Deodorant

Deodorants are cosmetic substances applied to the body, most frequently the armpits, to reduce the odor of perspiration.

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Human sweat per se is odorless. The odor of sweat is actually caused by bacteria thriving in hot, humid environments. This odor is negatively stigmatized in many cultures (see below), hence the desire to eliminate or suppress it.

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The underarm areas are breeding grounds for odor-causing bacteria: the armpits are among the consistently warmest areas on the surface of the human body, the sweat glands provide water, and armpit hair contributes to perspiration odor because of the increase in surface area.

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Deodorant cosmetics work in the following ways:

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• They inhibit the growth of bacteria which cause odors. This is commonly done by antibacterial chemical compounds such as propylene glycol or triclosan.
• Deodorants may also contain perfume fragrances intended to mask the odor of perspiration.
• Antiperspirants are drugs which attempt to stop or significantly reduce perspiration. Aluminium chloride, aluminium chlorhydrate, and related aluminium compounds are the most widely used antiperspirants. They work because the Al³⁺ ion causes pores in the skin to contract. This is a fairly radical approach, frowned upon by some medical professionals, since perspiration is a natural process and not the direct cause of odors.
• Combined deodorants and antiperspirants are known as deoperspirants.

Deodorants are usually applied in an aerosol spray or in a liquid roll-on form, but other forms also exist, such as alum crystals.

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Deodorant: Deodorants and culture ►



 

Armpit: The armpit (or axilla) is the area on the human body directly under the area where the arm connects to the shoulder. Hair usually grows in the armpits of both males and females beginning in adolescence, though it is the norm in most societies (including Europe, the United States and Islamic countrie...

Odor: An odor (American English) or odour (Commonwealth English) is the object of perception of the sense of olfaction. Odors are also called smells. The term stench or pong is used to describe an unpleasant odor. The term fragrance or aroma is used primarily by the food and cosmetic industry to describe ...

Perspiration: Perspiration (sweating, transpiration, or diaphoresis ) is the production of a fluid, consisting primarily of water as well as various dissolved solids (chiefly chlorides), that is excreted by the sweat glands in the skin of mammals. Sweat contains the chemicals or odorants 2-methylphenol (o-cresol)...