So the salt crystal deodorants are potassium alum, which has been used for thousands of years for various things. It’s a naturally occurring rock, and people found it has mild antiseptic properties and stop small cuts from bleeding. It’s a popular aftershave for that reason, commonly available for purchase as an “alum block”.
When used as a deodorant, what’s actually happening is you’re creating a salty layer on your skin that bacteria can’t form on. (No idea how that works out in practice, I use actual deodorant lol). And indeed it is used in many actual deodorants for that exact purpose
HOWEVER, and I want to mention this not because you said anything wrong but because I have found it to be a source of confusion for many people, it is not the same as the aluminum salts used in antiperspirants. Namely aluminum zirconium and aluminum chlorohydrate. Different chemicals. They function by blocking your pores so the sweat doesn’t release in the first place.
Many people are concerned, whether or not the concerns are founded, that the antiperspirant aluminums are mired in health risks such as cancer. The alum blocks are not wrapped up in that in any way, other than the fact that they are also used in (and used alone as) deodorant. It’s an interesting little piece of nuance that doesn’t come up much due to the relative non-popularity of the alum blocks
I tried switching to an alum block for those exact concerns. Didn’t work for me and made me actually smell worse than when I forget to put on antiperspirant. I think I’d rather risk cancer and not smell like a pair of used gym shorts.
Huh, interesting. I could have sworn that the “block of crystal” thing I had N years ago was an antiperspirant and not just a deodorant, but it’s been a while and I can barely remember what happened last week. I just remember that it was some aluminum salt or another, but thought it specifically wasn’t alum (which I still use for small nicks and cuts)
Good comments! I just want to add that in case any folks are concerned about the aluminum, it’s not present in most deodorants but rather only in antiperspirants.
This is correct. I use the potassium alum one and it’s fine. The people who say it doesn’t work either don’t know how to use it or are just too sweaty that they need antiperspirant instead. They are only effective for max 24 hours in a regular setting (not exercising or sweating heavily), but ideally re-apply after 12 hours. So they don’t last as long as regular deodorant or antidepressant. Just make sure to apply regularly, and wash your pits before putting it on if you’re not fresh out of the shower. I’ce ruined a lot of shirts because of antiperspirant, and now I don’t have a problem.
Unfortunately some people are simply just too sweaty that antiperspirant is necessary. Your stink level also depends on the chemical makeup of your sweat. For example, a lot of koreans don’t stink when they sweat, lucky bastards.
So the salt crystal deodorants are potassium alum, which has been used for thousands of years for various things. It’s a naturally occurring rock, and people found it has mild antiseptic properties and stop small cuts from bleeding. It’s a popular aftershave for that reason, commonly available for purchase as an “alum block”.
When used as a deodorant, what’s actually happening is you’re creating a salty layer on your skin that bacteria can’t form on. (No idea how that works out in practice, I use actual deodorant lol). And indeed it is used in many actual deodorants for that exact purpose
HOWEVER, and I want to mention this not because you said anything wrong but because I have found it to be a source of confusion for many people, it is not the same as the aluminum salts used in antiperspirants. Namely aluminum zirconium and aluminum chlorohydrate. Different chemicals. They function by blocking your pores so the sweat doesn’t release in the first place.
Many people are concerned, whether or not the concerns are founded, that the antiperspirant aluminums are mired in health risks such as cancer. The alum blocks are not wrapped up in that in any way, other than the fact that they are also used in (and used alone as) deodorant. It’s an interesting little piece of nuance that doesn’t come up much due to the relative non-popularity of the alum blocks
I tried switching to an alum block for those exact concerns. Didn’t work for me and made me actually smell worse than when I forget to put on antiperspirant. I think I’d rather risk cancer and not smell like a pair of used gym shorts.
Huh, interesting. I could have sworn that the “block of crystal” thing I had N years ago was an antiperspirant and not just a deodorant, but it’s been a while and I can barely remember what happened last week. I just remember that it was some aluminum salt or another, but thought it specifically wasn’t alum (which I still use for small nicks and cuts)
Good comments! I just want to add that in case any folks are concerned about the aluminum, it’s not present in most deodorants but rather only in antiperspirants.
Also I found this article about the whole subject which I found interesting: https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/blog/should-i-switch-to-aluminum-free-deodorant/
This is correct. I use the potassium alum one and it’s fine. The people who say it doesn’t work either don’t know how to use it or are just too sweaty that they need antiperspirant instead. They are only effective for max 24 hours in a regular setting (not exercising or sweating heavily), but ideally re-apply after 12 hours. So they don’t last as long as regular deodorant or antidepressant. Just make sure to apply regularly, and wash your pits before putting it on if you’re not fresh out of the shower. I’ce ruined a lot of shirts because of antiperspirant, and now I don’t have a problem.
Unfortunately some people are simply just too sweaty that antiperspirant is necessary. Your stink level also depends on the chemical makeup of your sweat. For example, a lot of koreans don’t stink when they sweat, lucky bastards.
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