BODY HAIR, FACIAL HAIR, PERSPIRATION, SPOTS AND OTHER PUBERTY CHANGES: DEODORANTS AND ANTIPERSPIRANTS
If you are bothered by the odour or amount of your perspiration, you may want to use a deodorant and/or an antiperspirant. There are a number of these products on the market. They come in aerosol cans, non-aerosol sprays, sticks, creams, roll-ons – you name it.
Some are ‘un-scented’, and some have a scent added to cover up the smell of the product. Some are advertised as being ‘a man’s deodorant’, but there generally isn’t much difference between a so-called man’s deodorant and a woman’s deodorant.
Deodorants are aimed at covering up your body odour with the supposedly more pleasant odour of the deodorant. Antiperspirants also have a substance to dry up perspiration. The most effective antiperspirants have a substance called aluminium chlorohydrate. Some people think that the aluminium can soak through your skin and get into your bloodstream, and that this may be harmful. Other people disagree. You’ll have to decide for yourself whether you want to use this kind of product.
Whatever you decide, be sure to read the label. You may find that it is better not to put the deodorant or ‘antiperspirant on just after you come out of a hot bath or shower. If you perspire immediately afterwards, the deodorant/antiperspirant may just wash away. It might be better to let your body cool down a bit first.
With the way we’ve been going on about deodorants and perspiration here, you may be thinking, ‘Oh, I’d better run straight out and get some.’ Please remember, though, that body smells are natural and normal, and unless your odour or the amount of perspiration bothers you, it’s not really necessary to use anything.
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