They don't have to tell you what you should or shouldn't sweat about, but we are going to tell you: let your body sweat! We believe there are enough filters that we as people have to go through to be socially accepted. 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, nor less clean; it makes you Human.
Let it all sweat! The danger of using conventional antiperspirants
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 a part of daily skincare routines." It is not fair that prioritizing appearing "fine" means being overloaded with toxins on the inside that saturate your glands.
There is nothing more unhealthy or hypocritical than that. It has even been scientifically proven that "by completely blocking that gland, you run the risk of a paradoxical increase in sweat production in other areas" (Julie Russak).
And even though there are arguments from health professionals, such as “the quality of life of a person with excessive sweating is lower than what can result from using antiperspirant every day,” we are not going to fall into the trap. It is not normal for these types of thoughts to circulate among us.
That Shakespearean thought is abounding in people's minds and is leading us to keep buying cosmetic products that do nothing more than put a bandage soaked in toxins (thus poisoning you every day) on the wound of social "acceptance."
If you are wondering why we talk about deodorants and antiperspirants as something different, we recommend you read Deodorant or antiperspirant, which should I choose?
Why is it good to sweat? The importance of sweat
Sweating is just another part of our bodily function. It is a natural process with several functions, the most important being to keep the body temperature stable.
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 it evaporates on the skin, it absorbs heat, which helps cool the body and maintain a healthy internal temperature. Without sweat, it would be much harder for the body to cool down, increasing the risk of dizziness, fainting, or heatstroke.
In addition, the sweat glands produce dermcidin, a protein with antimicrobial action that forms part of the skin's natural defenses against certain microbes.
If you want to better understand how it works, we explain what sweat is, why it smells, and how it affects your skin.
What do we eliminate with sweat?
Sweat is, above all, water. The rest is mineral salts (such as sodium, chloride, and potassium), urea, lactic acid, ammonia, and small amounts of other substances. Thanks to the University of Pisa (Italy), more than 300 compounds have been found in human sweat.
Traces of some metals, alcohol, or environmental substances also come out with sweat, but in very small amounts: the organs that are actually responsible for detoxifying the body are the kidneys and the liver. Therefore, rather than "eliminating toxins," the great function of sweat is to cool you down and help keep your skin in balance.
We eliminate between 0.5 L and 1 L of sweat daily under normal conditions, but if the temperature rises, it can secrete even 1 L per hour, which is why it is necessary to hydrate constantly and replenish water and salts.
Health consequences of not sweating
We have told you the benefits of sweating, but eliminating this physiological process also entails various health harms 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 above.
- Immune system dysfunction: The accumulation of toxins can compromise immune system 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, autoimmune, arthritis, and respiratory disorders.
- Liver and kidney dysfunction: The liver and kidneys are important organs for detoxification and the elimination of harmful substances from the body. The accumulation of toxins can overload these organs and cause liver and kidney dysfunction. This can negatively affect the body's ability to eliminate toxins effectively, 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 swings, concentration difficulties, 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 worried about excessive perspiration or often look for information on diseases that cause body odor, you should know that in the vast majority of cases, it is simply an imbalance in daily habits or the skin's microbiota. Here are some recommendations:
- You are probably not aware that you sweat less at night, which makes it the best time of day to use deodorant. This way, a small plug will form in the glands, which enhances the effect.
- Change your diet; there is an important relationship between the foods you consume and your odor and sweating. Coffee, tea, alcohol, tobacco, or spicy foods produce hyperhidrosis, so it is recommended not to consume them if you are looking for a good deodorant effect. Sweat is odorless because it is composed of water, salts, and proteins, so if you consume a diet based on fiber, your sweat will likely be less aggressive.
- We won't get into the argument of whether body hair is hygienic or not, because everyone is free to decide what is best for themselves. In fact, there is no relationship between sweating or bad odor and having underarm hair. What we will put on the table is the importance of exfoliating the area, since the dead cells produced in the area are a feast for the bacteria that cause bad odor.
The importance of using aluminum-free deodorant (if you want to delve deeper, we tell you all the benefits of an aluminum-free deodorant):
- Use deodorants without toxins, aluminum, alcohol… If you want totally conscious and cruelty-free consumption, choose one of our organic solid deodorants like the SILVER BREEZE solid deodorant, for sensitive skin. Perfume-free, aluminum-free, alcohol-free, and baking soda-free, it stops odor for up to 48 hours.
- If you are looking for a different format, but with the same effectiveness, you can opt for our range of cream deodorants. With our SILVER SEA cream deodorant you have up to 48 hours without odor thanks to a formula that cares for the underarm microbiota, without aluminum or baking soda. And when it's finished, don't throw away the tin: with our cream deodorant refills you can fill it again and again.
If you are looking for a specific scent, you can find your best companion here!
Author: Nathalia Carrillo Jácome
