Sweat glands are found throughout the body, most of them in the armpits and groin. Sweat is 90 percent water (the rest is metabolic products) and is odorless by itself. The exceptions are cases when a person is sick: among the diseases that an experienced doctor can determine by the characteristic smell of sweat – diabetes mellitus, kidney and liver diseases.
The reason for the appearance of an unpleasant odor in healthy people is microorganisms that peacefully live in the excretory ducts of the sebaceous glands and feed on the remains of organic matter. The result of their active life is terribly smelling substances from the group of mercaptans (by the way, rotten eggs also smell). In humans, these microorganisms are of two types: bromobacteria (sour smell) and diphtheroids (“prickly” smell).
What you need to know before you start fighting odor with deodorants and antiperspirants? (Apparently, it is unnecessary to remind that any cosmetic products are applied only to a clean body!)
The former include bactericidal and disinfecting additives. They destroy microorganisms, along with which the unpleasant odor disappears. The effectiveness of a deodorant depends on the activity and concentration of additives, as well as on the cosmetic form (lotion, aerosol, pencil, powder, cream).
How to get rid of excessive sweating: Healthy Food Near Me users answer
It is impossible to say unequivocally which cosmetic form is better. It all depends on your preference, the degree of sweating and the sensitivity of your skin. For example, delicate emulsion creams are more suitable for very sensitive skin. When traveling, a pencil is definitely more convenient. By the way, it is often quite effective and also softens the skin. Powder is good if you intend to wear a silk blouse: it absorbs sweat and prevents delicate fabrics from sticking to the body. If the sweating process is intense, you can use lotions (most often produced in the form of a spray): as a rule, they contain alcohol, which has a slight tanning effect. As for aerosols in cans, they always give the maximum tanning effect, since they contain a lot of alcohol. Therefore, sensitive skin sometimes does not like it.
The most common additives in deodorants include triclosan, chlorhexidine, surfactants, herbal extracts (arnica, witch hazel).
In cases where the drug is intended to combat excessive sweating, very active bactericidal additives and / or targeted antibiotics are introduced into it (this is already a parapharmaceutical product and should be sold through pharmacies). Such funds are used before bedtime so that the active substances have time to cope with microbes. However, they should be used with caution: the natural microflora of the skin may suffer.
Antiperspirants work differently. They stop the actual process of sweating. Let’s clarify: sweat is certainly generated, but does not get to the surface of the skin. This happens due to the organic compound of aluminum, which is part of such preparations, which actively tans the skin, thickens the epidermis and closes the excretory ducts of the sebaceous glands. Antiperspirants are applied only to limited areas of the body (legs, armpits) and categorically excluded in situations accompanied by profuse sweating (for example, when working in the beds, especially on a hot summer sunny day; when visiting a sauna, gym, pool). The fact is that sweat, not finding an outlet to the surface, can cause local swelling of the armpit. As a result, it is possible to provoke hydradenitis – inflammation of the sweat gland (popularly – “bough udder”).
In any case, you shouldn’t use antiperspirants every day.
I must say that eliminating the very causes of excessive sweating helps much more than the most effective deodorant. For example, very often we sweat in stressful situations: this is due to the release of so-called fear hormones into the bloodstream. Often, excessive sweating is associated with diseases of the autonomic nervous system, chronic fatigue syndrome and neurosis. The fact is that chronically excited nerve cells constantly irritate the sweat glands, forcing them to work at an increased pace. It is probably worth contacting a neurologist here. In especially severe cases, when, regardless of the weather, you have to change your shirt several times a day, the doctor may prescribe treatment with drugs that are taken internally and affect the secretion of sweat glands.
If you just get tired, nervous and notice that you are sweating more because of this, you can take a few drops of valerian tincture at night, or conduct a course of home aromatherapy with soothing essential oils.