Armpits have been described by scientists as a “rainforest” of bacteria. Most of us grew up being told to use antiperspirant to combat the odor associated with this issue, but in the long run it may actually make you smell worse. Read on to learn the side effects of antiperspirants.
Antiperspirant is classified as an over-the-counter drug in both Canada and the U.S. because it uses aluminum chloride that blocks your sweat glands to prevent you from perspiring. Read more about aluminum here. Your body becomes reliant on antiperspirant. If you stop using it, you can experience major changes in the bacteria that grows under your arms, causing you to smell. There is a reason it is classified as an over-the-counter drug, your body becomes dependent on it.
In a study conducted at the NC Museum of Natural Sciences’ Genomics & Microbiology Lab, 18 subjects were recruited to compare what happens to bacteria under your armpits when you switch the type of underarm products you use. The subjects were divided into three groups: (1) people who used antiperspirant daily, (2) people who used deodorant daily and (3) those that did not use any underarm products. Every day of the study, both armpits were swabbed and the bacteria was analyzed.
After two days, the antiperspirant-users started to develop diverse bacteria under their arms. By the fifth day, there was significant growth of bacteria – in some cases, it was a pungent type of bacteria called Corynebacteria, the smelliest of all bacterial flora.
There are two main types of bacteria in your armpits:
Corynebacteria – The type that makes you smell
Staphlococcaceae – The least smelly bacteria
Ultimately, antiperspirant users experienced the most drastic change in bacterial communities when they stopped using any products. At the end of the study it was found that there was an initial increase of smelly bacteria in the underarms of antiperspirant users. Using antiperspirant reduces the amount of staphlococcaceae bacteria (the least smelly) that grows under the arms. This creates more opportunities for odor-causing species to develop.
Deodorant users did not experience the same increase in odor-causing bacteria when they stopped using underarm products. They even had fewer species of bacteria in their armpits compared to armpits of participants who use no product at all.
The study unveils that long term use of antiperspirant actually creates more bacteria on your armpits once you stop using them.
If you are an antiperspirant user making the switch to natural deodorant, it is important to know that this odor-causing bacteria won’t last forever, it is just a part of the detox that happens when you discontinue use.
I believe that our consumers should understand what is happening to their body during The Stages of Detox. It can be discouraging when it feels like natural deodorant isn’t working. Basically, your body becomes addicted to antiperspirant and it is harder for it to go without it. Thankfully, after several weeks, the culture of bacteria is able to rebalance and stop overproducing odor-causing bacteria.
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