Best antiperspirants and deodorants to keep you fresh and sweat-free through the day

As anyone living in Southeast Asia can attest, you need only step out of the shower to feel like you’re due for another one right after, some days. In our humidity where perspiration is more pronounced, we talk to an expert on why sweat matters, and dish on the tried-and-tested the deodorants we rely on to help keep us fresh and confident throughout the day.

Is sweating important?

“Sweating or perspiration is an essential bodily function which regulates temperature. Our sweat glands secrete the salty liquid we are familiar with, to cool down our bodies and prevent overheating,” says Dr Siew Tuck Wah, medical director of Radium Medical Aesthetics. “It is natural to sweat when the weather is hot. When it is humid, sweat does not evaporate as quickly, which gives us the unpleasant, sticky feeling on the skin which is so commonly experienced in hot and humid Singapore.” This also applies to the scalp, which may become itchy and inflamed due to sweat not being wicked away in our high humidity.

As it’s essential to help maintain equilibrium, sweat or lack thereof, comes with a host of symptoms to be wary of.

“Failure to perspire—also known an anhydrosis—can cause dizziness, flushing and even heatstroke. It can happen as a result of skin diseases such trauma to the skin and psoriasis, or illnesses such as diabetes and Sjogren’s syndrome,” says Dr Wah. On the other end of the spectrum, hyperhidrosis, or the problem of excessive sweating is a common one here in Southeast Asia. “This condition affects 1 to 3 per cent of people, most commonly in the under arm region, which contains more sweat glands.”

Antiperspirants vs Deodorants: what’s the difference?

Deodorants make the skin more acidic, making it more difficult for bacteria to thrive. An antiperspirant blocks the sweating action of the glands, resulting in less sweating. “Antiperspirants reduce sweating by temporarily blocking the sweat ducts with aluminium-salts, while deodorants reduce body odour by lowering the pH of the skin to discourage bacteria growth,” explains Dr Wah.

In 2019, the global antiperspirant and deodorant market was estimated to be worth about S$102 billion dollars and with a greater focus on personal care comes more options on the market today for discerning consumers. Today, options from traditional drugstore antiperspirants to luxe, ‘clean’ deodorant sticks abound—the latter in response to concerns that certain ingredients found in antiperspirants may trigger breast cancer.

Can antiperspirants and deodorants cause breast cancer?

According to Dr Joline Lim, who is both a consultant at the National University Cancer Institute (NCIS) and assistant professor at the National University of Singapore’s Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, “Some scientists have suggested a possible link between antiperspirants and deodorants and breast cancer due to the close proximity of the underarm to the breast, and also potential harmful active ingredients in these products. Several studies from various population groups have been conducted, which have largely shown no increased risk of use of these products to breast cancer. No study has conclusively proven that these products can cause cancer. Due to the conflicting nature of the results, additional research will be required to determine whether a direct relationship truly exist between antiperspirants and deodorants and cancer.”

In Dr Wah’s opinion, also echoed by Singapore’s Breast Cancer Foundation, “The biggest myth about anti-perspirants is that it increases the risk of breast cancer. There is no scientific evidence to support this claim.” Thankfully, there are a host of aluminium-free options on the market for those wanting to play it extra safe.