How Does Anti-Perspirant Work?
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How an Anti-Perspirant Reduces Sweat
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Eccrine produces the most sweat in our bodies, including the underarms. In an attempt to reduce this sweating - which is the body's natural way of keeping itself cool, many people result to antiperspirants. Antiperspirants contain a main "active" ingredient which works to "control" excessive, or undesired sweating. The main "active" ingredient in all antiperspirants is aluminum based. This aluminum-based compound may consists of several different forms of aluminum such as Aluminum chlorohydrate, Aluminum chloride, Aluminum hydroxybromide or Aluminum zicronium tricholorohydrex glycine, in addition to many others.
The Sweat Blocking Effect of Anti-Perspirant
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When an antiperspirant is applied to the skin it prevents or blocks sweat from reaching the surface of the skin, thus reducing undesired "sweat-outbreaks." Many people use deodorant wishing to reduce sweat, but deodorant does just what its name implies it 'deodorizes' and sets boundaries for the odor-causing bacteria and therefore minimizing odors.
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How Anti-Perspirant Closes the Sweat Ducts
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The aluminum ions (main "active" ingredient) in antiperspirants send a message to the cells indicating that the swelling process is about to begin. When sweat begins it natural process of traveling from the sweat ducts to the skin, it runs into the protective layer of antiperspirant. The sweat then has no place to go, so it takes the antiperspirant elements into the pores and causes the cells to begin swelling. Once the cells are swollen the sweat duct are constricted and clutched shut.
Final Word on Antiperspirants
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In addition to the usual form of antiperspirants (e.g. sprays, roll-on and others), some tend to favor antiperspirant powders such as Diphemanil methylsulfate to reduce sweating. Some people not only use antiperspirants on their underarm, but also on their feet, faces and other parts of the body that are prone to excess or undesired sweating. However, check with your dermatologist before applying to other parts of the body. Antiperspirants should not be applied to the genitals, eyes, mouth, nose and other parts containing mucus membranes. Also, people with sensitive skin, eczema, allergies and other susceptibilities may have an unfavorable reaction to certain antiperspirants, so be sure to consult a professional before using.
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