Deodorants & Antiperspirants

Deodorants and Antiperspirants
Deodorant vs. Antiperspiran

With dozens of deodorants and antiperspirants on the market, all proclaiming that they’re the best, it can be difficult to decide which one to buy. It’s tempting to choose according to price or which scent you like best, but that isn’t necessarily the soundest strategy. Here’s what you need to know before you buy.

Deodorant vs. Antiperspirant: What’s the Difference?
While many people use the term “deodorant” indiscriminately to refer to deodorants, antiperspirants, and combination products, deodorants and antiperspirants are very different things that serve entirely different purposes.

What Is a Deodorant?
Deodorants are designed to eliminate odor. They don’t stop you from sweating but inhibit bacterial growth, which is the cause of body odor.

What Is an Antiperspirant?
Antiperspirants aren’t intended to eliminate odors. Instead, they’re designed to block the pores leading to sweat glands so that sweat never reaches your skin.
What Is a Combination Product?
Combination products incorporate both an antiperspirant ingredient to block sweat and odor-inhibiting ingredients to deal with the results of any sweat that makes it past the antiperspirant.

Types of Deodorant and Antiperspirant
While there is a dizzying array of brands on the market, deodorants and antiperspirants fall into a few categories: solid, roll-on, spray, and cream or gel.

Solid Stick Deodorant
Solid deodorants and antiperspirants are the stereotypical “stick” or “tube” products. Some solid products may soil clothes, leaving a powdery white residue on both the skin where it’s applied and the fabric it touches. Clear or “invisible” solid sticks are translucent and do not leave a visible residue on clothing.

Simply Medical carries the popular brand Speed Stick, a tough antiperspirant that helps protect against sweat and penetrating body odor.

Roll-On Underarm Deodorant
Roll-on varieties are liquids packaged in a roller-ball tube, similar to a ball-point pen or liquid lip gloss. Like transparent sticks, they don’t soil clothes. However, if the armpits are unshaven, the rollerball can sometimes tangle in and pull the hair painfully.

The Dial Professional Antiperspirant Roll-On Deodorant offers 24-hour odor and wetness protection. It is hypoallergenic and dermatologist-tested making it great for sensitive skin.

Spray On Deodorant
Spray deodorants and antiperspirants are liquids packaged in spray bottles and available in pump and aerosol formats.

The McKesson Anti-Perspirant Deodorant Spray is a personal hygiene product that helps control both sweating and body odor. A spray deodorant is quick and easy to use, and leaves you feeling fresh and dry.

Gel Deodorant
Cream and gel products are semi-solid, either opaque (cream) or translucent (gel), and may be applied with the fingers.

Are Antiperspirants Safe?
The active ingredient in antiperspirants is often aluminum, and in the past, there was some concern that this might contribute to specific health conditions. This has not proved to be the case, and aluminum-based antiperspirants are generally recognized as safe and effective.

However, as with any product applied to the skin, some people may be sensitive to specific ingredients in antiperspirants and deodorants, particularly fragrances. Consult your doctor if you have a rash, itching, or other skin irritation after using a product.

How Do I Choose the Right Deodorant or Antiperspirant?
Which product is right for you depends on your individual needs. If you only want to guard against body odor, a deodorant is probably the best choice. Choose a scent you enjoy and the form (solid, clear, roll-on, etc.) that best suits you.

If you want to control perspiration, you’ll need an antiperspirant. Antiperspirants come in different strengths (regular, extra, or “clinical” strength, etc.), so choose the version that’s suitable for your typical sweat output.

You have two options if you’re concerned with both odor and sweat. You can use a combination product or apply antiperspirant first (give it about 2 hours, as it takes time to activate), followed by deodorant.
Simply Medical carries all types of varieties and popular brands including Dawn Mist, Ultrasure, Dial, and Speed Stick Deodorant. Check out our selection and find the right underarm deodorant that fits your needs.
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