Sweaty but Not Stinky

FROM: Bill
DATE: Wednesday May 5, 2004 -- 8:32:30 am

I think its denounce useless products week on the ping.

FROM: Chris [E-Mail]
DATE: Wednesday May 5, 2004 -- 8:59:25 am

Some people believe sweating is a natural bodily function that should not be inhibited. It traps negative life forces in your body or something.

Deodorant is for those people.

FROM: David
DATE: Wednesday May 5, 2004 -- 9:02:27 am

I think you answered your own question when you mentioned certain people's senitivity to certain smells. It's possible certain other people (we'll call them "losers") are alergic to anti-perspirant chemicals.
But I would like to see the WARNING: YOU'LL SMELL GOOD BUT YOUR SHIRT WILL LOOK LIKE YOU JUST JUMPED INTO A LAKE label.

FROM: Mike [E-Mail]
DATE: Wednesday May 5, 2004 -- 9:36:51 am

If you had watched Queer Eye like me, you'd have seen them recommend anti-perspirant if you know you'll be hot and sweaty. They said to use deodorant to cover up the odors caused earlier in the day or if sweating won't be an issue for whatever you'll be doing, or if you don't have time to shower on your way out to the club but want a fresh scent about you.

I know the latter is always of concern for me...

FROM: Joseph
DATE: Wednesday May 5, 2004 -- 9:47:30 am

I thought that's what the "French Shower" was for. When you really stink, you just spray on some cologne or perfume, which really just puts both odors out there. Of course, the "French Shower" is not really deodorizing, either, that's double odorizing, so, I suppose I've answered my own question.

Either way, I agree with David:

But I would like to see the WARNING: YOU'LL SMELL GOOD BUT YOUR SHIRT WILL LOOK LIKE YOU JUST JUMPED INTO A LAKE label.

FROM: Cat [E-Mail]
DATE: Wednesday May 5, 2004 -- 9:52:30 am

Yes indeedy, some people are allergic to anti-persperants. Quite a lot of them. Swell up like melons and squeal in pain, they do.

If you sweat a lot, then fine, use an anti-persperant. If you don't, then it's overkill. Or in my case, just kill.

FROM: Cat [E-Mail]
DATE: Wednesday May 5, 2004 -- 9:53:56 am

Lookit me! I can spel gud.

*weeps*

FROM: Ryan [E-Mail]
DATE: Wednesday May 5, 2004 -- 10:39:35 am

What is it in the anti-perspirants that people are allergic to? Are there alternatives that work well?

FROM: David
DATE: Wednesday May 5, 2004 -- 11:46:34 am

Dude, just let it go, let it go...

FROM: Ryan [E-Mail]
DATE: Wednesday May 5, 2004 -- 3:05:28 pm

You should know by now that I *never* let it go, especially on day one!

I'm just trying to edumacate myself on an issue I didn't even know existed. And then I hope to spread the knowledge to the rest of the world.

FROM: David
DATE: Wednesday May 5, 2004 -- 3:43:38 pm

Here's an issue that exists that you may want to know about: you're about *this close* >< to getting a beatin.'

FROM: jk
DATE: Wednesday May 5, 2004 -- 5:51:30 pm

Funniest ping and subsequent banter ever!!!

FROM: Matt
DATE: Wednesday May 5, 2004 -- 6:32:02 pm

Holy Shat-
I always question what the rationale behind that stuff is. Why not just buy cologne or something?

FROM: Kate
DATE: Wednesday May 5, 2004 -- 7:43:19 pm

Goodness sakes! I would die if I accidentally got a just-deodorant! I sweat too much even when I'm using the heavy-duty stuff; if it didn't have anything, I would be ticked.

They should put it in a special section over by the perfumes or something, just so you know what's going on. Or else a convenient label like the one you mentioned. LOL

FROM: Cat [E-Mail]
DATE: Thursday May 6, 2004 -- 10:05:12 am

They all contain one of two anti-perspirant agents: Aluminum Zirconium Tetrachlorhydrex or Aluminum Chlorohydrate. As far as I know, there's no safe alternative--those who need one use dress shields.

I can't quote you an article off the top of my head, but my understanding is that most people, most of the time, simply do not need an anti-perspirant. If you do, that's cool, but certainly there should be options.

Heck, what do I know, I use a rock.

