Choosing a deodorant is already tricky, and having sensitive skin adds another layer of difficulty. Read on for our tips on choosing the best product for your pits.
There are a lot of different types of deodorants these days. It can stink to spend money on one just to find out later that it causes irritation, forcing you to toss it.
It’s common for anyone to experience deodorant irritation at some point, but those with sensitive skin have it way worse.
Deodorants and antiperspirants have a tough job. They are expected to keep us dry and odor-free without causing irritation. The problem is that some effective ingredients can come at the cost of irritating.
With all the formulations on the market, there’s sure to be something that will work for you. This guide will help you learn about ingredients to look out for and which ones to avoid if you’re a man with sensitive skin!
Underarm Sensitivity Signs
Here are some common signs that your deodorant is causing irritation:
- Redness
- Itchiness
- Soreness
- Bumps
- Rashes
If you experience these symptoms after using traditional deodorants, you might have sensitive underarms.
Why Can Deodorant Cause Sensitivity?
Deodorants have a wide range of ingredients, and they also come with varying potencies of these ingredients. Unfortunately, you won’t know if your body responds poorly to a specific formulation until you try it out for yourself.
Here are three reasons why deodorant causes sensitivity:
1. Underarm Skin Is Sensitive
Our underarm skin is one of the most sensitive areas of the body. This is why most people can’t stand to have their underarms tickled. This response is partially due to the underarms housing lots of lymph nodes and nerves.
The skin there is also thinner, moist, and susceptible to bacteria growth. Our underarms are also pretty much never exposed to sunlight – and sun exposure makes skin tougher. Friction and rubbing from clothing can also cause sensitivity.
2. Use of Irritating Ingredients
Deodorants contain metals and other ingredients that are effective at keeping odor at bay and keeping you dry but might not be suitable for sensitive skin.
3. Skin Conditions
There’s a difference between having a deodorant flat out just not working for you and having a full-blown allergic reaction. If you suspect you have sensitive skin, you should be aware of these types of allergic reactions:
- Dermatitis and armpit acne
- Allergic contact dermatitis
- Irritant contact dermatitis
If you suspect you might have one or more of these skin conditions, it’s worth paying a visit to your dermatologist.
Ingredients To Avoid for Sensitive Skin
Here are a few common ingredients to watch out for:
Alcohol
Alcohol is still found in some deodorants (mostly aerosols and roll-ons) and can cause clogged pores, dryness, stinging, and redness. Alcohol is used in formulas due to its quick-dry nature, but sensitive skin folks should stay away from it.
Parabens
Parabens are mainly used as preservatives and often get a bad reputation in regard to health concerns (even though the FDA has no evidence of this). Parabens do cause irritation, but this doesn’t make them necessarily unhealthy.
Still, it’s best for those with truly sensitive skin to avoid it.
Baking Soda
Baking soda is acidic and can cause armpit rashes due to its alkaline nature. It raises the PH balance of the skin, and this is what causes the symptoms such as redness, itchiness, and dryness. Baking soda also can be weak in terms of sweat protection since it is water soluble.
Once you sweat once for the day, the baking soda is often dissolved away. It’s best to stay away from this abrasive ingredient if your skin is on the sensitive side.
Aluminum
Aluminum is a controversial ingredient in general. Similarly to parabens, aluminum is simply an ingredient that can cause irritation. The fact that it is irritating isn’t necessarily tied to any overall health concerns.
Aluminum is most widely used as an active ingredient in antiperspirant deodorant because it plugs sweat ducts. However, aluminum is not present in most deodorants.
Ingredients Safe for Sensitive Skin
Instead,look for these ingredients:
Aloe Vera
This non-irritating natural compound helps to reduce inflammation and is good for sensitive and acne-prone skin.
Shea Butter
Shea butter is incredibly moisturizing and soothing, so it’s a great match for sensitive skin. (It can be especially helpful if your skin is both sensitive and dry).
Vitamin E
This powerful antioxidant hydrates and strengthens the skin. Like most ingredients, however, vitamin E may cause a reaction, so make sure to do a patch test to see how your skin reacts.
Tapioca Starch
Tapioca starch is a non-toxic and non-comedogenic compound that leaves the skin feeling soft and smooth.
