This Is Why You Should Stop Using Deodorant

If you're like most American women, your typical morning routine includes a shower, brushing and flossing, and wrapping it all up in a bow with the application of a swipe or spray of deodorant. That's before we even start with hair and makeup. In fact, a whopping 95 percent of Americans regularly use deodorant, which has made the deodorant business an $18 billion industry.

While few of us could ever imagine walking out the door without putting on deodorant, there is some compelling evidence that shows that not only is deodorant unnecessary for many, the use of deodorants and antiperspirants can even be dangerous to your health. I know, giving up deodorant or antiperspirant sounds unimaginable, but consider what scientists are discovering about their use.

First, let's take a little look back on the history of deodorants and antiperspirants.

Deodorants and antiperspirants, while often dumped into the same category, are not the same thing. Deodorants are used to kill odor-producing bacteria, while antiperspirants block sweat glands to keep you from sweating. Many products today contain both.

Before the start of the 20th century, no one used deodorant or really even cared about body odor. The first deodorant ever produced was called Mum and was trademarked in 1888, and the first antiperspirant, called Everdry, was launched in 1903. At first, few actually used the new products. It wasn't until the early to mid-1900s the use of deodorants became commonplace, and that's thanks to a clever copywriter who was able to convince women they stunk to high-heaven and needed a remedy for that.

Advertisers, who became more and more adept at convincing the public they needed deodorant and antiperspirant to be attractive, first targeted women. It's very clear how that manipulation worked when you take a look at a 1937 Mum advertisement, which spoke to a fictitious woman — as well as to the entire population of women — who wasn't using deodorant.

"You're a pretty girl, Mary, and you're smart about most things but you're just a bit stupid about yourself... In this smart modern age, it's against the code for a girl (or a man either) to carry the repellent odor of underarm perspiration on clothing and person. It's a fault which never fails to carry its own punishment—unpopularity."

The strategy of showing women that smelly pits ruined their chances to be attractive or to have a social life apparently worked. Sales of one deodorant reached $1 million by 1927, which was a huge sum in that era.

It wasn't until 1935 the first deodorant was developed specifically for men. Surprisingly, at the beginning of the 20th century, male body odor was considered attractive because it was a part of being masculine. "But then companies realized that 50 percent of the market was not using their products," Cari Casteel, a history doctoral student at Auburn University, told The Smithsonian.

Since then, advertisers have used shaming to convince the entire population of men and women that part of being attractive includes the use of deodorants. It has now become a standard way of thinking for us all.

Some of us really do need deodorant if we're to feel and be clean by today's standards. No one ever wants to smell bad, even when we're alone. I don't know about you, but after the gym or a run, I can't even stand to be with myself until I get a shower and slap on some deodorant. Only then do I feel like myself. Turns out, not everyone needs it, though.

You smell because the bacteria living in your armpits breaks down lipids and amino acids found in your sweat and turns them into substances that have a very distinct odor. We all know what that smell is, right? However, one study found not everyone produced the bacteria that leads to underarm odor. The study further found the majority of those who do not tend to have smelly armpits still use deodorant and/or antiperspirant.

Several years ago ago, scientists discovered that a gene called ABCC11 determined whether people produced wet or dry earwax. Interestingly, people who produce the "dry" version of earwax also lack a chemical in their armpits that leads to underarm odor. "This key gene is basically the single determinant of whether you do produce underarm odor or not," Ian Day, a genetic epidemiologist at the University of Bristol and co-author of the study, told LiveScience.

The researchers discovered 2 percent of Europeans lack the genes for smelly armpits, while most East Asians and almost all Koreans lack this gene. "They're spending their money, exposing their skin to what may in a few instances not be good for their skin. It sort of suggests to me that there are a lot of conformists around," Day said.

Now, I wouldn't suggest you go testing your earwax on your own to determine if you have that smelly gene, but it is an interesting connection.

Unfortunately, deodorants and antiperspirants may contain a whole slew of questionable ingredients, including toxic chemicals that can lead to some pretty serious health issues when absorbed through the skin. In fact, chemicals placed on your skin can be even more dangerous than if you ingested them orally.

"When you eat something, it's broken down by your liver and digestive system," Heather Patisaul, Ph.D., an associate professor of biology at North Carolina State University, told Time magazine. "But when you put something on your skin, there are times when it can enter your bloodstream without being metabolized."

Questionable compounds used in some deodorants can be absorbed and stored in fat cells in the underarm area, Philip Harvey, Ph.D., editor in chief of the Journal of Applied Toxicology, told Time. In addition, there are hormone receptors in your underarm tissue, which can react to some of the ingredients in deodorants, Harvey added.

