It is not uncommon for people to apply deodorant to areas other than their armpits, such as their arms, legs, underboobs, private parts, and lower back. However, regardless of where you apply deodorant, you will still sweat and potentially develop body odor. That said, recently, whole body deodorants have become a trend in the beauty industry.
Below, Dr. DiAnne Davis, MD, FAAD, a dermatologist based in Texas, and Dr. Phyllis Pobee, founder of Slim Signal, discuss whole body deodorants and their benefits.
What are whole-body deodorants?
“A whole body deodorant is intended to combat odor in more areas than just your armpits,” Davis tells Beautycon. “Using a whole body deodorant in these areas can protect against body odor.” According to Davis, bacteria is naturally found on our skin, resulting in odor in areas that are susceptible to warmth and moisture, such as on the chest, under the breast, between the thighs, private areas, feet, etc.
What are the benefits of whole-body deodorants?
Both Davis and Pobee note that whole body deodorants can provide long-lasting odor protection in areas other than your armpits. People can face insecurities when they’re not confident in how they smell. While body odor is normal, people can solve this problem by going on multiple showers, changing clothes, keeping distance from others, and using products to address odor.
Are whole-body deodorants safe to use everywhere?
Whole body deodorants should only be used externally. They’re generally gentle enough to use on skin and sensitive areas. When looking for a whole body deodorant, you want to consider an option that is going to be gentle on sensitive areas. When picking out a whole body deodorant, look at the ingredients to make sure it’s “made without aluminum salts, parabens, or baking soda” that will not irritate the skin and doesn’t leave a white residue.
What are the differences between whole-body deodorants and traditional deodorants?
Davis notes that the biggest difference between whole body deodorants versus regular deodorants is that Whole Body Deodorants are designed to be gentle for sensitive areas and “to combat odor on different parts of the body,” while traditional deodorants are focused on underarms. Pobee shares that whole body deodorants have different ingredients than regular deodorants. “Whole-body deodorants often contain natural antibacterial agents like tea tree oil and aloe vera to enhance skin health while preventing odor,” Pobee says. “To use a whole-body deodorant, apply it to clean, dry skin across areas prone to sweat.”
Which ones should I use?
