Antiperspirants: How do they work

by Lisa Cardy

RILEY recently posted a question on how cosmetic products save us from body odour. So here's a whole article on why we sweat and what deodorants and anti-perspirants do to save us from embarrassing situations.

Why do we sweat

Perspiration, or sweat, is one of the body's important thermoregulatory, cooling, systems. Exercise, excitement or illness, can all raise the body's temperature, which could be dangerous. As a response to over-heating the body sweats, which produces moisture, which draws heat out of the body.

Where does sweat come from

Two main types of glands produce sweat: sudoriferous and odoriferous. Sudoriferous glands cover the entire human body. Odoriferous glands occur only in specific areas, like the underarm and the groin. Odoriferous glands do not become fully functional until puberty. Odoriferous glands, as the name suggests, are responsible for the condition body odour.

Why causes the smell

Sweat itself does not smell. Bacteria on our skin eats the sweat and it is actually the waste product from the bacteria that smells. Which is why we do not smell immediately after sweating, but later.

What's the difference between deodorants and antiperspirants

Cosmetic companies are very keen to impress upon us the need to avoid body odour. There are many products on the market, mainly for underarm use, which claim to do this. Deodorants, as James87 correctly points out in the answer to Riley's original question, do not prevent perspiration. Rather they aim to mask the smell produced by sweat eating bacteria.

Anti perspirants, however, block the pores of the skin in an attempt to stop sweat making it to the surface.

How does antiperspirant work

Antiperspirants are astringents that chemically pucker up the opening to the sebaceous glands in the armpit. However, they do not stop the secretion of sebum, which build up in the glands while the antiperspirant works.

Are there any bad side effects

If the sebum is permanently blocked over long periods of time, infected cysts may develop. Eventually, in rare situations, this can permanently damage the duct and then the only solution is to surgically remove the painful lumps that develop. Once the condition is to this stage, it is too late to resolve it by stopping the antiperspirant. In severe conditions all of the skin in the armpit has to be removed and replaced by a skin graft.

There have been scare stories linking antiperspirant to breast cancer but there is no medical foundation to the rumour.