What is deodorant ?
Deodorant, also briefly called deo, is a cosmetic product that counter is applied to the skin to sweat or to hide the smell of sweat.
Deodorant and antiperspirant
In most countries, the difference between deodorant and antiperspirant.
A deodorant is there a product that does not prevent sweating, but the odor from sweating and scalding in the armpit creates counteracts by changing this by preventing the formation of odor or by placing a stronger scent over.
An antiperspirant is an agent that prevents sweating, thereby there will be less sweat under the armpit which will also results in less odor.
Most deodorants are both obscure smell like sweat inhibiting.
Sweat smell
There are two types of sweat, perspiration which is caused by the eccrine sweat glands and sweat that is created by apocrine sweat glands. The sweat from eccrine sweat glands has little inherent odor, but sweat from apocrine sweat glands has a strong to very strong odor. Under the armpits are two types of sweat glands.
In addition, perspiration odor caused by bacteria, grease and other substances from the skin, sebum, and sweat convert in smelly components such as butyric acid, caproic acid, and mercaptans.
Action
Foul odor is prevented in three ways:
- Bacteria are inhibited in their growth so they can make fewer odors. For this purpose substances are used which make the skin very much acid, such as aluminum and zinc compounds. Bactericidal substances are also used as triclosan or alcohol.
- The fragrances are made harmless by allowing them to enter into a chemical compound. An example of a material with this property is zinkricinoleaat. Also, zinc oxide works this way, it goes to a compound with the fatty acids that cause a portion of the smell of sweat.
- The scent is masked by a strong pleasant fragrance. A perfume composition is used for this purpose.
Antiperspirants were previously controversial because they would clog the pores completely with chronic use, but the antiperspirants of today are generally safe to use every day. In extreme use strong antiperspirants is blockage of sweat ducts a few times. This is easily remedied by (temporarily) stop using deodorant.
Application forms
In the Netherlands, aerosols and rollers are used most by far, followed at a distance by sticks. Among the other application forms are creams, liquids, sticks, and alum. Also, there are forms of deodorant from which only "natural" ingredients exist, these contain alum and water.
History
In ancient Egypt, one alum mixed with water to hide the natural perspiration odor. This works as deodorant and anti-perspirant.
The ancient Romans also already using deodorant; a mixture of charcoal and goats. Charcoal has a (limited) ability to absorb substances, so that part of the fragrance is not to smell more good.
In the 19th century people used lime or potassium permanganate solutions. These substances antiseptic, so the bacteria present were slain.
In 1888, the United States first deodorant on the market, this deodorant (Mum) was based on zinc compounds. These have an antiperspirant effect to neutralize fatty acids and make harmless by this into a soap.
In 1906, the first anti-transpirants were used. These consisted of a solution of aluminum chloride. This is sometimes applied to a doctor's prescription. Although a very effective means it has a few drawbacks: the skin is very acidic, which is not good for the skin. Again, this sometimes attacked the holes in the clothing, with the acid, the substance airspace.
As a milder substitute was first elected to aluminum sulphate and alum, but was later transferred to aluminum chlorohydrate. Aluminum chlorohydrate causes considerably less irritation than the other conventional aluminum compounds, the pH is relatively high because it is late. For this reason, aluminum chlorohydrate is still the most common perspiration-reducing ingredient in deodorants.
In the 60s, the first deo-spray in a spray on the market.
Deodorant and breast cancer
Some scientists think there may be a link between the occurrence of breast cancer and the use of cosmetics among the poor, particularly use of deodorants.
One of the causes mentioned would shaving the underarms, whether or not in combination with the presence of aluminum compounds in deodorants. A study of 437 breast cancer patients showed that those who both shaved armpits as a deodorant use among the younger patients. Critics felt that this would in particular be because this suits the lifestyle of younger women. Due to the absence of a control group was not to determine whether the use of deodorant in women without breast cancer was different. In addition, no decision could therefore be made about whether or not carcinogenic deodorant.
What are recent studies by others Darbre This was done only research into the prevalence of parabens in breast cancer tissue. These parabens could enter the body through the armpit and cause breast cancer. Darbre found small amounts of parabens in the tissue, but in larger amounts than expected. Critics believed that Darbre flawed investigation did because in the control studies she conducted parabens were detected while they were not there. That means that if the analysis is wrong or that it contained laboratory equipment used parabens. The latter is not surprising, since liquid detergents are often preserved with parabens. Other criticisms included the fact that no healthy tissue was examined, there was found no link between cancer and parabens in previous studies and there is no reason why the parabens would end up specifically in breast tissue. Parabens are also technical reasons relatively little used in deodorants; because of the high acidity of a deodorant to be used before other preservatives.
Another study of 1606 women with breast cancer partly, partly no, not found any link between the use of deodorants in any way and prevent breast cancer.