Sweat cools the body. Protect it from overheating. Every person sweats a good half liter a day even without physical activity; those who do a lot of sports can also transpire many times this amount. The consequences are sweat stains and an unpleasant body odor caused by the bacterial breakdown of sweat.
Deodorant can be used not only to mask odor, but also to reduce the amount of sweat that escapes. For this purpose, in addition to fragrances, aluminum salts are added to a deodorant, which constrict the sweat glands and thus reduce the amount of transpirant by up to 5o percent. These deodorants are marketed as anti-transpirants or anti-persipants and promise to work for 48 hours or longer against sweat stains and perspiration odor.
Pure perfume deodorants are now rarely offered, as they only mask the odor but do not influence sweat production. Some deodorants contain additional alcohol, which disinfects the skin and thus inhibits bacterial growth, so sweat remains odorless longer.
To use a deodorant correctly
A deodorant should always be applied only to freshly washed, dry skin. Who wants to cover with deodorant already existing sour smell of sweat, usually achieves only short-term success, but risks irritation of the skin and fellow men. So if you don't have time to shower after sports, it's better not to use deodorant either.
In addition to perfume, aluminum salts can irritate the skin, for this reason a deodorant should not be applied to freshly shaved armpits. Experts recommend waiting at least six hours after shaving before using deodorant. There is no scientific evidence to support the claim that aluminum compounds in deodorants increase the risk of cancer or Alzheimer's disease in humans.
The antiperspirant effect can be enhanced if the deodorant is applied in the evening, so the active ingredients can develop optimally and provide maximum protection against wet armpits and sweat stains for the next day. If you tend to sweat a lot, you should avoid tight-fitting sportswear made of synthetic materials and prefer natural fibers such as cotton. Drinking plenty of fluids is important to compensate for fluid loss. A tea made from sage leaves can naturally reduce the body's production of sweat.
Every second person prefers deodorant sprays
A good 60% of all men and 90% of women in Germany use a deodorant every day. The industry is therefore constantly developing new deodorant products, which are offered as women's, men's or unisex variants and promise increasingly long-lasting protection against underarm wetness and perspiration odor.
Of the users, more than one in two reaches for a deodorant spray from a can, which is atomized with a propellant such as propane, butane or isobutane and does not produce a feeling of wetness on the skin due to the fine nebulization. While spray deodorants used to leave unsightly white marks on clothing, manufacturers have now got a grip on this: Stiftung Warentest tested deodorant sprays in its 07/2011 ie, and none of the 16 deodorant sprays in the test left any visible residue.
Good deodorant does not have to be expensive
The testers examined Deosprays with prices between 0,85 and 4,00 euro. The test winner of the unisex deodorant sprays was Garnier mineral, while in the men's deodorants tested, Rexona men Sport took the test victory. Both deodorant sprays safely protect against the smell of sweat even after 48 hours and reduce sweat production.
What is striking is the rather mediocre performance of Adidas action 3, which is only just rated "sufficient and has significantly worsened compared to an earlier test from 2007. The reduction of perspiration was rated as poor in the test, but it reliably protects against perspiration odor. The deodorant spray from discounter Lidl, the Gibellini Anti-Transpirant Sport For Men, came last; its promised sweat reduction could not be proven in the test.
Roll-on deodorant against disturbing body odor
Roll-on deodorants account for a good third of all deodorants sold; the deodorant is applied via a rotating ball, as with a ballpoint pen. Compared to a spray, a roll-on deodorant acts specifically only in the armpit, but initially leaves a damp feeling when applied.
Stiftung Warentest had already tested roll-on deodorants in 2007; the best rating was given to the roll-on deodorant from Vichy, which is available in pharmacies, but is almost six times as expensive as the one that was also rated "Good" rated deodorant roll-on Vitamin& Care.
Skin stress from deodorant use overestimated?
Health concerns about the use of roll-on deodorant, spray or stick are unfounded according to Stiftung Warentest, the skin protection was rated "Good" for all tested products to "Very good Evaluated based on the subjective assessments of the subjects.
However, there are also critical voices, for example from oko-Test. Deodorant sprays and roll-on deodorants were tested there in the laboratory, with quite disturbing results. Fragrances that cause allergies and accumulate in the body have been found in some deodorants, and silicone compounds have also been detected in many products. They serve an even distribution of aluminum salts on the skin. represent a burden for the environment.
People with sensitive skin can use fragrance-free alternatives such as a deodorant crystal or resort to natural cosmetic products. They don't provide as long-lasting protection against sweat stains and odor, but their use is lower risk.
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