They don't have to tell you what you should and shouldn't sweat, but we will tell you: let your body sweat! We believe that the filters people have to go through to be socially accepted are already enough. The desire not to sweat is just another regulation of our nature and the imposition of physical stereotypes that no one meets. Seriously, literally NO ONE. Sweating doesn't make you less attractive or less clean; it makes you Human.
Sweat it all out! The danger of using a conventional antiperspirant
Joshua Zeichner, professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York, confirms what we already suspected: "there is a stigma associated with wet clothes due to sweat, which has led antiperspirants to become part of daily skincare routines." It's not fair that it's a priority to appear "well" on the outside while being overloaded with toxins that saturate your glands on the inside.
There's nothing more unhealthy and hypocritical than that. It has even been scientifically proven that "by completely blocking that gland, there is a risk of a paradoxical increase in sweat production in other areas" (Julie Russak).
And even if there are arguments from health professionals, such as "a person's quality of life with excessive sweating is lower than what can result from using antiperspirant every day," we're not going to fall into that trap. It's not normal for these kinds of thoughts to circulate among us.
This Shakespearean thought is abundant in people's minds and is leading us to continue buying cosmetic products that only put a toxic-soaked band-aid (thus intoxicating you every day) on the wound of social "acceptance."
If you're wondering why we talk about deodorants and antiperspirants as distinct things, we recommend reading Deodorant or antiperspirant, which should I choose?
Why is sweating good? The importance of sweat
Sweating is another part of our body's functioning. It is a natural process that allows us to expel toxins that we otherwise couldn't. Thanks to the University of Pisa (Italy), more than 300 compounds have been found in human sweat, which is why this detoxification process is necessary.
It is through sweat that the body expels a variety of unwanted substances, including heavy metals, alcohol, excess salts, urea, and environmental chemicals. We are constantly exposed to a wide range of environmental pollutants, from industrial chemicals to air pollutants and toxins present in food; sweat can help protect against their accumulation in the body.
The accumulation of toxins in the body can have detrimental effects on health. In this way, thanks to the dermicidin protein produced by the sweat glands, our body gets rid of microbes, preventing the generation of chronic diseases, including heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.
Another important reason why we should sweat is to regulate body temperature. When our body performs an activity, due to hormonal factors or simply due to mere exposure to ambient temperature, the sweat glands are activated to produce sweat. When this evaporates through our pores (expending energy), it produces heat, which helps cool the body and maintain a healthy internal temperature. If sweat did not exist, it could have major consequences: fainting, heatstroke, or even death.
We eliminate between 0.5L and 1L of sweat daily under normal conditions, but if the temperature increases, even 1L per hour can be secreted, which is why constant hydration is necessary.
Health consequences of not sweating
We've told you about the benefits of sweating, but eliminating this physiological process also carries several health risks that are important to highlight:
- Cellular damage and oxidative stress: This occurs when there is an imbalance between antioxidants and free radicals in the body, which can damage cells and tissues and increase the risk of the diseases mentioned earlier.
- Immune system dysfunction: The accumulation of toxins can compromise the immune system's function, making the body more susceptible to infections and diseases.
- Chronic inflammation: Exposure to certain environmental pollutants can trigger a chronic inflammatory response in the body. Persistent inflammation can contribute to the development of a variety of chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases, autoimmune diseases, arthritis, and respiratory disorders.
- Liver and kidney dysfunction: The liver and kidneys are important organs for detoxifying and eliminating harmful substances from the body. The accumulation of toxins can overload these organs and lead to liver and kidney dysfunction. This can negatively affect the body's ability to effectively eliminate toxins, which in turn can lead to a cycle of toxin accumulation and organ damage.
- Neurological problems: Some toxins and environmental pollutants can cross the blood-brain barrier and affect the central nervous system. This can lead to a variety of neurological problems, such as cognitive impairment, developmental disorders, mood changes, difficulty concentrating, and sleep disorders.
- Impact on reproductive health: In both men and women, this can manifest as decreased sperm quality, menstrual cycle alterations, difficulty conceiving, complications during pregnancy, and abnormal fetal development.
Tips and recommendations for using deodorant if you have excessive sweating or strong odor
If you are concerned about excessive perspiration or tend to search for information about diseases that cause body odor, you should know that in the vast majority of cases, it is simply due to an imbalance in daily habits or the skin's microbiota. Here are some recommendations:
- You're probably not aware that you sweat less at night, which makes it the best time of day to use deodorant. This will form a small plug in the glands, which enhances the effect.
- Change your diet; there's a significant relationship between the foods you eat and your odor and perspiration. Coffee, tea, alcohol, tobacco, and spicy foods cause hyperhidrosis, so it's recommended not to consume them if you're looking for a good deodorant effect. Sweat is odorless because it's composed of water, salts, and proteins, so if you consume a fiber-based diet, your sweat will likely be less aggressive.
- We won't get into the discussion of whether body hair is hygienic or not, because everyone is free to decide what's best for themselves. In fact, there's no relationship between sweating or bad odor and having armpit hair. What we will put on the table is the importance of exfoliating the area, as the dead cells that accumulate there are a feast for the bacteria that cause bad odor.
The importance of using aluminum-free deodorant:
- Use deodorants free of toxins, aluminum, alcohol... If you want completely conscious and cruelty-free consumption, choose one of our ecological solid deodorants like SILVER BREEZE for sensitive skin. With an intelligent formula offering you 24 hours of efficacy and protection, leaving a delightful jasmine scent on your skin.
- If you're looking for it in another format but with the same efficacy, you can opt for our range of cream deodorants. With our ECO Sensitive Skin Cream Deodorant Silver Sea, you have 24 hours of guaranteed protection thanks to Dead Sea salts due to their purifying and antibacterial effect.
If you are looking for a specific scent, here you can find your best complement!
Author: Nathalia Carrillo Jácome