FROM: MollyCule
DATE: Thursday May 6, 2004 -- 6:53:31 pm

My understanding is that certain people believe that both Aluminum Zirconium Tetrachlorhydrex and Aluminum Chlorohydrate can somehow travel to the brain and cause Alzheimers. These are probably the same folks who also think that red dye #40 causes cancer and caffiene will make your breasts lumpy.

FROM: Cat [E-Mail]
DATE: Friday May 7, 2004 -- 10:31:46 am

I should have been clearer--I was answering Ryan's question about allergens. When I said those substances weren't safe, I just meant for folks like me, who are very allergic.

I think the hysterical link was breast cancer, but that's been disproven. We've been using anti-perspirant for decades. Looks pretty safe for the majority.

FROM: C. Jones
DATE: Thursday June 17, 2004 -- 2:37:21 pm

I happen to be one of those people who are allergic to anti-perspirants. Antiperspirants do exactly what it says it does. It STOPS sweat! Therefore, it actually clogs up my sweat glands in my armpits causing the sweatgland itself to swell up on the INSIDE of my armpit. This condition is VERY PAINFUL. I cannot move my arms when I'm in this condition. Sometimes it's sooooo painful, I have to go to the doctor to have the gland lanced. (very painful) I then have to have a cotton string inserted into the wound so that the gland will drain. It drains for days, weeks! Really nasty, slimy, SMELLY stuff oozes out. It smells like nasty corn chips, but stronger. Don't you dare say that non anti perspirants aren't needed. No, when I use non anti perspirants, I don't sweat like a bull like you complaining sweat hogs!

FROM: Bill
DATE: Thursday July 8, 2004 -- 1:20:39 pm

The studies are inconclusive, but studies of the brains of Alzheimers patients (after they're dead, of course) ALL show concentrations of aluminum. Now, how that aluminum got there is the question. Was it absorbed throught their armpits? Maybe. Maybe not. Is it better to not know your own name and be nice and dry, or be able to remember and have sweat stains on your shirt? You decide.

FROM: Monica
DATE: Thursday July 8, 2004 -- 4:22:49 pm

just some thoughts, to be fair, in response to Bill--aluminum can be leached out of the soil into water supplies as the soil becomes more acidic (from acid rain, for example)... that idea's substantiated.
Something I wonder, but haven't had time to look up, is how much aluminum there might be in the air. There's mecury pollution in the air for sure, so it's definitely possible that there might be aluminum.

FROM: Elisha
DATE: Saturday September 18, 2004 -- 1:36:07 pm

Sweating is not only temp control for the body, but it is also another way your body gets rid of waste products. I understand not wanting to stink, but why would anyone want to prevent that important process?

FROM: Joseph
DATE: Monday September 20, 2004 -- 5:07:19 pm

. . . but why would anyone want to prevent that important process?


Those who heard the Nixon/Kennedy debate thought Nixon one. Those who watched the debate, particularly Nixon's sweating, which made him seem dishonest, credited Kennedy with the win. Thus, it may be said that anti-perspirant is better than deoderant only if you're running for President.

For the average guy, the fact that expensive work dress shirts being flooded comes to mind as a good reason to prevent this important process. You also look like a sweating pig. Also, deoderant smells more the more you sweat. If you work in an office in close contact with other men in summer, sweaty guys who smell strongly of Brut 33 or Mennen are not preferable to dry guys who hardly put off an odor.

Lastly, anti-perspirant does not prevent perspiration for the entire body, and it only lasts so long. If you clogged every pore for more than a day you would get very ill. Just ask the girl who was painted gold for James Bond "Goldfinger" movie. She died of a toxic reaction within days of being painted because she couldn't sweat.

FROM: Salty
DATE: Monday November 29, 2004 -- 7:24:44 pm

It amazes me that it is legal for cosmetics to contain carcinogens that are harmful to our health. My grandmother doesn't understand the huge increase in breast cancer. "It didn't used to be that way." Anyone who would rather not take the risk would benefit from a little research into the chemicals allowed in, not just in deodorant, but in all cosmetic products.

FROM: Rachel
DATE: Tuesday November 30, 2004 -- 6:39:07 pm

no one really answered the questions i had on how to make ur pits stop sweating!u just fought over stupid stuff! now whats the best way to make my pits stop sweating. i've tried everything under the sun the power stripe, adidas,secret,etc. what kind will make me stop sweating and make it so i won't smell! *please help me*

FROM: Joseph
DATE: Wednesday December 1, 2004 -- 1:12:19 pm

Rachel-

Cut your arms off.

FROM: jose yayaya
DATE: Tuesday January 4, 2005 -- 6:22:48 pm

To the original poster: Here's some quick info.

