Body Odor is not a Big Problem

Most people unintentionally use deodorants and antiperspirants as synonymous terms. But they are grossly mistaken in their concept. Antiperspirants are some aluminium-based chemicals that work in reducing perspiration. But perspiration has its own designated functions. It is one of the ways to cool our body and maintain salt levels.Artificial antiperspirants block the pores to prevent sweating. Deodorants on the other hand are based on a different principal altogether. The ingredients in them slow down the process of bacterial growth which are the main reasons some of us have body odor.Just as sweating is a normal biological function so deodorants are a common part of modern lifestyle.Perspiration leads to body odor in some cases and to hide the body odor need for deodorants emerged. While most people still buy the artificial deodorants available on the market natural deodorants attract those who prefer natural lifestyles. However in order to comprehend the pros and cons of natural deodorants we have to know some basic facts about body odor and perspiration first.Only then will we be able to comprehend how natural deodorants work as a safeguard against social embarrassment and discomfort without resulting in a long-term health hazard. Perspiration or the process of sweating is just another physiological function like breathing or digestion performed by the human body. It is in fact the body’s way of maintaining the “homeostasis” to keep us cool.A person has over 3 million sweat glands under our skin which are connected to the brain through the channels of the sympathetic nervous system. When the body temperature goes beyond normal limits the brain sends the signal to release fluids on to the surface of the skin so that the skin as well as the whole body cools down.Thus sweat glands are like the air conditioners of our body and perspiration is a beneficial process to neutralize the effects of sudden spurts of heat on our system. Body odor is an outcome of sweat but perspiration itself has no odor as such and this is an important distinction. At its core sweat is a salty watery liquid free of any odor. When it reaches the skin’s surface it becomes exposed to other elements and certain types of bacteria start to break down the sweat. It is the action of these bacteria that is responsible for the strong body odor that some people emit. From areas like the underarms sweat cannot evaporate easily and the bacteria have more chances to accumulate in this and similar parts of the body.The organic substances that these glands ooze draw a higher number of odor-causing bacteria. In addition to these bacteria factors such as stress wrong diet skin problems or dysfunctional metabolism may also cause body odor.The deodorant that could be simply applied immediately to wet skin after bath or shower, rubbed over the whole area anybody wants to protect. Whatever the source of body odor, deodorants seem to be the commonest solution for combating this irritating part of life. Deodorants are products meant to diminish body odor by deactivating the functions of odor-causing bacteria.However they do not address or claim to eliminate the root causes of the odor from your system. They merely reduce the discomfort resulting from a foul smell. Being applied more than once through the day deodorants work to prevent bacteria from growing in those parts of the body that sweat most profusely; and thereby keep the bad odor in check to a large extent. At the turn of the millennium the world seems to have been invaded by new generations of environmental hazards and newer kinds of diseases seem to creep into human genes. Extreme stress in our professional as well as personal lives threatens to strike at the core of human relationships. Under these circumstances natural ways of living and use of all things natural in almost all aspects of life are becoming the norm for an increasing number of people all over the world.People are concerned about what they are eating what they are using on their skins and even what they are wearing like never before. The use of natural deodorants is an integral part of this new attitude to grooming among both men and women. In short natural deodorants represent an organic solution to the problem of body odor. Natural deodorants are an environment-friendly answer to the problem of body order.In most natural deodorants ammonium alum is the chief ingredient. It is an organic compound abundantly found in nature and it encourages bacterio-static action reducing bacterial growth. Since alum molecules weigh almost 36 times more than water it is impossible for our skin to absorb them physically. You can obtain these natural deodorants in the form of crystallized rock but they are also available in spray and roll-on forms.Natural deodorants are strictly free of toxic components such as alcohol and aluminium. They are biodegradable and cruelty-free. Perfume is an optional ingredient and in most of the cases essential oils are added to make them scented. Happy new year 2012.