With some of the research out there, it's clear that we really should give the same attention to what we put on our skin as we do with what we eat because much of what goes on us will end up going in us.

A group of questionable ingredients found in some deodorants are parabens, which are used as preservatives. While these preservatives are what help prevent the growth of odor-causing bacteria, they can also mimic estrogen in the body, and extra estrogen can potentially lead to the development of breast cancers. Aluminum compounds, which are used in many antiperspirants to block the sweat ducts from producing odor-causing perspiration, have also been found to mimic estrogen.

It should be noted that not all scientists agree with these findings, but there is certainly enough evidence to make you think twice. At least one study has found women who developed breast cancer at an earlier age shaved their armpits and used deodorants more frequently and at an earlier age.

An antibacterial agent and pesticide known as triclosan is another common ingredient found in some deodorants and antiperspirants. Several animal studies have shown triclosan may alter hormone regulation and has been thought to contribute to antibiotic resistant bacteria. It also has been linked to a slew of other health risks, including skin irritation and endocrine disruption. Surprisingly, research in 2008 found triclosan in the urine of nearly 75 percent of people tested.

In light of the research, several cosmetic companies including Johnson & Johnson and Procter & Gamble have said they would be removing triclosan from their products out of safety concerns.

This might shed some light on the whether you should use any product that has the chemical in its composition: in September, the FDA announced it was banning the use of several common ingredients, including triclosan, in antibacterial soaps and washes.

Phthalates are added to many deodorants and antiperspirants to help the product stick to your skin. Like parabens and aluminum compounds, phthalates can mess with your hormones. It differs, however, in that it disrupts the way your body produces and uses testosterone. Granted, women do produce some testosterone naturally, much like men produce a certain amount of estrogen, but too much testosterone can lead to variety of reproductive and other health issues.

"The greatest concern when it comes to phthalates is that they could impair reproductive ability in men, or that they could impact fetal development in pregnant women," Dr. Patisaul told Time magazine. In addition, there is evidence that phthalates can be a contributing factor in lower IQs, as well as producing higher rates of asthma.

OK, wrap your head around this bit of information. Antiperspirants use antimicrobial agents to kill bacteria and other ingredients to block your sweat glands. However, antiperspirants actually affect the bacterial balance in your armpits. Ultimately, their use can actually create an even greater odor-inducing sweat problem.

The bacteria killed off by deodorants and antiperspirants allow bacteria that produce even more pungent odors to thrive instead. In other words, they can mess with the microorganisms, many of which are beneficial, that live on and in your body. As some researchers would argue, deodorants can make the odor more pronounced, while stopping the use of antiperspirants may eventually lessen the smell.

One other food for thought — Before you assume deodorants and antiperspirants can actually stop body odor as much as you might think, consider that the FDA only requires that a brand reduce sweat by 20 percent in order to claim it provides "all day protection." Producers that claim their product is "extra strength" need only reduce dampness by 30 percent to pass the grade.

There are other ways to control pit odor other than relying solely on deodorants and antiperspirants. One way to reduce your body odor is to follow a clean lifestyle of healthy eating, drinking plenty of water and getting regular exercise. Other recommendations include bathing daily, avoiding spicy or strong-smelling foods like garlic, limiting caffeinated beverages and trying relaxation techniques like yoga or biofeedback to reduce the nervous sweat that can lead to body odor.

So eating well, going for a run, heading to the gym or even hitting up a sauna can help eliminate the toxins that produce body odor.

Even though you may be led to try deodorants and antiperspirants labeled organic, thinking it's a safer option, think again. Just because a product claims to be "natural" or "organic" does not necessarily mean it actually contains all-natural or organic ingredients. Other questionable ingredients may also be in the mix.

If you're like me and aren't quite prepared to give up the deodorant just yet, you might want to consider homemade solutions instead. A paste of baking soda and water can be a very effective deodorant for some people. Other options include dabbing a bit of apple cider vinegar under your arms.

If you want a deodorant that smells great and can be put into "stick" form like the deodorants you've become accustomed to, you might want to try Tree Hugger's natural homemade recipe.

For your health and well-being, do consider eliminating the use of chemically-enhanced deodorants and antiperspirants from your daily routine. Instead, forget what advertisers have been trying to push on consumers for decades about the need for deodorants and consider other, healthier ways to eliminate armpit odor and feel fresh as a daisy all day long.

If you really feel you need to continue using deodorants or antiperspirants, read the label to see if any dangerous products are listed in the ingredients before purchasing a product that might not be beneficial for your health. With some conflicting information out there about the safety of deodorants and antiperspirants, it's better to be safe than sorry, right?