Along with brushing teeth and washing, putting on deodorant every day is a matter of routine for many, and is part of maintaining basic hygiene. But dermatologists say the practice is based more on personal and cultural preferences than any potential medical need.
"People have a strong sensitivity to smells, and have long used perfumes and colognes to hide the natural smell of the body. But it's not like, for example, flossing, where there's data that you'll actually live longer if you do it regularly," said Dr. Nina Boto, professor of dermatology at the University of California, San Francisco.
"We live in a society where body odor is not universally accepted, so deodorant becomes part of your daily hygiene routine. There is also a strong aversion to the smell of sweaty clothes, which has pushed antiperspirants into the daily skin care routine," explained Dr. Joshua Zeichner, associate professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York.
Deodorants neutralize body odor, while antiperspirants reduce moisture on the skin, Zeichner added. Both are often offered in one product.
Despite the commonly accepted reasons why people use deodorant, not all people necessarily find natural body odor unpleasant.
"So on the eve of his return from a military campaign, according to the stories, Napoleon wrote to his wife Josephine that he would be home in three days and that he should not bathe before then," said Tristram Wyatt, a senior research fellow in the biology department at University of Oxford.
One reason why one person's natural scent might be more appealing to someone than another's is because of different immune systems, Wyatt said.
There is no right or wrong answer when it comes to your personal preferences and what products you might use to neutralize body odor.
Antiperspirant and deodorant - reasons for or against
Sweat has a purpose. "We sweat to control our body temperature. However, in some cases we sweat more than necessary. This is known as pathological sweating or hyperhidrosis. Sweat itself is odorless. However, bacteria on the skin break down the sweat, creating an unpleasant smell," explained Prof. Zeichner.
If you decide to use antiperspirant products for this reason, apply them in the evening. Since we sweat less at night, they can more effectively form a plug in the sweat gland if you apply them before bed.
“But if you don't sweat excessively, blocking sweat production with an antiperspirant is probably not a good idea. If you completely block it, you risk a paradoxical increase in sweat production in other areas," said Dr. Julie Rusak, dermatologist and founder of the Rusak Dermatology Clinic in New York.
Diet can also affect the smell of sweat. The sweat of people who eat large amounts of vegetables—broccoli, kale, and cauliflower, for example—can have a distinct, sulfurous odor.
"Gut health, skin health and skin microbiome health can affect our body odor," said Rusakova.
"Some metabolic disorders produce a very specific odor in general (for example, ketoacidosis or diabetic uremia). Healthy skin and a healthy body should not have an unpleasant smell," she added.
There is no evidence of a link between deodorants and cancer
If you're thinking about giving up deodorant or antiperspirant because you're concerned about potentially harmful ingredients or rumors that wearing such products causes cancer, know that those claims have not been scientifically proven, experts told CNN.
Research on whether there is a causal link between cancer and the use of non-asbestos talc has also been inconclusive.
"The use of inorganic ingredients such as aluminum salts in cosmetics and personal care products has caused concern among manufacturers and consumers," said Dr. Amanda Doyle, a dermatologist at the Rusak Clinic.
Although aluminum is used to treat hyperhidrosis, there is some concern about aluminum's role in the development of breast cancer, breast cysts, and Alzheimer's disease. The absorption of aluminum by the skin is not yet fully understood, but the carcinogenicity of aluminum has not been proven, reports RTS.
Bathing thoroughly every day is the most important way to avoid bad body odor, experts say. "You should focus especially on washing your face, underarms and genital areas - they accumulate more sweat than other parts of the body, which can facilitate the overgrowth of microorganisms such as fungi and bacteria," advises Dr. Zeichner.
Unusually bad body odor may indicate that you are not cleaning your skin properly, the professor added.
Bonus video:
