Do You Still Use An Antiperspirant?

re: Do You Still Use An Antiperspirant?

noodle99 — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 21:47:50 GMT

Okay Dr. M. You know we love ya. But it still kills me (and others, clearly) to see you continue to offer this advise in particular. To prevent body odor throughout the day, you present this novel idea -- use soap and water on your underarms!

To be frank, this comes across as a stereotype of health-conscious people. When I first heard this advise from Dr. Mercola, my first thought was, "Really? You really think that we're all a bunch of 'hippies' who don't bathe properly?!" I mean, it was shocking to hear it suggested that we don't need to use deodorants because all we need to do is simply wash our underarms -- do you really think that we don't do that already?

Truthfully, Dr. Mercola probably does not require a deodorant because of his dietary standards, to which he adheres impeccably, I'm sure. And there are many others who can avoid body odor by keeping a strict organic and mostly raw diet. However, for most of us, we are trying our best. We do avoid unhealthy and processed foods. But for us, it is either impractical or difficult to afford a diet which is 100% healthy, to Mercola standards. Not that there is ANYTHING wrong with those standards -- what Dr. Mercola recommends is absolutely to your health's greatest benefit -- it is just difficult to meet 100% of the time.

Which brings me to my recommendation -- Alvera deodorant! This is far and away the best natural deodorant I have tried. The only place I could find it, however was VitaCost online (which is fine by me since I order lots of natural products from them for much cheaper than retail). I have tried a baking soda solution, but this is much better.

A side note I wanted to mention: Is anyone else aware (and thus completely appalled to see) that the EWG's Skin Deep site has rated antiperspirants with aluminum (such as Soft & Dri) at a ZERO (the best rating for safety)?! Why do they not recognize aluminum as toxic? Such a shame since it makes me doubt the rest of their research.

re: Do You Still Use An Antiperspirant?

filthydani — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 04:08:44 GMT

I use lemon oil, but still it doesn't last for the whole day, that's why i decided to use it 3 times through the day, and it smells so nice

re: Do You Still Use An Antiperspirant?

HealthNmore1 — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 21:45:18 GMT

PART 1

I could not post this in it's entirety, (too wordy) part 2 is added

First off, I would just like to say that I am a big fan of Dr. M. and have been receiving his newsletters and following his advice for years, but I gotta tell you doc, once in a great while I have to disagree. The truth is, for most of us soap and water do NOT work just fine. I have read your opinion on this deodorant topic in several newsletters, and this time I couldn't contain myself and had to respond.

I a flight attn based in the south, and if I didn't use deodorant after my morning shower (how do I say this nicely?) I would stink before noon... In fact, if I didn't use an antiperspirant after my morning shower, my uniform would have huge wet circles under the arms. So before everyone gives me a "thumbs down" I would like to ask you, is this the kind of flight attendant you would like to see serving you? Would you think to yourself, 'now there's a healthy woman...'? Furthermore, can you imagine an airplane with 150+ passengers in the summer without any under arm protection? I even avoid certain European destinations because... well... the passengers stink, and apparently they do bathe. What a trade-off, either way the quality of your life stinks...

re: Do You Still Use An Antiperspirant?

HealthNmore1 — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 21:44:10 GMT

PART 2

see part 1

Bottom line is, smelly, wet armpits are repulsive in our culture, and certainly in my line of work. Perhaps if a person, washed their armpits every hour, this protocol would work, but who has the time for that? You know, my dad believed as you do, he bathed and used soap and water every single day. It didn't work. My mom and I BEGGED him to reconsider, but he refused, consequently we (and most people) did not enjoy being around him. Also, my dad did not live a long healthy life, he died at 62 with many other maladies aside from body odor.

Needless to say, I am puzzled as to why soap and water seems to work for you Dr. M. Perhaps it's your squeaky clean diet? In any case, you would become a world renown hero, not to mention stinking rich (pun intended) if you and a few chemists could come up with a non-toxic, antiperspirant, so we could all live on the planet, in peace, together.

re: Do You Still Use An Antiperspirant?

