Would you benefit from switching to hypoallergenic deodorant?
Many people have sensitive skin that gets irritated by the ingredients in regular deodorant. Less severe symptoms of an allergy to deodorants include itching and inflamed or bumpy, reddened skin.
You might also develop a rash, particularly in the underarm area where most deodorant is applied. More severe reactions can be serious and include breathing difficulties, stomach pain, your tongue swelling up, dizziness and diarrhea.
If you do suffer from sensitive skin caused by an allergy to deodorant, then you will probably want to consider switching to a hypoallergenic deodorant or a crystal rock deodorant.
What is hypoallergenic deodorant?
The word hypoallergenic, when used to describe something, means merely that thing is unlikely to cause an allergic reaction. So a hypoallergenic deodorant is one to which you’re less likely to suffer a reaction.
There are four main things in antiperspirant deodorants that your skin has typically a reaction to (note, you could suffer a reaction to just one, several, or all of these things):
- The perfumes and fragrances that are added to give the deodorant its smell.
- The alcohol which is added to the deodorant to cause your skin to become more acidic makes it a less hospitable place for the bacteria that cause the odor associated with your sweat.
- The aluminum salts that are added to antiperspirant deodorants to block your sweat glands and stop you from sweating.
- Parabens which are chemicals added to products to make them last longer.
If you have an allergy to any of these things, your body’s immune system fires up and tries to fight off whatever it is to which you’re allergic. It’s this reaction from your immune system that causes the symptoms of the allergy. And the most common cause of a reaction to deodorant is an allergy to the fragrances they contain. Experts estimate that as many as 4% of people suffer may from a fragrance allergy.
A hypoallergenic deodorant, therefore, won’t contain any artificial fragrances. They also won’t contain any aluminum salts or parabens. And despite this, today’s hypoallergenic deodorants often work just as efficiently as a regular deodorant.
So if you’re showing symptoms of itchy, red skin under your arms, especially after applying your regular deodorant, try switching to a hypoallergenic deodorant for a while and see if that helps.