Deodorants, meant to tackle the bad body
odour especially from the underarms, do so by two methods. One is by killing
the germs that colonize in these warm moist sites and break down secretions
into smelly substances. Almost all deos are therefore antiseptic agents of a
sort, containing some form or other of spirit, natural oils and perfumes. They
work to keep us feeling clean and fresh.
Many deos however are anti-perspirants
as well, and work by blocking the secretion of sweat from the sweat- glands. This
variety of sprays has become trendy as they make the skin look cool and dry
even on sweaty days. They prevent the embarassing wet dark maps from appearing
on the shirts, and make us stink less as there is less soaking of clothes with
skin secretions.
While many use the terms deodorants and
anti-perspirants interchangably, they are not the same. Anti-perspirants work
to stop perspiration from occuring. Deodorants allow perspiration, and work to
kill the bacteria that causes odor when we perspire.
While anti-perspirants keep the skin and
armpits dry and clean, they block the body’s vital cooling mechanism, allowing
it to get heated up. Heat stroke and heat exhaustion occur when the body’s
temperature rises well above its normal of 370C and it finds itself
unable to dissipate heat into the atmosphere.
From
a purely natural standpoint, it makes more sense for us to use deodorants as it
allows the natural process of sweating to continue, a mechanism by which the
body keeps itself cool when the outside temperature rises.
If you feel unusually exhausted and
tired by noon or evening, check your body spray and ensure that you are using
the right one. Anti-perspirants could be bottling up your body heat and causing
your symptoms.
Further, anti-perspirants contain
aluminium, a chemical that has come under scrutiny for a variety of health
problems. High aluminium levels have been linked to seizures, breast cancer,
kidney disorders and Alzheimer’s disease. Although very small quantities of
aluminium contained in anti-perspirant-sprays cross the skin and reach the
inner tissues, there is speculation whether even these small amounts could
accumulate and cause disease when used for several years.
Most human achievements have come with
toil and the proverbial sweat. The deleterious effects of blocking this symbol
of hard work can extend well beyound our bodies to our social perception of
human effort too.
As published in HT City ( Hindustan Times) dated 3 June, 2012.
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