There are many benefits of not wearing deodorant.
If you want to manage sweat and body odor without it, discover expert-backed alternatives to use instead.
But what if you just…stopped?
If youve considered giving your underarms a breather, there are numerous benefits of not wearing deodorant.
Before diving into the benefits of not wearing deodorant, its important to understand thedifference between deodorant and antiperspirant.
These contain aluminum salts that form a plug or blockage within the sweat glands to physically prevent sweat.
dermatologist and founder of Surface Deep
Deodorants purpose, on the other handwhich comes in both chemical-based and natural optionsisnt preventing sweat.
Thats another common deodorant myth.
Using an antiperspirant or deodorantor a product thats the combination of the twocertainly comes with its benefits.
Without antiperspirant, I see overgrowth of bacteria and fungus for some folks, she says.
Most studies, however, findno link between deodorants or antiperspirants and cancer.
But do we need deodorant?
And are there benefits to not wearing deodorant?
But do we need deodorant, really?
Thats really up to your discretion.
dermatologist and founder of Surface Deep
If you develop red, itchy skin under the arms, you should probably consider your deodorant.
The armpit skin is rather thin and is more prone to sensitivities and allergic reactions, she says.
It could benefit your microbiome
Want tobenefit your microbiome?
That could be one of the benefits of not using deodorant.
Some deodorants work by lowering levels of odor-causing bacteria that naturally live on the skin, says Dr. Zeichner.
Stopping your deodorant will allow your skins microbiome to return back to its natural state.
(A common reason fordeodorant not working, by the way.)
This allows the skin barrier to repair itself.
So whats your natural scent like?
And there may be some advantages to doing so.
Another2021 studypublished inBrain Sciencesfound how much someone likes their partners B.O.
(and how much theyre exposed to it) could increase relationship commitment.
So let your unique scent shineso long as its not of the pungent variety.
What happens when you stop using deodorant?
Or maybe you simplyforgot to put on deodorantand are curious about the aftermath.
What are the effects of not using deodorant, exactly?
And how long can you go without deodorant?
Dr. Zeichner adds that these deodorant products work to neutralize the odor with a fragrance.
Since youll be taking that away, its more likely that you might have a smell.
But even with these perks, do we need deodorant?
(As for how long you’re able to go without deodorant, thats totally up to you.
It could be a couple weeks, or it could be forever.)
or spritzing on a natural fragrance before you head out the door.
Choose a natural fragrance
Maybe deodorant isnt your thing, but you still want to utilize fragrance.
Ditch the synthetics and keep a yummy-smellingnatural perfumeor body spray around.
Even a couple of spritzes before going out and about will leave you smelling great.
Use a benzoyl peroxide wash
Do you need deodorant if you shower every day?
Not if you have anantibacterial washon hand.
One wash shes a fan of is benzoyl peroxide.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, this could decrease underarm moisture by82 to 87 percent.
It works by blocking the nerve signals that instruct the sweat glands to become active, she says.
Try getting Botox injections every four to six months with a dermatologist.
Try MiraDry
Ever heard of microwaving your armpits?
Well, its a thing, and it works great if you want to control underarm sweating.
(If youre curious about a fullMiraDry review, weve got you covered.)
Frequently asked questions about deodorant
Will I smell better if I stop using deodorant?
was like before swiping it on every day.
However, that doesnt mean you cant improve your scent without it.
Why do some people never need deodorant?
How long can you go without deodorant?
For some people, that answer is forever.
How long does it take to detox from deodorant?
According to Dr. Zeichner, that could be sweat, dirt, oil, and other debris.
When one writer went on anarmpit detox, she experienced increased odor during the first few weeks.
By week four, that odor had subsided.
Why did my deodorant stop working?
Is yourdeodorant not working?
Its unclear why this happens, yet many patients recognize this phenomenon.
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