Should You Avoid All Fragrances?
In general, yes, but it isn’t so cut and dry. Sensitive skin can become irritated and inflamed if a scented product is applied, but this isn’t always the case. To make things even more complicated, fragrance is an allergen, which is another reason you might experience a negative reaction to it.
One way to safely determine your sensitivity level to any given ingredient, formula, or product is to perform a patch test by applying a small amount of product to your skin.
Ideally, you should have a dermatologist perform this test, but you can also do it at home — just be careful and keep an eye on your pits!
Deodorant or Antiperspirant?
Deodorants and antiperspirants are sometimes used interchangeably, even though they are quite different. Both can be suitable for sensitive skin depending on the ingredients and your level of sensitivity. It’s important to know the difference so you’ll know what to expect from choosing either one.
In short, deodorants prevent odor, while antiperspirants prevent sweating. This is why most antiperspirants contain aluminum, but most deodorants don’t. Read our guide to natural deodorants for more information about the differences between these two.
Natural Deodorants
A natural deodorant sounds great, but it doesn’t mean you’ll be free from all possible side effects. They can actually pose more of a risk for sensitive skin, which might not be what you’d first think.
Best Antiperspirant Deodorant for Sensitive Skin
If it’s a necessity for your deodorant to keep you feeling dry and provide sweat protection, you’ll need an actual antiperspirant. Thankfully, there are two key ingredients you can look for to reduce the chance of irritation.
1. Aluminum sesquichlorohydrate
This ingredient is a gentler form of aluminum that is safer for sensitive skin.
2. Aluminum zirconium trichlorohydrex
This is also great for sensitive skin since it produces less hydrochloric acid, which can cause adverse reactions.
Best Men’s Deodorant for Sensitive Skin (Without Aluminum)
Since most deodorants are aluminum-free, you generally don’t need to worry about that ingredient.
However, you do want to keep an eye out for some of the safe ingredients listed above.
I personally like Hume Supernatural Fragrance-Free Deodorant.
Here is our review of some of Hume’s other products.
The Best Men’s Deodorant for Sensitive Skin
Now that you know why it’s important to choose the right deodorant for sensitive skin, here are my top choices.
Native
The Native brand is really looking out for those with sensitive skin. It has a dedicated, sensitive line that includes a range of scents. The sensitive line is free from aluminum, phthalates, baking soda, and talc. (However, Native’s normal range does include these ingredients).
Feel free to try one of the scents that appeal to you, but to stay on the safe side, go with the unscented version.
The formula features shea butter, coconut oil, and tapioca starch as alternatives to traditional ingredients.
Baxter of California
Baxter of California’s products are much more luxurious than their prices would suggest, and this deodorant is no exception.
This gel formula features tea tree oil and witch hazel extracts and is suitable for sensitive skin. (That said, this deodorant is scented, so you might want to do a patch test first).
Salt & Stone
Salt & Stone’s Natural Deodorant Gel is a gentle option that’s formulated without baking soda. Instead, it uses aloe leaf and hyaluronic acid to hydrate the skin and lock in that moisture — while keeping you smelling fresh, of course.
This is another deodorant that’s scented, so again, consider doing a patch test first. And if you don’t care for the bergamot and hinoki scent, there’s also a santal and vetiver option.
Blu Atlas Deodorant
This deodorant utilizes volcanic ash, which naturally absorbs excess oil.
The formula is also aluminum-free and uses horsetail extract to soothe the skin.
Deodorant for Sensitive Skin FAQ
Here are answers to some common questions about sensitive skin-safe deodorants:
What Ingredient in Deodorant Causes Irritation?
A few common ones are baking soda, parabens, fragrances, essential oils, and alcohol.
What Kind of Deodorant Is Best for Sensitive Skin?
Prioritize finding an aluminum-free deodorant that uses additional skin-soothing ingredients like horsetail extract and aloe vera.
What Deodorant Is Best for Extremely Sensitive Skin?
Even though some people with sensitive skin might be able to handle small amounts of some fragrances, unscented is the way to go if you have very sensitive skin!
Do you have sensitive skin? Have any tips to share? Let us know in the comments below!
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