Applying deodorant to the armpits is a morning routine for many – but is a squirt under the arms enough?
There is an increasing number of ‘whole body’ deodorants on the market, designed not only to be applied to the armpits but also the feet, belly and ‘underboobs’ – even the genital area.
Marketed with promises such as ‘smell better everywhere’ or ‘keep fresh all over’, some claim to offer up to 72 hours of odour control.
But experts say not only do most people not need them, the whole body application increases the risk of these products causing irritation – or even disrupting your protective ‘skin cloud’. The reason they’re unnecessary comes down to the fact that, while we each have around four million sweat glands dotted all over the body that are capable of producing sweat, not all of these will lead to a smelly odour.
That’s limited to apocrine glands which are sited primarily in the armpits and groin, says Dr Adil Sheraz, a dermatologist based in London and spokesman for the British Association of Dermatologists. These apocrine glands become active around puberty and the sweat they produce is full of fats and proteins.
But it’s not the sweat that smells – that odour comes from bacteria present on the skin breaking down the sweat into foul-smelling compounds (such as thioalcohols, which can smell like rotten eggs).
‘While we all sweat – it’s the body’s way of regulating temperature – not everyone produces this odour; some are more susceptible than others,’ he adds.
Experts say many people do not need whole-body deodorant as it risks irritating the skin
Some sprays, such as this Sure whole-body deodorant, claim to offer 72 hours of odour control
This can be influenced by factors such genetics, gender (men tend to have more problems, as they have more hair and apocrine glands) and age (as hormone and skin changes affect body odour).
‘Very occasionally, it could be a sign of an underlying condition,’ says Dr Sheraz. ‘Diabetes, for instance, can lead to patients producing an odour that smells like pear drops or nail polish remover.’
Excessive sweating, or hyperhidrosis, can also cause odour simply because it leads to you sweating so much. It can also be a symptom of conditions such as thyroid problems, or as a side-effect of medication, such as antidepressants.
All-over deodorants will not reduce sweating, says Dr Sheraz.
Dr Adil Sheraz, spokesman for the British Association of Dermatologists
‘Deodorants target the bacteria that cause body odour, using ingredients such as alcohol or mandelic acid to kill them or inhibit their growth,’ he says. They also contain fragrances to cover up any remaining odour (unlike anti-perspirants, which actually stop you sweating by plugging the hair follicles).
These fragrances may cause problems. A study published in the journal Contact Dermatitis in 2011 noted deodorants were the leading cause of allergic contact dermatitis, due to fragrances made up of ingredients such as citrus oils and cinnamal (which gives cinnamon its characteristic scent).
‘Contact dermatitis is an itchy rash that’s caused by direct contact with a substance or an allergic reaction to it,’ says Dr Sheraz.
Fragrances in products have also been found to affect the ‘skin cloud’. First discovered in 2022, it forms when ozone (a naturally occurring gas) in the air reacts with natural oils on our skin’s surface to produce a protective cloud of particles around the body that neutralises toxic molecules.
In a study published last month in the journal Science Advances, researchers found that perfume reduced this cloud by 86 per cent and fragranced body lotion by 34 per cent. With the ‘cloud’ filtering chemicals in the air we breathe, this has the potential to affect our overall health.
Dr Sheraz adds that any product put on the skin disrupts the microbiome, the trillions of micro-organisms that live on the skin.
‘Disrupt this or kill specific bacteria and you can experience significant skin problems such as inflammation or even acne,’ he says.
On top of this, ingredients such as mandelic acid make skin more acidic and this, too, adds to the inflammation risk, he says.
That said, in the UK deodorants are categorised as cosmetics, which ‘are tightly regulated and safe to use’, assures James Coulson, a professor in clinical pharmacology, therapeutics and toxicology at Cardiff University.
‘Yet the more skin you apply a product to, the greater the chance of chemical exposure,’ says Professor Coulson. ‘When you use deodorant under the arms, you’re only applying the product to around 2 per cent of the body. Start putting it all over and it’s a bigger area.’
Dr Sheraz suggests that if you’re going to use these products, first test them on a patch of skin.
He says using an antibacterial soap on the areas of concern, such as the feet and groin, wearing cotton underwear and choosing sweat-wicking socks can reduce bad body odour.
For some, stronger anti-perspirants available on prescription may be the answer. But about all-over deodorants, he says: ‘For most people these are nothing but a clever marketing ploy preying on their fear of having body odour.’
