natural antiperspirant?

[luckygreen713]

I'm wondering if anyone knows of a natural or non-harmful antiperspirant. My armpits sweat a lot. A LOT!! I have hyperhydrosis. It's embarassing because it makes huge wet circles on my shirt, it can be very uncomfortable too. Anyway, I've tried lots of things- I had a prescription for Drysol but it irritated my armpits so bad that skin peeled off. It was horrible, and still sweaty. So, recently, I very hesitantly tried Dove Clinical Strength. It works. It keeps me totally dry. I love it but I'm afraid it's not the best for my body, you know? I'm not worried about whether or not it's a deodorant, because I don't really stink, I just need wetness protection. Is there anything else out there that is safe and effective?

[amber913]

Have you tried asking you doctor for a different prescription?

[MeyersDVM]

I used to have similar issues. I was looking for a greener solution and decided to try alcohol with a EOs added. I sweat at least 75 % less now. I think my sweat glands were on overdrive before and now that I allow my body to sweat as designed the vicious cycle is ended
I clean my armpits well in the shower and then spray alcohol with a few drops of clove EO to kill any remaining bacteria (these are what cause stinkies). I live and work in a hot, humid climate and most days this lasts until night. Occasionally I will reapply late in the day.
I finally convinced DH to try a non-aluminum deodorant (Tom's of Maine) and he is pleasantly surprised that he doesn't really need an antiperspirant at all.

You may need a period of acclimation, but try skipping the AP- you may be surprised, too!

[anniegirl]

I agree with the pp, have you tried not using antiperspirant for a while to see what happens?

I discovered about 10 or so years ago that antiperspirant makes me sweat more. I had started using drysol too in an attempt to curb my sweating. Oddly, it was only on one side for me though. I hated it! It was so embarrassing to have a huge sweat circle under one of my pits.

Anyway, I still get sweaty, but not unreasonably so (like when it's really hot and humid or when I'm exercising etc.). I do sweat when I'm nervous too, but luckily that's not too often.

Maybe the same is true of you too? If not, I've heard of people getting botox shots to stop excessive sweating and even surgery to remove the extra sweat glands. That sounds extreme, but IMO probably less harmful than coating your pits in aluminum for years (aluminum is more readily absorbed through the skin than the digestive tract, so I've read).

Good luck

[tanyam926]

Doesn't the alcohol make your armpits feel like they're on fire after you shave? Sounds like punishment to me (JK...well, not really...YKWIM).

I am more sweaty than usual this summer and I have tried nat deoderant and the crystal (I thought the crystal worked well at first but not after a couple of wks, I think someone mentioned the spray one IIRC that I need to try).

I really want to get rid of my aluminum antiperspirant but don't want to be sweaty and stinky.

[MeyersDVM]

Originally Posted by tanyam926

Doesn't the alcohol make your armpits feel like they're on fire after you shave? Sounds like punishment to me (JK...well, not really...YKWIM).

Ya know I was worried about that, too. It has only burned a very few times and that was when I gave myself pretty good razor burn by being too lazy to grab a new blade : Amazingly enough it doesn't sting at all normally and I have very sensitive skin.
Another recommendation would be to try the Aubrey E plus High C roll on. DH likes that better than the Tom's and the ingredient list is much better!

[es1967]

Originally Posted by MeyersDVM

Ya know I was worried about that, too. It has only burned a very few times and that was when I gave myself pretty good razor burn by being too lazy to grab a new blade : Amazingly enough it doesn't sting at all normally and I have very sensitive skin.
Another recommendation would be to try the Aubrey E plus High C roll on. DH likes that better than the Tom's and the ingredient list is much better!

how much alcohol do you use?

[russianthistle]

your body is designed to perspire. i don't believe there is such a thing as NATURAL antiperspirant.

[Sileree]

Witch hazel works for sweat and smell for me.

[luckygreen713]

Thanks for your replies everyone! I think I'm going to try going without an antiperspirant for a while to let my body flush out what I normally put on my arm pits everyday. Maybe my sweat glands are going crazy because of all the crap on my skin! I'll try the alcohol approach. I'd like to add an EO, but I really can't buy any right now. I already have some tea tree, tangerine, and bergamot EO. Would tea tree EO work?

[russianthistle]

Upon the recommendation of another mama on here, I started using the Weleda deodorant. It's a spray.

