I thought it was a deodorant… but it was a medicine you shouldn't apply every day? [Food and Drug Administration Instructions]

I tend to sweat a lot too, so...

Even if you do just a little bit of strenuous exercise and walk a little in the summer...

My underarm sweat is no joke... ㅠ_ㅠ

So I bought deodorant and apply it every summer...

I shouldn't have just bought and applied this either...

To think it might have been a hyperhidrosis inhibitor that shouldn't be applied every day, rather than a deodorant...

Fortunately, the product I have is indeed a deodorant, but,

You really shouldn't just buy anything, and just because you got a prescription doesn't mean you should keep using it...

I should really know what I'm writing about....

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Deodorant developed in the U.S. to eliminate sweat odor
It also features sweat-inhibiting capabilities thanks to its aluminum content.
It must be distinguished from hyperhidrosis treatments that block sweat release.
Side effects of rash and itching when used daily without knowledge

Editor's Note

 

Is there anything more important than eating happily and staying healthy? Food and medicine are inseparable from our lives, yet there are many aspects we often overlook. Check out this seemingly minor but essential information about food and medicine here.

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Once the rainy season ends, the sweltering heat and high humidity cause you to sweat profusely, and sweat-soaked clothes do not dry easily. At times like these, there is one product that comes to mind: deodorant. Some of you may apply it meticulously every day, believing it will reduce sweating and eliminate unpleasant odors. However, the product you are applying might not be deodorant at all, but rather a 'medicine' that you should not use daily. Let me explain this along with the history of deodorant.

 

A deodorant that eliminates only the smell of sweat, not the sweat itself

The first deodorants were developed to eliminate the odor from the armpits, rather than the sweat itself. Unlike general sweat glands called 'eccrine glands,' special sweat glands called 'apocrine glands' are located in body parts such as the armpits and groin. Apocrine glands secrete sweat containing fatty acids, and bacteria on the skin's surface break down these fatty acids, causing an unpleasant sweat odor.

In the United States, in 1888, the first deodorant to eliminate sweat odor, 'Mumm', utilized this principle in reverse. Mum It was released. It used zinc oxide to kill bacteria that cause odors and added fragrances to produce a pleasant scent. Although products released afterward added antibacterial substances such as triclosan, deodorants, then and now, do not have the function of suppressing sweat secretion itself.

Products designed to prevent sweating were first introduced to the market in the United States in 1903 as a "treatment for hyperhidrosis." The key ingredient is aluminum chloride hydrate; the principle behind this is that it forms a barrier over sweat glands, such as the eccrine and apocrine glands mentioned earlier, thereby inhibiting sweat release. Unlike deodorants primarily used on the armpits, it can be used anywhere that sweats heavily, such as the hands or feet.

 

A single advertising slogan creates a deodorant sensation

Although 90% of Americans now use deodorant, it did not become popular immediately upon its release. People found the smell of sweat unpleasant, but they did not feel the need to eliminate it completely. There were also many inconveniences, such as side effects like skin rashes and damage to clothing caused by the product.

The turning point was an advertisement slogan released in 1920. In that print ad, a woman states, "The most shameful moment of my life was when I accidentally found out why I wasn't popular with men." She meant that she was shunned by the opposite sex because of her underarm odor.

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Starting from this point, the deodorant market in the United States began to grow. According to an old New York Times article, the deodorant market increased 600-fold between 1942 and 1957, reaching a sales volume of $70 million. Products incorporating aluminum to inhibit sweating were also launched. Most deodorant products currently sold in Korea also contain aluminum, providing a function that reduces sweat secretion to some extent.

 

Hyperhidrosis treatment raises concerns about side effects such as erythema and rash if applied daily

Even in Korea, where deodorants were relatively unfamiliar, the number of users has recently been increasing. However, not all products on the market advertised as preventing sweating are actually deodorants. They could be the 'medicine' I mentioned earlier that needs to be distinguished from deodorants. These are treatments for hyperhidrosis.

Deodorants are classified as cosmetics and can be purchased at any supermarket or pharmacy, but hyperhidrosis treatments are over-the-counter drugs and can only be purchased at pharmacies. If you purchased a product with a name like '○○ Clo' at a pharmacy, it is a hyperhidrosis treatment, not a deodorant.

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There are also differences in usage. Deodorants should be applied to dry skin free of moisture or sweat. On the other hand, hyperhidrosis treatments are a bit more complex. You must apply the medication to your underarms after showering and thoroughly drying them before bed, and then wash off the applied area the next morning. This is because aluminum components remaining on the skin may cause discoloration if they come into contact with clothing.

The most important thing is that hyperhidrosis treatments should not be applied every day. Manufacturers recommend reducing the frequency of use to once or twice a week once sweat production appears to decrease after daily use. If you continue to use the product even after sweat production has decreased, side effects such as pain, itching, redness, rash, and burning sensations may occur.