Is Your Antiperspirant Deodorant Good To You?

The Truth About Antiprespirants

Who doesn't break in sweat during stressful times? Almost all of us have encountered stressful times in our lives and along with fatigue comes sweat that drenches our armpits and leaves us smelling awful. Yes, every stressful activity leaves us sweaty all over especially on our armpits, hands and feet. This is why we use antiperspirant products most of the time. We hate that messy wet feeling that comes with sweat.

So why do we sweat that bad? Sweating is said to be a balancing mechanism of the body; it is one way by which the body regulates our temperature with regards to the temperature of our environment. Some people sweat more than most people, and may suffer from a condition called hyperhidrosis. There is no exact cause for hyperhidrosis; however, there may be some genetic factor involved as this trait seems to run in families. Other experts say that excessive sweating is often triggered by things such as emotion, anxiety, a spicy diet and heat. The problem with excessive sweating is that it not only causes embarrassment to the sufferer but also leads to sore and irritated skin which may become infected later on.

One way of dealing with excessive sweating is to use antiperspirants regularly. But are these antiperspirants safe for use every day? It is said that antiperspirants were made to stick with you throughout the day, even if you have just showered off. This is why we need to be careful in choosing our antiperspirants.

Antiprespirants And Its Ingredients

One substance in antiperspirants which you have to avoid is triclosan. Triclosan is an antibacterial and antifungal substance, however, it is also considered as an endocrine disruptor. It changes the way your thyrpid hormone functions, leaving your metabolism disturbed.

Two other substances common in antiperspirants are parabens and BHT. These two are also known as hormone disruptors because they act as estrogens. High levels of estrogen in the body can wreck a woman's reproductive cycle and can affect male fertility.

Some antiperspirants contain formaldehyde, which has the ability to cause cancers in humans. However, antiperspirant manufacturers have claimed that their products contain only a very minimal amount of this substance, which cannot increase cancer risk. However, environmentalists say that exposure to formaldehyde is everywhere from furniture to glue to paints. If people are exposed to formaldehyde on a regular basis, there is the danger of increasing the risk for cancers.

Antiprespirants may also contain steareths whichcan also cause cancers. Aside from these carcinogens, antiperspirants can contain various allergens that may incite a deadly hypersensitivity reaction. Some of these allergens are the fragrances incorporated in antiperspirants, and these fragrances can be phalates, a substances with is also toxic.

The aluminium in your antiperspirant can cause skin irritation, especially if you have sensitive skin. It also act as a toxin in itself while blocking pores. We know that the pores in our skin act by eliminating toxins from the body. If these pores are blocked, toxins may accumulate in our blood stream and may also affect our lymph glands located in our armpits.

Seek Natural Ways

The question is, do you really need an antiperspirant? It may be that using an antiperspirant is one way of going against the natural ways of the body. The body eliminates waste products through the pores of the skin through sweat. If we block this process, how can the body eliminate toxins and other waste materials from the body? How can the body get rid of free radicals and potential carcinogens.

Perhaps, now will be the time to choose more natural ways of maintaining good hygiene. That is, with the use of natural or organic products which barely have a trace of these harmful chemicals. Perhaps if we start now, we might lessen our risks. To know more about living healthily, you can browse through the other articles in this site.