How to choose the best deodorant for your skin type

What is the right product to keep our armpits dry and odor free? As not all of them work on everyone, three specialists offer their advice on choosing the right one without redness, burning or unwanted odors.

When it comes to seducing you to choose one product and not another, we know that advertising appeals much more to emotion than to reason. And when it comes to toiletries, what they’re trying to do is wake up your vanity, while at the same time, like in a ying-yang perfect, warning don’t acupuncture with your insecurities.

For example, with deodorants: advertisements trick you into thinking that if you don’t use that particular antiperspirant, you’ll smell bad, your clothes will get wet or stained in hot weather, and people will make you look ugly.

From adolescence, underarm hygiene items become essential products. At least for a healthy coexistence at home, at school or at work. However, not all of us really care which type of deodorant and/or antiperspirant – which is not the same thing – is the most appropriate to use depending on our skin type.

First of all, did you know that it’s not even sweat that causes the stink? On this subject, and other questions related to the choice of the best deodorant, we spoke with three specialists in the subject.

The origin of sweat

“You have to start from the principle that deodorant and antiperspirant are two different things,” explains dermatologist Matías Gompertz. “The first is the product that camouflages or masks the bad odor that appears under the armpit. The second is a product that, with a more or less long duration, manages to reduce the perspiration of the sweat glands”.

So before choosing a stick or spray based on colors or scents, first think about whether you’re buying an antiperspirant or deodorant.

What is the big difference, you will ask me, if what I want is to avoid bad odors and to achieve this I have to reduce perspiration? It’s not that simple, brain. The human body sweats to regulate its temperature, in a process called thermoregulation. Whether it’s because it’s really hot outside, because you’re working out, or because you’re throwing a tantrum, when your back, your chest, your armpits, or all the rest of your humanity is wet or even dripping, c is for cooling off. The brain sends a signal to 3 million glands throughout the body to produce and release sweat, a liquid made up of water, salts and proteins.

When sweat dries, or evaporates, to be exact, your body temperature drops. This scientifically proves that when your mom told you to change your sweaty clothes because “you may get cold” it was 100% true.

In addition to heat, the body tends to evacuate perspiration in response to physical activity, but also to different emotions, such as excitement or stress, very hot or spicy foods, as a side effect of certain remedies, certain diseases, and also changes in mood hormone type.

And why does it stink?

“Sweat itself doesn’t smell bad, it doesn’t smell like anything,” says Gompertz. Where does he come from then? “It appears due to the breakdown of bacteria in these areas of the body, which mix with the substances it contains in sweat and remain deposited on the skin.”

When the skin is wet, certain bacteria that need moisture and warmth to reproduce multiply. A clammy, dark, poorly ventilated armpit is the perfect place for them.

“People who sweat more are more prone to bromhidrosis, which is the name given to this bad smell. In more intense cases, it is recommended to go to the dermatologist because to combat it an antibiotic is necessary with a prescription”, provides Claudia Moreno, dermatologist at Clínica Indisa.

There is also a condition called hyperhidrosis, which occurs when people sweat excessively and become drenched with the slightest activity or increase in temperature. Marlene Rubio, dermatologist at Medismart, explains that they need special products to contain their perspiration, because a common antiperspirant is not effective.

How to choose deodorant

When it comes time to choose the deodorant, which for one reason or another almost always happens at the end of our shopping at the supermarket, when we are already tired and in a hurry, we must be clear about what we need.

An intense hypermasculine aroma that reaffirms our sexual identity (although it incidentally frightens almost half of those who approach us)? Or a bar that actually reduces underarm sweat?

This profound existential question is unavoidable for Gompertz. “And then it’s important to see how sensitive our skin is,” he says. The format we choose will depend on this: yes roll on —with this classic wet ball—, a bar —which can be dry or in gel— or in cream.

“As a cream, they’re ideal,” he suggests, “but they’re not very popular. The second thing, if our underarm skin is irritable, is to check that they don’t have an alcohol base or of perfume.There, the risk of irritation is less.

Nivea Pearl Beauty Black roll-on deodorant (alcohol-free) 50 ml


What about sexy spray deodorants? The dermatologist says they are not recommended for people with sensitive skin, as they almost always have a very irritating alcohol base. “In this line, it’s also impractical to use scented deodorant. It is preferable in these cases to use a cream deodorant, roll on or bar, always without alcohol”.

It can also affect people with atopic dermatitis, who according to Marlene Rubio can suffer from dryness, itching or have their disease activated with alcohol-based products.

Now, if you don’t have any of these issues, there should be no harm in soaking your naked body in a cloud of deodorant spray every morning. In fact, for people looking for a stronger deodorant effect, Gompertz finds that aerosols have the strongest scent.

Nivea Men Black White Power deodorant spray 150 ml (4 units)


If your question is whether to choose a roll-on or stick deodorant, Gompertz points out that there is already a question of taste: the only drawback is that some stain clothes, but there is no dermatological contraindication with this type of product. Some in the bar manage to be invisible and deliver enough scent to eclipse the one that comes from sweating.

Old Spice VIP deodorant stick 50 grams


Moreno concludes that the format of the product does not matter. What matters, he says, is the concentration he has and the tolerance of emollients. “That’s what will determine the skin’s ability to deal with it. Sensitive or allergic people may have reactions to dyes or perfumes, but it does not depend so much on whether it is a stick, roll on or vaporize”.

However, the road to discovering the best deodorant for yourself is very personal and can be quite long. Hopefully not, for the sake of your environment.


*Prices for products in this item are updated as of January 26, 2023. Values ​​and availability may change.

Source: Latercera

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