Deodorant

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Image:Stick deodorant.jpg Image:Deoroller DB.jpgDeodorants are cosmetic substances applied to the body, most frequently the armpits, to reduce the body odor caused by bacteria which is facilitated by perspiration. A subgroup of Deodorants are "'antiperspirants'" which, in addition to preventing odor also reduce the sweat produced from areas of the body. Typically antiperspirants are applied to the underarm, deodorants can also be used as body sprays and also on feet, etc.

Human sweat itself is odorless. The body odor is actually caused by bacteria thriving in hot, humid environments such as the human underarm which has a high density of sweat glands and is relatively occluded. This odor is negatively stigmatized in many cultures (see below), hence the desire to eliminate or suppress it.

The underarm areas are breeding grounds for odor-causing bacteria, as 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.

Deodorants – classified and regulated as over the counter (OTC) cosmetics by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) – work in the following ways:

They inhibit the growth of bacteria which cause odors. Deodorants are usually alcohol based which gives an effective antibacterial kill. Deodorants can also be formulated with other more persistent antimicrobials such as triclosan or with metal chelant compounds which slow bacterial growth.

Deodorants may also contain perfume fragrances intended to mask the odor of perspiration.

Deodorants may be combined with antiperspirants – classified as drugs by the FDA – which attempt to stop or significantly reduce perspiration. Aluminium chloride, aluminium chlorohydrate,and aluminium-zirconium compounds are the most widely used antiperspirants. They work because the aluminium-based complexes react with the electrolytes in the sweat to form a gel plug in the duct of the sweat gland. These plugs prevent the gland from excreting liquid and are removed over time by the natural sloughing of the skin. The blockage of a large number of sweat glands has the effect of reducing the amount of sweat produced in the underarm although this varies from individual to individual.

Deodorants and antiperspirants come in many forms the use of which varies from country to country. In the UK and Europe aerosol sprays are very popular as are cream and roll-on forms which are prevalent in less affluent parts of the world. In the US solid or gel forms are dominant product forms.

1 Adolescence
2 Deodorants and culture
3 See also
4 External links

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Adolescence

Adolescence is usually the time when axillary sweat glands activate, resulting in body odor. As a result, girls and boys are usually given their first deodorant/anti-perspirant in early to mid puberty. Some teens see this as a necessary application, some see it as embarrassing, while others believe it to be a "coming of age" event.

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Deodorants and culture

Cultures and individuals differ in their attitudes about the need for deodorant, and on whether natural body odor is offensive. Various foods (e.g., garlic) may also affect one's natural body odor. Frequent users of canabis and marijuana may find that their body odor resembles the odor of these substances - a phenomenon which often makes crust punks more pleasently fragrant than their straight edge counterparts.

Other parts of the body besides the armpits are targets for commercially manufactured deodorants, most notably the genitals, and particularly the female genitals, which are a staple of sexually graphic humor and certain circumspect commercials ("Mom, sometimes I don't feel 'fresh.'").

Tom Robbins' novel Even Cowgirls Get the Blues contains (among many other things) an amusing plot line that takes a stance in favor of natural body odors and presents the positions of partisans on both sides of the issue.

An episode of Foster's Home For Imaginary Friends featured the lead character, Bloo, as the mascot for a deodorant called "Deo", which really does not work as found out in the final scene of the program.

"Ode To Deodorant" was the first song recorded by British band Coldplay as an ensemble.

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