Antiperspirants are the first line of treatment for excessive sweating and can be used nearly anywhere on the body where sweating is a problem. That’s right, antiperspirants are not just for your underarms.

Antiperspirants are designed to stop sweat from forming, but they can also have other benefits, such as protecting your skin against oil and sweat stains.

There are a variety of antiperspirants available, including roll-on, sticks, gels or spray products. Choose the antiperspirant that is most appropriate for your skin type and needs.

Stop Sweat with Antiperspirant

Sweating is inevitable, but it can be controlled with the help of antiperspirants. Antiperspirants work by blocking the sweat and moisture from reaching the skin, preventing them from being released into the air. This stops sweat from building up and being released in large amounts, which reduces the amount of sweat that is produced. Not only that, antiperspirants can be used to prevent both wet and dry armpit sweating. Additionally, some antiperspirants also have deodorizing properties that help eliminate body odor. So, whether you're sweating from a workout or a hot day, antiperspirants are the perfect solution.

What Ingredients are in antiperspirants?

The most widely used ingredients in antiperspirants are metallic salts. Preparations containing aluminum chloride hexahydrate (like Duradry PM gel) are among the most effective. Aluminum chloride concentrations of 10% to 15% are recommended for excessive sweating of the underarms. In some cases, for the hands or feet, higher concentrations are needed - usually around 30%.

When and where should you use antiperspirant?

Antiperspirants are used to stop sweat from coming out of the skin. They can be used anywhere on the body, except for in the eyes. You should use them before going to bed and when you wake up in the morning.

Antiperspirants can be tried for hands, feet, facial, back, groin, and underboob sweating, too, but because skin irritation can occur, it’s important to talk to your doctor before applying an antiperspirant to sensitive areas. He or she may have recommendations about which antiperspirants, or active ingredient concentrations, may be more suitable for different regions of the body.

For instance, experts recommend aerosol antiperspirant products for the feet as first-line treatment. If you suffer from an annoyingly sweaty face, consider applying an antiperspirant along your hairline. A soft solid formulation would work best in this case. Test the product on a tiny area of skin first to make sure that it won’t cause irritation.

If you want to get the most out of your antiperspirant, you need to apply at the right time. You should apply antiperspirant at night — before you go to bed. This gives the antiperspirant ample time to “activate”. When you’re sleeping, sweat glands are less active and your body is at rest. This creates the optimal environment for antiperspirant to work its magic.

Make sure to read the package instructions for more specific information about when and where to apply antiperspirant.

Which antiperspirant is best?

There are a variety of antiperspirants on the market and it is important to choose one that is right for your skin type and the apropiate one for the severity of your perspiration. Different types work in different ways, some stop sweating, others kill bacteria or reduce sweat production.

A drugstore antiperspirant might be sufficient for light to mild sweating. But for more severe sweating cases, you’ll need something stronger like an extra strength, clinical strength or even prescription strength antiperspirant.

Antiperspirants come in all shapes, sizes and strengths. You’ll need an antiperspirant strong enough for your lifestyle and sweat levels. The label will indicate a general antiperspirant strength level. Clinical and prescription strength are the strongest you’ll find over-the-counter. For the most severe sweating cases, a prescription antiperspirant might be the best option.

The active ingredient and the concentration will indicate how strong an antiperspirant is. Aluminum Chloride is typically the strongest active found in over-the-counter antiperspirants. Common active ingredients include: Aluminum Zirconium, aluminum chloride, aluminum chlorohydrate, and aluminum hydroxybromid.

Always read the ingredients and choose one that suits your skin type and needs.

Does antiperspirant help with body odor?

Antiperspirants work by blocking the exit of sweat from the glands to the surface of the skin. So if your sweat glands don’t release any sweat for the bacteria to break down, you’re less likely to have body odor in the first place. So while it may not be a perfect solution for all body types or all situations, using an antiperspirant will definitely help improve your chances of battling bad body odor.

Are antiperspirants dangerous to health?

There is a lot of conflicting information when it comes to the effects of antiperspirants on the skin. Some people argue that they prevent sweat from escaping the skin, can cause harm. Others say that antiperspirants contain chemicals that can disturb your body's natural balance, leading to health problems in the long run. 

However, to date there are no conclusive studies linking the use of antiperspirants with any disease.

If you are using an antiperspirant, be sure to read its ingredients carefully and select one that is safe for your skin type.