Risks associated with Body sprays and Antiperspirants

Deodorants, Antiperspirants, Roll-ons – they seem to be the most common solution to people’s issue of diminishing their body odour. The kind of culture that we observe these days, it has become one’s utmost priority to always feel good and obviously, look good! Grooming and keeping yourself healthy and attractive is an absolutely positive thing to do. In fact, most people want to be so attractive they tend to forget that they need to keep ‘healthy’ as well. Thus, they overlook a few things when it comes to buying personal care products. We are all very conscious about keeping our body’s bad odour in check. Body sprays, sticks and roll-ons help us through. Here comes summer and an indiscreet use of such items begins to take place. When a person uses an antiperspirant, it is meant to block the pores on his/her skin with Aluminium and its compounds. They contain a delicate scent and the discharge of perspiration is blocked. Deodorants deactivate or kill the odor-causing bacteria and therefore, neutralize the smell. They do allow perspiration to take place though. Perspiration is an important function of the body that helps in purifying the blood and in supplying oxygen. It is essential in keeping the skin fresh and healthy. This activity is hampered when the pores become sealed with chemical compounds that definitely have short-term as well as long-term hazardous effects. The outlet of natural oils is clogged that does not allow a healthy glow to the skin resulting in pimples and blackheads. One becomes conducive to develop skin allergies and when these deodorants vaporize, they convert into toxic gaseous substances which become treacherous to the people around the user and him/her self as well. Problems with the sweat glands and lymph glands are also most likely to occur. A carcinogen defines a cancer-causing substance and Formaldehyde is one potential human carcinogen that is present as a constituent in many common deodorants. Isobutane and Propane are propellants that are known to cause depression and their residues that persist in the air cause migraine attacks. Antiperspirants are absorbed by the body, which means that the Aluminium and other compounds enter the body and damage the endocrine and lymphatic systems. They also pose a potential risk in causing breast cancer in women. Although, the exposure to Aluminium is almost inescapable in air, food and water sources, but it is strictly advised to avoid ‘Aluminium-containing products’, that is, deodorants and antiperspirants. Talking about saving our beloved planet Earth, Aerosol sprays and products enter the scenario. An Aerosol is a mixture of very fine solid and liquid particles that tend to float in the atmosphere. They are most popular in being termed as ozone-depleting chemicals since aerosol products contain chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). Although, there have been strict regulations in effect from the U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) about the restricted use of CFCs in various products, still there are many other states that are either not aware of the perilous side of these chemicals or do not implement such actions. Deodorant sprays contain aerosols and when they are used, CFCs are released into the atmosphere that contributes to making holes in the Earth’s protective ozone layer. Those deodorant sprays that do not contain CFC-Aerosols, they contain hydrocarbons or compressed gases. These again are pretty wicked in contributing to ‘Global Warming’. Roll-ons and stick deodorants that could be CFC-free emit Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). These are harmful again since they create ‘smog’ that causes Asthma in humans. In this age of insistent advertisement so as to entice as many consumers as possible, it becomes difficult to highlight the above stated issues. It is important for every individual to always read the labels of body spays and antiperspirants before buying. The ingredients need to be notified to make sure that the least harmful is included. Most health care personnel urge upon the use of deodorants over antiperspirants since they do not hamper the process of perspiration which is extremely important for hormonal regulation of the body. Otherwise, shower regularly! Use fabrics in clothing that allow ventilation. A person who feels that he/she may sweat a bit too much should think about cutting down the use of Caffeine in his/her diet. Steam-bathing is really effective which also helps in improving a person’s overall health and boosting the body’s blood circulation. When a person is out spending some quality time with friends and relatives and feels the need to have an appealing aroma around him/her self should not forget to wash any kind of fragrance that is put on after coming back home. To get you a natural deodorant, mix baking soda powder with cornstarch in equal amounts and add a few drops of essential oil. Apply on dry underarms and that would cause a quick evaporation of sweat. Dermalogica’s Environmental Control Deodorant is a good option for those who do not feel satisfied without the use of a body spray. It contains natural plant extracts and is said to be fragrance-free. The ingredients include: Parsley Seed Oil, Clove Flower and Hyssop extracts, Coriander Fruit Oil, Ylang Ylang, Lavender, Eucalyptus Leaf, Lemon Peel, Rosemary Leaf and Tea Tree Leaf oils. All these basically help in fighting the odour and in controlling the bacteria.