As I was walking to class today I couldn’t help but think about how nice the weather has been the last couple of days. It has cooled down and the days have been at a comfortable temperature. But a week ago I could not have said this. It has been blistering hot out and the 30 minute walk to classes I endure each day tends to make me sweat. There’s days when I forget to use deodorant and you can be assured I regret it when I sit down in class and look at the 
dampened parts of my shirt under my armpit. Yes, I know this isn’t the most sanitary topic but it’s a problem people encounter every day. A couple of days ago was on one of those tragic days where I forgot to use my deodorant. It made me think, if I would of used it then I wouldn’t be sweating (obviously). But then I wondered how does it work?
Before I started researching the topic I thought that something inside the deodorant when into your skin preventing the sweat. I thought that the sweat was what caused the smell but it’s actually quite the opposite. What I learned was that your sweat doesn’t actually smell. It smells when the sweat mixes with the bacteria on your skin causing the odor. The hairs located under each armpit then hold on to the sweat and bacteria causing the odor to stick with you. “As James May explains, deodorants work by killing the bacteria on your skin, and they also work as an anti- perspirant by reducing the amount of sweat.” The active ingredient in deodorant that reduces the amount you sweat is almost always and aluminum compound. This compound reacts with the electrolytes in your sweat that creates that thick gel you feel under your armpits. That gel then blocks the top of your sweat glands and contracts your sweat pores.
While researching the science behind deodorant, I couldn’t help but think about some of the times deodorant doesn’t work. I started to research this topic and found a very interesting reason as to why this might happen to certain people. What I learned is that sometimes you have to switch up the brand of the deodorant you use. Your body has the natural ability to build up a tolerance to all types of things. Whether its caffeine, alcohol, tobacco, or deodorant, your body builds up a type of resistance to these products depending on the frequency you use them. I have personally found that the gel deodorants do not work as well for me. They don’t seem to stick so I switched to the dry kind. Has anyone else encountered this problem or have any preferences on which brand they think is the best?
SITES:
http://health.howstuffworks.com/skin-care/underarm-care/tips/change-deodorants.htm
http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20131011-how-does-deodorant-work
I think this is very valuable information. When it was hot here, too many people were foregoing deodorant, or needed to invest in a new kind. I never knew that people could build up a resistance to deodorant; I think that is so interesting! I guess now every time we smell body odor, it won’t always be a question of whether a person has on deodorant, but maybe they just need a new brand.
This was actually incredibly interesting! I have heard the same issue about a tolerance being had with certain body washes and soaps as well. You body building up a tolerance to the soaps and the pores straight up reject it. Do you think that it could have anything to do with genetics and tolerances in relation to genetics?
I often use the Certain Dri deodorant at night that closes your sweat glands in your armpits. It doesn’t sound healthy but since you are only clogging a small surface area of your glands the sweat is redirected to other parts of the body. Then in the morning I use any general brand of deodorant as back up. I have also found that clinical strength deodorants work well for all day protection.
I like this topic. I applaud anyone who wants to explore how we can make everyone on campus smell a little better! I think another subject of interest you could look in to would be the carcinogens found in deodorants because I’ve heard those can be an issue. On a personal note, I’ve always had to use anti-perspirant deodorant because otherwise I’ll get pit stains. I have a friend that has prescription strength deodorant for the same issue…. I’m gland thats not me!
I didn’t realize what made you smell was the bacteria found on your skin. After doing some research (http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/173478.php) I found that the smell comes from the bacteria breaking down, not just bacteria being present and mixing with sweat. I also wonder what the best deodorants are. I know I have gone through many deodorants until I found one that truly worked for me. I realize this isn’t a science article but I do think it offers a good variety of deodorants if any of your readers are looking for a switch http://www.today.com/style/top-10-best-deodorants-women-I147104