the unpleasant odor, not eliminate it. And if so, this task can be dealt with with the help of your favorite perfume.
Actually
“Indeed, initially, deodorants were designed specifically to mask unpleasant odors, but today their capabilities are much wider,” comments Katerina Lebedeva, an expert at Unilever’s research and development service. “Modern products eliminate the very cause of sweat odor – bacteria and provide effective protection against sweat.”
Myth 2. Antibacterial agents are harmful
Some try to avoid antibacterial agents, believing that together with the “bad” bacteria they will harm the “good” one, which will negatively affect the skin microflora.
Actually
“There are millions of bacteria living on the surface of our skin,” says Katerina. – In itself, such a neighborhood is harmless: the “tenants” for the most part do not show themselves in any way and help the natural defense of the body. True, this is not entirely the case for bacteria living in the armpits. They give themselves away with an unpleasant odor. The fact is that bacteria live and multiply in a humid, warm and nutrient-rich environment – our armpits are such a favorable environment for bacteria to multiply. But even the most powerful antibacterial agent will not leave behind a “scorched meadow”. Antiperspirants are simply not designed to do this. Yes, they do significantly reduce the number of bacteria of all types found on the skin. This is enough to provide effective protection against sweat odor, but with proper use of the antiperspirant, the product respects the natural microflora of the skin and the skin of the armpits itself, without leaving irritation on it.
Myth 3. Deodorants are all chemistry and nothing natural
There is an opinion that the best cosmetics are natural. Natural ingredients are relatively rare in deodorant formulations. Therefore, their use is harmful and can cause allergies.
Actually
“The use of natural ingredients is really limited in all deoproducts. Unfortunately, they are ineffective and often destabilize formulations, the expert clarifies. – Working on the creation of the next product, we carefully select the ingredients and test them for toxicity and allergenicity. However, any product you apply to your skin has the potential to cause an allergic reaction if hypersensitivity occurs. An allergic reaction can be temporary, it can be associated with the general state of the body at the moment, unfavorable environmental conditions and other factors. But it’s worth noting that the natural ingredients in the composition can also cause irritation. ” The component composition is indicated on the individual packaging of each cosmetic product, primarily so that each consumer can determine for himself the possibility of using this product.
Myth 4: Antiperspirants clog pores
Participants in the study who stopped using deodorants often suggested that antiperspirant can close pores and inhibit sweat production. Thus, toxic substances are not excreted from the body, which certainly harms it.
Actually
“This is absolutely not true,” Katerina replies categorically. – Antiperspirant sweat protection is not absolute. The active components of antiperspirants only partially block the excretory ducts of the sweat glands, temporarily limiting their activity. The maximum value for reducing perspiration of even the most effective deodorant is 70%, which allows the skin to breathe freely. Also, do not worry about the elimination of toxins, about 95% of them are excreted from the body by the liver and kidneys. By the way, since sweat consists almost entirely of ordinary water, sweating, in principle, does not ensure the elimination of toxins, but is the main mechanism of thermoregulation of our body. “
The protection of the antiperspirant is also completely safe with regard to the thermoregulation of the body: firstly, less than 1% of all moisture secreted by the body is released through the skin of the armpits, and secondly, when some areas of the skin are partially blocked, others take over their function. Thus, the body will release moisture in the required amount to maintain a normal body temperature.
Myth 5. Increased sweating can be effectively fought with Botox injections.
Actually
As you know, increased sweating is still fought with the help of Botox injections. They are made in armpits, palms, feet, and much larger doses are injected than in the face. And here it is necessary to think about the safety and the justification of the procedure. Complete blockage of underarm sweating does not go unnoticed. If antiperspirants regulate and temporarily reduce the activity of sweat glands by about 70%, then Botox completely blocks it, implying their complete paralysis.
Cosmetologists interested in increasing income (and botox in the armpits is an expensive procedure, and after 6-12 months, the functions of the sweat glands are restored, and the procedure must be repeated), most often use the word “hyperhidrosis” without going into subtleties. And this concept is used with might and main by girls who are worried about how not to spoil a brand new blouse with sweat stains. Blouses will of course be saved. Although neurologists unanimously say that botulinum therapy with normal sweating is medically unjustified.
Myth 6: Antiperspirant Ingredients Cause Alzheimer’s Disease
Actually
There is no conclusive scientific evidence that aluminum salts used in antiperspirants cause Alzheimer’s disease.
Several studies have found a relationship between aluminum levels and Alzheimer’s disease (Tomljenovic 2010, Bondi 2010). However, there is no reliable evidence that the aluminum in antiperspirants is absorbed into the body.
Moreover, in fact, epidemiological studies do not show any unusual prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease in people working in aluminum mines or in smelters, where the substance is expected to be inhaled in large quantities.
Aluminum is the third most abundant element in the earth’s crust after oxygen and silicon. Basically, we all live in a sea of aluminum. The consumption of aluminum in food products averages 9-14 mg per day for adolescents, adult men and women. Much larger amounts (more than 90 mg per day) of aluminum can enter the human body through the consumption of foods high in aluminum (tea, herbs, spinach, etc.) *. By comparison, consumer exposure to aluminum in any cosmetic product, including antiperspirants, is negligible.
Myth 7. The aluminum in antiperspirants causes breast cancer by affecting estrogen levels in a woman’s body.
Actually
There is no evidence that aluminum can alter the effects of the hormone estrogen in the body, or that the aluminum in antiperspirants is associated with breast cancer.
The hormone estrogen can actually stimulate the growth of breast cancer cells, but the reason for the increase in the level of this hormone in women in developed countries can be explained by factors such as their consumption of a high-calorie diet or their reduction in the number of children, but the use of an antiperspirant has nothing to do with it.