If you’re like most people, you probably start your morning with a shower, brushing your teeth, and applying or spraying on your favorite deodorant. But while many of us can’t imagine going to work without putting on deodorant, using it on a daily basis can do more harm than good.
We understand that ditching deodorant may seem unimaginable, but doing so can benefit your health in many surprising ways.
It Might Be Better For Your Reproductive Health
When choosing a deodorant, you probably want it to smell good and last long enough to cover up unpleasant body odor. But the ingredients that make your deodorant stick to your skin can be quite harmful to your health.
For example, the phthalates that give your deodorant its long-lasting qualities can upset your hormonal balance and even lead to health and reproductive problems.
It May Naturally Decrease Body Odor
As counterintuitive as it may seem, ditching deodorant can make your natural body odor less noticeable. Since antiperspirants use antimicrobial components to kill underarm bacteria, they allow other bacteria to multiply, producing an even more unpleasant odor.
Wearing deodorant daily can actually make your body odor stronger, and stopping use can decrease the odor.
It Might Benefit Your Skin’s Natural Microbiome
There are a variety of microorganisms that live on your skin, and many of them are beneficial to your health. The type of skincare product you use to eliminate body odor affects these bacteria and can wreak havoc on your skin’s microbiome.
Research has shown that aluminum-based antiperspirants kill odor-producing bacteria and can block sweat glands. If you can’t completely give up your deodorant, opt for natural products instead of those that contain aluminum salts.
You Probably Don’t Even Need It
Many of us apply deodorant or antiperspirant simply out of habit, but chances are you don’t even need to use it on a daily basis. Scientists have discovered that a gene called ABCC11 determines whether people have a certain chemical in their armpits that cause unpleasant body odor.
It turns out that some people don’t have this gene but still use deodorant regularly. If you find that your underarms don’t smell as much, consider taking a break from antiperspirants and deodorants.
How often do you use deodorant? Have you ever tried going without deodorant?
