Can Kids Use Antiperspirants?

My twin boys are rapidly approaching adolescence.  Moods are swinging, zits are erupting here-and-there, and oh, yes, BO is making its presence known.  Of course, my younger, sweatier son would be the first to need the Speed Stick.  Because in direct opposition to his brother’s love of the shower, he can turn on the water, physically get in the shower, and emerge with a perfectly dry head.  In other words, hygiene is even less on his radar than his brother’s.   Brushing his teeth is a small victory; getting him to use his “deodorant” is nearly impossible.  Fortunately, he is only starting to need it, so there is time to develop the habit.  Maybe.  Fingers are crossed.

I use “deodorant” in quotes as it is something of a misnomer, like we tend to call all facial tissues “Kleenex.”  The name is misleading:  it implies the actual removal of odor.  Plus there are “deodorants” that are just deodorants, which mask, or simply cover up, odor (they don’t eliminate it). But then there are “deodorants” that help prevent odor from happening in the first place.

So enter the antiperspirant.

“Antiperspirant” is something of an “A” word.  But before we get to that, here’s why a “deodorant” needs to be more than just a deodorant.

When sweat production starts to increase during the pubertal years, a distinctive odor comes with it.  That odor is caused when the (normal) bacteria on our skin have a feeding frenzy, breaking down the protein and fat in perspiration.  (My kids would probably call this smell “bacteria farts.”  You know, tween boys…)  A lavender- or “sporty-” scented deodorant helps “hide” the smell but is not going to really get rid of it.  Liken this to the smell of wet dog after you give him a bath with a perfumed shampoo:  things still smell kinda bad.

So for the best results it’s better to hit the odor problem at its source.  A “deodorant,” or scent, is perfectly fine, and certainly appealing to adolescents and adults alike.  But an antiperspirant (like include aluminum zirconium tri- or tetra-chlorohydrex) nails the problem at the source by reacting with the water in sweat to form a “plug” and blocking sweat ducts…limiting active perspiration.   Are antiperspirants completely effective 100% of the time?  No, most of us can attest to that fact.  But they do make a big difference in sweat and odor production.

Now we’ve all heard and been concerned about the link between aluminum in antiperspirants and breast cancer and also with Alzheimer’s and kidney disease, too.  So as my kids approach adolescence and the need for “deodorant,” I needed to reassure myself that they can safely use these products.  So here’s the long and short on what I found regarding those associations:

~breast cancer:  There is no good evidence to support that the aluminum in antiperspirants causes breast cancer.

~Alzheimers:  Apparently a 1960’s study showed an increase in the presence of aluminum in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients, but further studies could not reproduce these findings.

~kidney disease:  As antiperspirants are applied to a very small area of skin and also act locally in sweat ducts, a negligible amount of aluminum is absorbed into our bodies.  So there is no reason to believe this insignificant amount of aluminum can cause kidney failure, or even that antiperspirants should be avoided in people with kidney disease.

And then there is the trapped toxin theory:  If antiperspirants block sweat ducts, “toxins” in sweat can’t be released from our bodies.  But sweat is mostly water and electrolytes (not toxins) and we eliminate most “toxins”  by, well, peeing and pooping.

So in short, antiperspirants are safe to use…even in our kids.

So on that note, here’s some tips to help our kids use “deodorants” effectively (really, we should call them antiperspirant/deodorants but that’s a lot to say and write):

~Let your child choose the product they want.  It’s tempting to just hand over one of our spares (been there!) but do make that extra trip with your son or daughter.  Scent and packaging will be important to him or her (but who am I kidding…I adore my beautifully-labelled citrus-scent…), but as long as you are there to make the final “ok” give them the driver’s seat on this one.  If he likes it, he’ll use it.

~Be sure your child washes her armpits and towels off thoroughly before applying the product.  Even if she showers and applies “deodorant” before bed, have her reapply in the morning (washing beforehand with soap and water if needed).

~Make sure your child is applying his product correctly.  Tell him not to use it on broken skin.

~Keep a couple “deodorants” handy, so your child has one when he needs it:  one in the gym bag in addition to one at home.

What if your child has persistent odor, despite having a “deodorant” to use?  This can happen, especially at the height of pubertal change.  Some kids simply sweat more than others.  This may improve as they mature, and it may not.  Be sure to reinforce regular showers, and the correct use and application of his “deodorant.”  Sometimes a simple change of product helps and using a product with a higher percentage of antiperspirant (up to 20% active ingredient) can improve things considerably.  Applying the product before bedtime (if he isn’t already) as well as in the morning can help as well.

And if your child notices a rash under the arms after starting a “deodorant,” of course discontinue use.  Encourage especially good hygeine and consider an unscented product. If this doesn’t help, consult your child’s pediatrician.