Switching from an antiperspirant or a commercial deodorant
to a natural deodorant will be a unique experience for each person
Have you made the switch to organic or natural personal care products, but hesitate when it comes to using natural deodorant? You are not alone.
Many people who advocate an “all-natural” way of living have trouble giving up their conventional deodorant or antiperspirant, even though they desperately want to make the change to safer, plant-based ingredients.
Many people transition seamlessly to a natural deodorant. Others report a transition period. As you anticipate what to expect when transitioning to a natural deodorant, please always remember that each of us is a unique individual and our bodies are all quite different. Ultimately, it depends on your unique body chemistry.
The blog will be divided into two parts.
Part 1 discusses the adjustment period and the possible causes of irritation and or rashes that some may experience when switching from a conventional antiperspirant/deodorant to an all natural deodorant.
Part 2 provides some suggestions to help with the adjustment period and or to help alleviate the causes of irritation reviewed below. Part 2 also answers some common questions about using a natural deodorant.
The bottom line with natural deodorants—it is all about what works for your body chemistry.
Whether or not a natural deodorant works for you often depends on the ingredients. While baking soda always gets the blame, it could be one of the essential oils or another ingredient to which you are sensitive.
But also a lot depends on the type of bacteria lives on your skin and your own body chemistry which varies with your genetics, gender, age, race, diet, lifestyle, hormones, health, medications and even the clothes that you wear. This is why a deodorant that works for one person may not work for another.
So let’s explore some possible explanations for irritations and rashes.
- Armpit Adjustment
- Baking Soda
- Deodorant Application
- Shaving
- Sweat Chafing
- Rashes
- Intertrigo
- Prickly Heat
- Contact Dermatitis
POSSIBLE CAUSES OF IRRITATION & RASHES
The underarm area is one of the most sensitive parts of the body. Although we do not often think about armpit "care," our armpits need a lot of TLC. The underarm skin is actually thinner than the rest of our skin, sees little daylight and is extra prone to sensitivity reactions.
Armpit Adjustment
People who switch from using commercial antiperspirant or deodorants to natural deodorant are often told that their underarms will experience a “detox” period. There are even companies that sell armpit detox products.
The purpose of this section is to discuss the topic of “armpit detox,” not the idea of “detox” in general. However, I do believe that like many other buzzwords the word “detox” has taken on a life of its own. As a result, its definition has been diluted, it is often misleading and the word has been hijacked as a marketing hype to sell products.
Our bodies are quite resistant to change. Our bodies enjoy the status quo. They see change as a disruption and often resist change even if it is a positive one. When we change anything, especially something we have been doing for a long time whether it be diet, exercise, skin care, shampoo or deodorant, our body simply needs time to adjust and accept the change.
The human armpit provides lovely conditions for bacteria to thrive. Most of us have billions of bacteria living in each armpit. This region is moist, warm, and usually dark—the perfect home.
Scientists have discovered that the longterm use of antiperspirants changes the types and number of bacteria that live in the armpit. These personal care products actually change the entire microbiome in the armpit region.
A study published in 2016 looked at the effect of the habitual use of antiperspirants on the microbiome of the armpit. The research was done by scientists at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, North Carolina State University, North Carolina Central University, Rutgers University, and Duke University.
The researchers found that people who use antiperspirants, and even some deodorants, have a greater number of bacterial species in the armpit area. This does not mean that it is bad or has an adverse effect on health, just that bacterial populations are very different from those who do not use these products.
What does this mean for the individual that wants to make the switch to natural deodorant? Because the human armpit microbiome is not only very complicated but is quite unique to an individual, it is often difficult to predict whether or not, or even how a change in deodorant will affect you.
So you decide to stop using your commercial deodorant or antiperspirant. At first, all goes well. But then within a few days after discontinuing use, the armpit bacterial populations begin to change.
As the new bacteria begin to colonize you may notice an increase and a change in the underarm odor.