Many people have hyperhydrosis of the underarms. This means they sweat, ALOT, throughout the day, and there are only a few products that can help this, and they dont work for everyone.
So, for these people, they are going to sweat NO MATTER WHAT. I used to have this problem but it has sort of gone away. The sweating you for the most part get used to. The REAL pain in the ass, is that alot of your shirts get ruined, because of the white stains left in the armpits of the shirt.

LUCKILY....I found out that its only anti-perspirants that do this. I switched to a regular deod. and now NONE of my shirts get stained, no matter how much I sweat. Before I was ruining shirts left and right.

So, I am VERY thankful they have regular deod. still. Anti persp. can suck in situations like this.

FROM: Ken
DATE: Tuesday January 4, 2005 -- 8:10:27 pm

Wow cat, did u use hooked on phonics? one day u sucked at spelling then you could type out those chemicals! Axe is just a deoderant and they started making antipersperant, i think that this history teacher at my school made the same mistake as you, but he didnt notice yet, eww, i know.

FROM: Dea
DATE: Monday February 21, 2005 -- 9:13:59 am

I can't use anti-perspirants because they cause ugly yellow stains on nice white clothes that just won't come out with traditional laundry detergents. Also, I am alergic to the aluminum contained in them. Therefore, it's better for me to use just the deodorant. Lucky for me, I don't have a job where I'm sweating all that much.

FROM: Glen
DATE: Friday May 13, 2005 -- 12:33:19 pm

Hi, Just stumbled across this topic, and thought I'd add my 2c ... I'm also one of those who are allergic to anti-perspirants - although thankfully not to the same degree as others here!

For me, using anti-perspirant causes a rash, which can be painful if rubbed (like, say, if you have your arms down by your sides ...). But it doesn't swell up, and certainly doesn't require lancing!

As for sweating - for me it's either no problem or a big problem! ;) In normal, everyday life, I really don't sweat, so it's a non-issue. But physical activity will make me sweat profusely (more so than most people) - and there it's hardly limited to the armpit, so using anti-perspirant wouldn't make much of a difference anyway.

One other point - if I wear a dress shirt by itself, my armpits will sweat. But if I wear a cotton t-shirt (a plain white one of course!) underneath, then they don't. I don't know if that's peculiar to me (allergic reaction to the fabric?), or if it might be a useful tip for others ...

FROM: Joseph
DATE: Friday May 13, 2005 -- 4:11:07 pm

Caffeine has never made my breasts lumpy, but someone may have a point about Alzheimer's. I use antiperspirant every day, and, apparently, on September 20, 2004, I didn't know how to spell deodorant.

Anyway, the stains in the shirt are caused by antiperspirant build up. You could do the same thing if you just put the antiperspirant onto your shirt directly. I wear t-shirts, which don't stay nice and white for long anyway, so I just throw them out after about two or three months--but they completely protect my dress shirts.

By the way, it's not the sweat that bothers me so much, it's the smell. But when you sweat as much as I do, deodorant just doesn't cut it--the sweat washes it away. Also, slimey armpits just don't feel good, so I demand to be dry.

By the way, my Grandfather's got Alzheimer's (so they think--Alzheimer's can't be diagnosed, it's a hypothesis that can only be proved by autopsy). But if he does have Alzheimer's it wasn't caused by aluminum contained in underarm products, since he never used any.

FROM: Andrew
DATE: Friday May 13, 2005 -- 7:11:49 pm

About the smell issues, using a drop or 2 of EO in your armpits without antiperspirant should take care of smells, unless you have a medical problem. Sandlewood is a good one to start off with.

Thanks for the info on the stains. That is VERY usefull to know it was caused by the product, not the sweat.

FROM: Heidi
DATE: Thursday June 2, 2005 -- 4:58:44 pm

If (as one person has commented) the link between breast cancer and antiperspirants has been disproven, why are college prof's still telling their students to stop using it? Also my cousins doctor, who is treating her for breast cancer, has advised her to only use deodorants. I have not made a decision one way or another about using antiperspirants and am trying to get as much info as possible. My mother-in-law was just diagnosed with Inflammatory Breast Cancer and has less than 6 months to live. She has no family history, is (was) very healthy and active. There has to be a cause out there and I want as much information as possible to make some educated opinions. Can anyone point me to some websites?

