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Dermatologist says it’s not disgusting to share deodorant – but there’s a catch�
Deodorants are a daily essential for most, and in times of inflation, it isn’t easy to afford them too often despite the need to smell good.
What do you do then? Borrow a stick from your sibling or friends for a rub or two before heading out. If you find this repulsive, wait until you hear what a dermatologist feels – it doesn’t matter if you change your deodorant often or use it for months in a stretch.
Is it safe to share deodorant with others?
Not everybody likes to go cosmetic shopping and when it isn’t an absolute necessity, such as with deodorants, people rather use what’s already available in their homes.
However, when one woman asked – whether it’s safe to share your deodorant with your family members? a certified dermatologist broke down the scenario to better explain the possible side effects of the practice.
Dr. Andrea says: “It’s okay until it’s not.” before explaining the only condition that allows sharing deodorants with others.
As with any personal items like towels or soap, deodorants can transfer bacteria from one person to another resulting in skin infections.
However, “it’s okay” to share your deodorants occasionally if you don’t have any skin condition that could cause an infection in others.
As underarms are usually moist and a breeding ground for bacteria, sharing a deodorant stick that has been rubbed on them isn’t ideal.
However, each deodorant lasts at least a few months and it’s advisable to rub it only once or twice at a time. Therefore, you might as well use separate sticks.
Best time to apply it
In a different video, Dr. Andrea reveals the best time to use the deodorant to reap most of its benefits. It’s a common practice to use it just after the morning shower, but the dermatologist recommends doing it before going to sleep.
The main objective of deodorants or antiperspirants is to reduce the amount of sweat produced, which feeds the odor-causing bacteria.
Night is when the body sweats less compared to other times of the day. Therefore, using deodorants in the evening helps in “localizing the sweat glands to plug them up” to cut down on the output of sweat.
Furthermore, you tend to move around a lot more during the day, which rubs off the deodorant, stopping it from fully serving its purpose.