The majority of sweat glands found all over our body are called eccrine glands. The “sweat” from these glands which is composed mainly of water, salt and trace amounts of other electrolytes does not contribute to body odor.
There is a second type of sweat glands, apocrine glands, are found in areas with lots of hair follicles like the scalp, armpits, and groin. These glands secrete a thicker fatty sweat that also contains proteins. These odorless secretions are quickly inhabited by the bacterial biome that lives in the armpit. Underarm odor results when bacterial enzymes breakdown this sweat.
Scientists have determined that since different bacteria produce different enzymes, different bacteria also produce different odors. Thus, our underarm odor is the result of the type and amount of bacteria that inhabit our armpits.
Logic follows that as the composition of armpit bacteria changes, so will the underarm odor. But sadly since most people do not understand the bacterial battle that is occurring in their armpits, they often toss out the natural the deodorant assuming that it is not working.
It may take 2 to 4 weeks for your armpits to adjust to the change in routine as your new bacterial microbiome finally settles down.
A Note About DETOX: Now that you know why armpit odor changes, please do not allow a company to tell you that the increase in odor and/or sweat is the result of your body expelling or flushing out toxins. Your body has a great natural detox system that includes your liver and your kidneys, but your skin--not so much. Armpit "detox" is simply a normal adjustment period.
The bottom line--our body needs time to adjust to change and the timeline varies from person to person.
An Analogy! Have you ever tried changing your diet from processed junk food to healthy food?
If so, you probably experienced a lot of trouble with your digestive system at first. You would think that your body would be happy that you are eating healthy food, but any changes you make to your diet will also affect your gut bacteria. The bacteria in your gut that love junk food are now quite unhappy which may actually sabotage your attempt to eat better.
As new bacteria begin to colonize your gut, these discomforts will disappear. But it takes patience and commitment!
The reverse is also true. After six months on a healthy diet, reverting to processed food will wreak havoc on the bacteria that loved the fruits and vegetables resulting in uncomfortable gut disturbances.
Baking Soda
Although many people use a baking soda deodorant without any problems, some folks are sensitive to baking soda when used on delicate armpit skin. Your underarms are one of the most sensitive parts of your body.
Human sweat is slightly acidic with a pH range of 4 to 6. The pH of perspiration varies from person to person and is affected by age, gender, race, medication, diet, or even hormonal changes that can occur during pregnancy, menopause or your monthly period. The natural pH of an individual's sweat can actually cause an irritation or even a burning sensation when mixed with baking soda.
Why? Baking soda is slightly alkaline with a pH range of 8 to 9. If your sweat is more on the acidic side, there may actually be a little chemical reaction between the alkaline baking soda and the acidic sweat. Think of the “volcanoes” you made in science class with alkaline baking soda and acidic vinegar. If your sweat is more acidic, this little volcano can cause an irritation called “Irritant Contact Dermatitis.”
Deodorant Application
Believe it or not, something as simple as the proper application of natural deodorant can affect the chance of irritation.
Rubbing too vigorously, applying too much or applying to wet skin may decrease your chance of a good experience.
Natural deodorant formulations are very different from their conventional counterparts. Synthetic ingredients present in commercial deodorants and antiperspirants like dimethicone, cyclopentasiloxane, propylene glycol, polyethylene glycol (PEG) and phthalates function to increase smoothness, slip, and glide, to emulsify ingredients, to provide firmness and pliability and even to make it easier to wash off the product.
In other words, these ingredients give your commercial deodorant the application texture that you are accustomed to experiencing.
As would be expected, without all of these synthetic ingredients, the texture of a natural deodorant will feel different during application.
Whether you apply a natural cream or stick deodorant it will take some time, practice and patience. I will cover this in more detail in Part 2 of this blog.
Sweat Chafing
I already discussed how very acidic perspiration can lead to irritation with baking soda based deodorants. But even without baking soda, your own sweat can cause many other irritations.