FROM: Mike
DATE: Thursday June 9, 2005 -- 2:21:25 pm

A buddy of mine recently developed a nasty staph infection under his arms that the doctor attributed to his use of anti-perspirants. He now has to have plastic surgery because it started to eat away his flesh!!
I've never had any problems using
anti-perpirants, but after seeing this,
I am having second thoughts.

FROM: Ryan [E-Mail]
DATE: Thursday June 9, 2005 -- 2:51:15 pm

Ever since this Ping, I've been thinking about the same issues... does anyone have any experience with safer, natural anti-perspirants? I've never found any on store shelves...

FROM: Ally
DATE: Friday June 10, 2005 -- 12:46:37 am

I have a sweat problem. It just poors. It happens the most when I am not even excercising. It doesn't smell bad though. What should I do and what anti-perspirant would work the best?? ??

FROM: Jennifer
DATE: Thursday July 21, 2005 -- 6:28:43 pm

thanks for all the info but how do you get the stains out from white shirts without using store bought products - natural only.

FROM: Lionel Martin
DATE: Friday August 26, 2005 -- 8:37:09 am

With two large lymphatic ducts in the upper right and left thorax area- it is known that the body purges it's toxins through some these pathways. Sweat is the#1 way that we get rid of these toxins! Not only that but aluminum has been assoc. w/Alzheimers and that is the major ingrediant for anti-persparant. Many chemicals have also been tied up in discussions about cancer.

FROM: Aaron [E-Mail]
DATE: Saturday August 27, 2005 -- 3:11:41 am

Eureka -- I found it.

I recently was in a situation where I could use deodorant without the antiperspirant component. I was vacationing in Greece and Turkey and it was hot. In Turkey it was particularly hot, nearly 100 degrees F.

I was doing a lot of walking, urban hiking around town to see the varous sights. Since it was so hot and I was outside, I was sweating. Since I carried at least 1 liter of bottled water with me, the sweating was good as it kept me cool (its intended purpose).

In this situation a little deodorant would have been nice, but definitely *not* antiperspirant as I probably would have gotten heatstroke if I didn't sweat.

Of course as I was walking around sweating, this Ping came to mind.

FROM: tnboy
DATE: Friday September 30, 2005 -- 11:15:54 pm

Haha, this post is great. We should start a Sweaters (not be confused with those things that your grandmother buys you) Anonymous. If it make y'all feel any better, I sweat like a madman, and it smells so bad! I mean, you can't even begin to imagine. And I use a deodorant/antiperspirant combo. Every night when I come in, my roomate is always complaining about it. I used to get really upset, but now I pedal my bike as hard as I can on the way home just to see if I can reach a new level of grossness for her. But I digress.

You people crack me up with your Alzheimer and breast cancer being related to the use of antiperspirant. Forget all the other causes of breast cancer and Alzheimer, blame it on the antiperspirant!!

(I'm going to start listing other possible causes of breast cancer and alzheimers, genetic heritability, poor nutrition, lack of exercise, passive activities(physical and mental), exposure to carcinogens (which include some hydrocarbons such as the ones coming from your cars or grill), exposure to increased levels of metals (including aluminum) in food, water, and air supplies, do I really need to keep going??)

Probably the one thing that you need to do is start exercising more, this will decrease the amount of sweating during the course of the day. The more out of shape that you are, the less efficient your body is at using energy. And when you burn energy less efficiently, you produce more heat, which is offset by more sweating.

And if you are still really sweaty, you can get some job at a sweat fetish website or something.

FROM: Jim
DATE: Monday October 24, 2005 -- 11:40:05 am

I'm one of those 'losers' as you discribed earlier, David. I was a lot like you up to the age of 41 and couldn't understand why people felt that way about fragrances. At 41 I was over expose to pesticides and now any fragrance makes my throat close and will give me extraordinary headaches, body aches, and have trouble thinking. The problem is not just the fragrance of the products but the chemicals that they add to make it do what it's supposed to. I have found a website that carries organic products. www.needs.com. All cleaning products and personal grooming come from this kind of business, or a store like Whole Foods. If you want to get information on chemical sensitivities which is what us 'losers' have, go to www.ciin.org. There is loads of information. Even more with there newsletter. Knowledge is power, and no one is going to feed it to you, so its worth checking out.

FROM: Chelle
DATE: Tuesday November 8, 2005 -- 10:03:53 pm

Okay, people. For the chick who has the wet pits, go to a dermatologist and get a perscription anti-perspirant. Until you can get your paws (which I am sure a sweaty, too) on that perscription, you can go to Wal-Mart and buy something called Certain Dri. It has no scent and is the closest thing to medical anti-perspirant out there. You can get it at most drug stores too. Good luck on the whole accidental wet t-shirt thing...