SmtmsAlwys — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 14:00:45 GMT

I have tried using the deodorants instead of the antiperspirants but they don't stop the smell! I have tried many different kinds, many of which break me out, and have been unsuccessful at finding anything effective. It's frustrating!

re: Do You Still Use An Antiperspirant?

ejt — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 15:05:31 GMT

PLEASE PEOPLE LISTEN!: I don't know why Mercola is suggesting to use the alum crystal products as they contain aluminum! SECONDLY, A MUCH BETTER DEODORANT is alcohol. I've been using it for over 25 years and can sometimes go more than a day without odor. I used to use isopropyl but realized that is made from petroleum and is toxic, so I switched to grain alcohol bought at a liquor store. Don't use any alcohol bought at a pharmacy, as even the ethyl alcohol they sell has toxic denaturing agents added. Get grain alcohol at a liquor store that is at least 75% alcohol. Everclear comes at 75% and something like 94%. There are other brands that are over 90% as well. I put it in a small spray bottle and spray some in my palm and wipe my whole armpit area so any surrounding skin that might contact it is sterilized. Plain soap and water is very inferior to this - and deodorant soaps help a lot in this area but have chemicals. Remember you can always reapply the alcohol half way through the day for good measure. It dries quickly, of course. Carry a little bottle of it with you if you want.

re: Do You Still Use An Antiperspirant?

MrsParker — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 18:50:08 GMT

I also agree with Ms. Cheryl . We love and appreiciate hearing the truth about products but " The Secret" is just another lie. Oprah has been led and is leading people astray.

re: Do You Still Use An Antiperspirant?

glorybound — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 06:17:24 GMT

Dr. Mercola, I thought your information about the anti-perspirant was excellent. But I completely disagree with your advertisement on the Movie, "The Secret" or anything to do with it. It is pure blasphemy in the eyes of God and Oprah is not even worth listening to, as she is deceiving MANY people!! Gods' word and being "Born Again" is what changes peoples' lives, not the Law of Attraction(the ability to manifest either good or bad things in your life). I ask you to remove " All commentary about the secret AND the video of it "on your anti-perspirant video clip. It just makes me sick to watch such good information be ruined along with promoting false deception as this movie that is destroying peoples lives and also their souls. I watched the movie a few years back and it was sickening!! Several other of my friends thought the same thing. Please don't ruin your good information with such JUNK!! I am a member of your website and purchase products from you regularly. But this was almost more than I could bear to watch this. I sent you a bible with truths in it a while back because I wanted to bless you with a gift after you blessed me with a product. I hope that you read it as it was very important to me for you to do so. Cheryl Mack

re: Do You Still Use An Antiperspirant?

Let.Love.Be. — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 16:34:24 GMT

Go to the health food store and get a "natural crystal" based deoderant. They seem to work the best, and I have tried just about all brands. Carefully read the ingredients at the health food store too - many products contain toxic parabens.

re: Do You Still Use An Antiperspirant?

Yung Red612 — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 22:52:29 GMT

I tried soap & water for a while and people always noticed that I stink esp. later in the day. I tell them deoderant is bad for you and they just laughed and my boss put in a new code of conduct saying all workers need to shower(of course!! i do that any ways) and also wear deoderant. I need Help!!! I dont want to compromise my health but I also dont want to stink @ work and get adverse treatment there. (I also have to walk 4 blocks to the city bus then walk andother 2 blocks to the job and I cant afford a car)

re: Do You Still Use An Antiperspirant?

librarygal — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 21:29:12 GMT

I"m amazed at the range of topics that are clearly and cogently presented for about any health question you could ask. This one is just another EXAMPLE!! DId you guys who always say Mercola is just a good huckster, NOTICE that he recommended plain old soap and water for the ubiquitous underarm problem?? Thanks, again Dr. Mercola! ~ Librarygal59

re: Do You Still Use An Antiperspirant?

Gandy — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 04:21:30 GMT

That is not completely true. I live in the south once I changed my diet to organic and locally grown foods the stench has pretty much dissappeared I also exercise and take better care of myself. I do not use deodorant. Sometimes I use baking soda or cornstarch. I do notice underarm odor on a day following eating out at a restaurant or holiday family gatherings when I am not adhering to my regular diet. What you consume does make a difference.

re: Do You Still Use An Antiperspirant?

noahjuan — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 11:46:17 GMT

Here in the South in the summer you must have two things: Air Conditioning and at least deodorant (you will stink by the end of the day with just soap and water), however we have not been able to find deodorant for women at the regular supermarket. Does it exist?