What Might Happen to Your Body If You Stop Using Deodorant

If you’re like most people, you probably start your morning with a shower and brushing your teeth, and a swipe or spray of your favorite deodorant. But, although many of us can’t imagine going to work without putting on deodorant, using it on a daily basis might actually do more harm than good.

Here at Bright Side, we understand that giving up deodorant might sound unimaginable, but doing so may benefit your health in many surprising ways.

1. It might be better for your reproductive health.

When you’re choosing a deodorant, you probably want it to smell nice and last long enough to cover the unpleasant body odor. But the ingredients that make your deodorant stick to your skin might be actually quite harmful to your health. For example, phthalates that give your deodorant its long-lasting qualities might disrupt your hormonal balance and even lead to reproductive and other health issues.

2. It may naturally decrease body odor.

As contradictory as it may sound, giving up deodorant might actually make your natural body odor less noticeable. Because antiperspirants use antimicrobial components to kill bacteria in your armpits, it allows other bacteria that produce even more unpleasant smell to multiply. Wearing deodorant on a daily basis might actually cause your body odor to become stronger, and stopping the use of it may lessen the smell.

3. It might benefit your skin’s natural microbiome.

There’s a variety of microorganisms living on your skin, and many of them are beneficial to your health. The type of skincare product you’re using to eliminate body odor affects these bacteria and might wreak havoc on your skin’s microbiome. Research has shown that aluminum-based antiperspirants kill odor-making bacteria and might block your sweat glands. If you can’t completely give up your deodorant, opt for natural products instead of those that contain aluminum salts.

4. You probably don’t even need it.

Many of us apply deodorant or antiperspirant simply out of force of habit, but chances are you might not even need to wear it daily. Scientists have discovered that a gene called ABCC11 determines whether people have a certain chemical in their armpits that causes an unpleasant body odor. Turns out, some people lack this gene, but still use deodorant on a regular basis. If you feel that your armpits aren’t really that smelly, consider giving yourself a break from antiperspirants and deodorants.

How often do you use deodorant? Have you ever tried going deodorant-free?