If you have muscular thighs or chubby thighs imagine walking for eight hours in hot, humid, sweaty weather with your bare thighs rubbing together.
Some of you may already be wincing because you have experienced that irritation on your inner thighs called chafing.
Sweat is a normal and healthy part of being human! Sweat itself is clear and odorless.
Natural deodorant is not an antiperspirant.
Antiperspirants actually travel into and block your sweat glands preventing moisture from escaping your body.
If you recently stopped using an antiperspirant, which stops your sweat glands from functioning normally, there is nothing to keep you from sweating. Your body may actually temporarily increase sweat production when you stop antiperspirants.
Without an antiperspirant, your underarms are going to be more moist. As the moist skin moves and rubs against itself, that friction produces an irritation called chafing. You may notice a red, irritated spot in the crease of your underarm that may itch, burn, or sting.
The salt residue that forms when sweat evaporates can add a grittiness that can cause even more friction and chafe--like continuously exfoliating your armpits with salt (ouch!!).
Shaving Irritation
Have you ever applied deodorant right after shaving and felt a burning or stinging sensation that may itch all day long? Your underarms are a very sensitive area of the body and razors cause microscopic tears, actual little open wounds, in the delicate armpit skin.
Applying deodorant directly after shaving can be irritating, even when using a natural deodorant.
While many deodorant websites will tell you to wait 10 minutes or so, we suggest shaving before bed to allow your underarms to rest, repair, and heal overnight before applying deodorant.
RASHES
Intertrigo
Since the armpit area is warm, moist and lacks air circulation, sweat can build up which intensifies the skin to skin friction.
This can cause the chafed area to develop into a rash called Intertrigo. Intertrigo, an inflammation of the body folds, is the number one cause for underarm rashes when using deodorant instead of antiperspirant.
Intertrigo is the common rash that you see in the moist folds under the breasts or under a baby's chin or armpit.
This irritated and inflamed skin is vulnerable to bacterial and fungal infections. If it progresses untreated, it can become raw, red, and itchy. Of course, if your rash is infected or does not go away, please visit a doctor.
To prevent intertrigo, the key is to reduce the friction in the armpit.
Prickly Heat
You don’t have to be a baby to get prickly heat.
Prickly heat, sometimes called heat rash, sweat rash or by its medical name, Miliaria rubra, is an itchy rash of small, raised red spots that cause a stinging or prickling sensation on the skin. Sometimes the red bumps can develop into a series of tiny blisters.
It occurs when sweat becomes trapped underneath layers of skin. If you sweat more than usual, your sweat glands become overloaded. This causes the ducts to become blocked trapping the sweat deep beneath your skin. Instead of evaporating, this trapped sweat irritates the skin and the skin responds by producing an inflammatory rash.
Unlike intertrigo, prickly heat is not confined to skin folds--it can appear anywhere and is often found just under the fold of the underarm. While it may spread on your own body, it is not contagious.
Contact Dermatitis
You may call it a rash but your doctor calls it "contact dermatitis."
Either way, contact dermatitis is a red, itchy irritation or rash that occurs when the skin comes in contact with a substance that triggers a reaction. The substance may be natural or synthetic.
The rashes are not contagious, but they can be very uncomfortable and may lead to an infection if you repeatedly scratch the affected area.
THE CONCLUSION . . . Part 1
The transition to natural deodorant is different for everyone.
While many people experience no adjustment period, some may notice an increase in perspiration and an increase or change odor as your underarm microbiome undergoes a drastic change. I often tell people to give it two to four weeks in order to allow the body to find its natural balance and please do not give up too quickly.
As you can see from this blog there are a number of things that may contribute to underarm irritation or rashes as you transition to a natural deodorant. While some reactions are simply a normal body response to change, others may be due to sensitivities or even allergic reactions.
The adjustment period should NOT be weeks of enduring red, itchy, raw or painful skin. NEVER ignore an underarm rash, as even the simplest rash can get infected!
Source: Chagrin Valley Soap & Salve
