Are antiperspirants and deodorants the same?

Antiperspirants and deodorants are the main weapons of the patient suffering from hyperhidrosis. Hyperhidrosis, or excessive sweating disorder, creates sweat profusely on parts of the body. Even though sweat is in itself is without any smell, the over-production of sweat makes bacteria thrive in great numbers on skin which then starts giving out a foul smell. The person with hyperhidrosis is at the mercy of the antiperspirants and deodorants, which keep the skin, dry and help to prevent the growth of any bacteria. The antiperspirant and deodorant might confuse one but they share many differences between them.

Difference

The difference between these two is indeed there and it lies in their composition and the way they work to give relief from body odor and perspiration. Antiperspirants normally come in the common solution of aluminum cholride which chiefly works as the antiperspirant agent. The megadry antiperspirant contains this solution and other antiperspirants have in them a non-irritating mix of aluminum chlorohydrate, which are dry sol, Odaban, and Driclor. The commonly used antiperspirants contain the aluminum chloride in a lesser concentration but those who suffer from hyperhidrosis needs a high concentration for treating the excessive sweating disorder.  The general concentration of the solution has to be at least fifteen percent but it is recommended that it should have a higher concentration to treat effectively the excessive sweating condition. The antiperspirant thus has to use for a week and every night to show any positive effect. And then to maintain the effect the antiperspirant has to be used twice in a week. But the antiperspirant proves irritating to some users and they cannot use the spray for the condition. It is well to remember that the antiperspirant needs to be used over a long period of time to give any effect and the aluminum that is used is considered, as the poison for body and the prolonged use may prove fatal for the patient. Antiperspirants have fragrance and they work by blocking the pores of the skin. Deodorants work in a different way, any deodorant does not block the pores of the skin but it but prevents odor by fighting it with antiseptic agents, which kill odor-causing bacteria.

People use these products without looking into their chemical make up they only want instant relief from odor and sweat. In studies it has been found that the use of aluminum in antiperspirants possess potential health risks. While in deodorants there is parabens, which is also linked with health risks.