It is amazing. It works better than anything I've tried, even on my man (who smells bad from workin' hard ).

It has the alcohol in it...and is totally natural (only essential oils and alcohol).
I am amazed with this stuff!!!

[shanniesue2]

I'm naturally pretty sweaty as well... gosh I remember in high school there were times where I could literally feel it dripping down my side (TMI, sorry). Anyway, after I got pregnant, I started reading more about natural body care, eating healthfully and all that. I switched to crystal rock deo. And at first it worked, but I would still end up kind of stinky by about halfway through the day. Then I started getting lazy and not putting anything on... but the amazing thing was that I was sweating inordinate amounts and I wasn't stinky... I couldn't really figure out why... until recently. I've noticed that I'm starting to stink again... and I'm noticing that it seems to be coinciding with getting lazy about eating healthy. It seems like lately, I've been more inclined to make excuses about what I'm eating... so I've been leaning more toward junky stuff (although still more healthy than what your average USA citizen is eating these days). So I'm wondering if I get back in gear with eating lots of fruits and veggies, staying properly hydrated, eating good whole grains, and good sources of protein... I'm wondering if that will help me get back to my low sweat/low stink state of being????

[es1967]

Originally Posted by russianthistle

Upon the recommendation of another mama on here, I started using the Weleda deodorant. It's a spray.

It is amazing. It works better than anything I've tried, even on my man (who smells bad from workin' hard ).

It has the alcohol in it...and is totally natural (only essential oils and alcohol).
I am amazed with this stuff!!!

Today I decided to try to make my own deodorant spray. I made a sm bottle and put in a little alcohol,lavender EO, coconut oil, baking soda and some water. I used a really tiny bottle just to give it a try. So far so good. The weleda thing got me thinking about making my own. I decided to add some CO and Baking soda cause I know they use them in the dry homemade versions. My only concern was I was not sure what type of alcohol they use in the weleda or skincare products?

[sugareemoma]

Today my dd dropped my crystal deodorant on the floor and it broke. I've only had it six months and I don't wan't to waste the 1/3 that didn't shatter. Is it safe to file down the rest of it to remove sharp shards and use it again? I try not to waste things but it's really jagged so I just used the side of it today... any advice?

[russianthistle]

Originally Posted by es1967

Today I decided to try to make my own deodorant spray. I made a sm bottle and put in a little alcohol,lavender EO, coconut oil, baking soda and some water. I used a really tiny bottle just to give it a try. So far so good. The weleda thing got me thinking about making my own. I decided to add some CO and Baking soda cause I know they use them in the dry homemade versions. My only concern was I was not sure what type of alcohol they use in the weleda or skincare products?

I don't know what kind of alcohol, but I'd bet it's not rubbing.

I just checked it out...
it's ethanol.

[His Own]

For several weeks now I have been using plain old (generic) Milk of Magnesia as deodorant, and I am delighted to report that it is working perfectly. We've had weather in the 90's, and I have had normal stress, but no odor whatsoever!

To use, you just shake it up, upend the bottle against your palm, then tip the bottle back to upright. Just that bit that stays on your palm is enough for the underarm on the other side. Then do the other underarm the same way. It's cool and wet, but it dries faster than the crystal stone spray or roll-on that we had been using. It leaves a little whitish film, but I usually put cornstarch on anyway, so the white look is nothing new for me.

I'm happy that this is a natural substance that most of us need more of anyway, so whatever my body might absorb will be helpful, not scary! I'm delighted!

[outlier]

Originally Posted by sugareemoma

Today my dd dropped my crystal deodorant on the floor and it broke. I've only had it six months and I don't wan't to waste the 1/3 that didn't shatter. Is it safe to file down the rest of it to remove sharp shards and use it again? I try not to waste things but it's really jagged so I just used the side of it today... any advice?

My friend had the same thing happen to her. She suggested getting some fine grit sandpaper to file it down so it's smooth again. I use the roll-on kind (shaped like a cylinder with a rounded end), and when I broke mine, I pulled it out of its base, put it in backwards, and now use the flat end. It's slowly getting more rounded as I use it that way.

[Ruthla]

If the problem is embarrasing sweat stains, and not odor, than the many suggestions for natural deodorants aren't likely to help.

How about getting old-fashioned dress shields to absorb the sweat and keep it away from your clothes? I think my grandma used to wear those...