Do you agree that personal freshness means more than a daily bath and a lavish use of fragrance? If so, you will agree that the real problem of an overall personal freshness is on how to deal with the body odor that emanates from the armpits in particular.
As we know, we perspire every day. There are approximately two million sweat glands all over the body. These work continuously even when no noticeable moisture is present. Perspiration is an important and necessary function in order for our body to function well. Firstly, it helps our system to get rid of waste products. Secondly, as perspiration evaporates, it helps maintain our normal body temperature by cooling the skin. Thirdly, in view that it is a natural body moisture, it helps keep our skin smooth and supple for a younger and healthier looking skin.
How the body odor builds up is when the perspiration in contact with the bacteria in the air – obviously the odor may not be pleasant at the end. To the rescue, a deodorant is designed to counteract the odor of perspiration and with the aid of an anti-perspirant, we are able to inhibit the flow as well. Although our face perspire but it is easier to be removed via a more frequent cleansing but this is tough for underarms odor as we can’t simply remove clothes and wash underarms with soap and water as often as we want during the day, especially if we are working during office hours, right?
For those who are anti anti-perspirants, I believe either because they think that sweating is natural or that sealing off a few square inches stops the skin from breathing – will end up with damp stains on close-fitting sweaters and dresses. I have to stress that a 100 per cent reduction of sweat is simply not possible but a good anti-perspirant shall reduce sweating considerably — enough for comfort and to prevent your clothes from being marked.
Choosing your deodorant/anti-perspirant: You should find a good functional aerosol for your intended purpose. Roll-on anti-perspirant/deodorants are available in emulsion form and in a clear liquid which usually dries quickly and is less sticky. Whichever you choose, you will have to use it regularly, i.e. every 24 hours on average and not to forget to let the application set before attempting to dress. While aerosol sprays dry instantly; roll-ons and creams will take longer.
Most deodorant/anti-perspirant formulae are usually not water-fast and you should re-apply after a bath or swim.
Do you know that under-arm hair should be removed regularly as it can inhibit the effectiveness of an anti-perspirant deodorant? What about the advisability of applying odor protection after hair removal? It is suggested to wait for a few hours. But for an immediate post-shaving remedy will be the application of a finely-milled deodorant talc.
Always apply anti-perspirant deodorant first thing in the morning after washing. You need to make sure that you’ve rinsed off all soap traces as any residue can interfere with the remedial action and make it less effective.