Also, my doctor says that if you choose to use anti-perspirant, you need to know that you are blocking your body from releasing toxins in that area. Where are they deposited, you ask? Into your lymph nodes under your arms. That is why they say it leads to BREAST CANCER. Be careful........

FROM: Not a Hippy Loser Like C Jones
DATE: Thursday February 2, 2006 -- 6:12:12 am

I know no one is probably reading this anymore and I'm several months late on this thread, but people who don't use antiperspirants are smelly yucky losers. Just because you've become accustomed to your own smell doesn't mean the rest of us think it is pleasant.

People who are allergic to antiperspirants are most likely hypochondriac or as someone said early in the thread "losers".

People who don't use antiperspirants because they think it will cause cancer or Alzheimer's should read what the Alzheimer's Association http://www.alz.org/AboutAD/Myths.asp and the American Cancer Society http://www.cancer.org/docroot/NWS/content/NWS_3_1x_Antiperspirant_Use_Does_Not_Increase_Risk_Of_Breast_Cancer.asp have to say on the topic.

It's my experience that most smelly people are either too lazy to care, don't know any better because of poor upbringing, or they are new age hippies trying to save the world. If you are lazy or don't know any better then I don't think I can help you. But if you are trying to save the world by being smelly I have a new cause for you to fight for. Save my lunch. Because some of you people smell so bad I might vomit.

FROM: Jen
DATE: Sunday February 12, 2006 -- 9:57:26 am

If you are looking for an alternative to anti-perspirant, whether because of Altzheimers or not, Adidas came out with an absorbent deodorant, for women at least, that does not contain aluminum. It has a patented "cotton tech" to absorb and evaporate wetness naturally. Check it out if you are interested, I bought mine at Wal-mart.

FROM: dumbfounded by all ur stupidity
DATE: Monday March 20, 2006 -- 3:30:14 pm

u are all extremely dense!!
get an education before you make bigger idiots of yourselves!!
there are many perfectly normal reasons not to use an antipersperant.

FROM: Ryan [E-Mail]
DATE: Monday March 20, 2006 -- 3:55:57 pm

And thanks for listing all of those reasons, plonkhead!

FROM: Rahbee
DATE: Thursday May 4, 2006 -- 2:58:33 am

Yeah. I don't give a crap about deoderant. I sweat alot.. but it doesn't stink. I'm 26 years old and I'm trying to keep up with the styles of todays youth. However.. this involves tight vintage t-shirts. I cannot seem to stop sweating no matter what I wear. Loose clothing causes drippage and tight clothing causes pit stains. I just want to be cool!

I fear I may be a bit too anxious.

Either way, I can't find an antiperspirant that works to save my (social) life. I've resorted to stuffing kleenex in my pits. Someone please.. tell me the best non-prescription antiperspirant before I go nuts and sweat on someone famous. I've tried Degree, Secret (shhhh), Axe antiperspirant, and a couple others. Feedback? Yes please.

FROM: C.
DATE: Monday May 22, 2006 -- 10:58:44 am

I have heard, not to scare anyone, that as much as we do not want to sweat, that the aluminums are not good for the skin, and they block the sweat in, which is thought by some to possibly be partly responsible for certain types of cancers. Also, it is healthier to let out the sweat they say, because of bacteria that gets released. That is why I know they make it that way. There is information on this at:
http://www.answerbag.com/q_view.php/27438

Take Care!

FROM: C.
DATE: Monday May 22, 2006 -- 11:01:23 am

But...there is no definite that I have heard of that it does cause cancer. I wanted to make sure I put that here. Some people have concerns it might is what I was saying, and so now some people buy deodorant minus the antiperspirant. All my best to everyone!

FROM: andy
DATE: Friday June 2, 2006 -- 10:01:54 am

ha ha ha ha cant stop the sweat!

FROM: Tasha
DATE: Wednesday June 14, 2006 -- 8:42:54 pm

Hey everybody I am only 15 years old and I have this problem. I really need help. Anyone please! I don't know anyone with this problem.

FROM: nic
DATE: Friday June 16, 2006 -- 3:16:00 pm

Tasha,

I also sweat a lot, use certain-dri, it works great. But make sure you put it on RIGHT before you go to sleep. The stuff closes your pores and itches like there's no tomorrow!