Doctors Have Thoughts About Those Popular Whole-Body Deodorants

“More than just my armpits stink.” “No one likes odor below the belt.” Ads for whole-body deodorants featuring these taglines seem to be everywhere. TikTok users are talking about them, too.

Brands such as Secret, Illume, Dove and Old Spice boast that these products can be used “everywhere,” from “your pits to your bits.” But do you really need whole-body deodorants? Many health experts say they’re unnecessary.

“I can’t think of any circumstances where I would recommend a full-body deodorant for my patients,” said Dr. Kimberly Kho, an OB-GYN at The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.

Sweating is normal, and sometimes people have body odor. Masking that odor to smell “like a fruit smoothy isn’t something we should expect our bodies to do,” Kho said.

Still, you’re probably curious about whole-body deodorants. Here’s what experts want you to know about these products, as well as how you sweat and what to do if you’re worried about your body odor or how much you’re sweating.

Sweating is a natural bodily process, explained Angela Ballard, a registered nurse who works as an educator and advocate at the International Hyperhidrosis Society nonprofit. It’s how the body controls its temperature and cools off.

Dermatologist Dr. Anthony Rossi said that there are two main types of sweat glands: apocrine and eccrine.

Eccrine sweat glands are all over your body and regulate your temperature by producing a light, watery sweat that evaporates from the skin’s surface to keep you cool. Sweat from these glands usually doesn’t cause odor unless it comes into contact with bacteria.

Apocrine sweat glands are found in the armpits, in the groin area and around the nipples, Rossi said. These glands produce a thick, sticky sweat composed of water, protein and fats. It’s released into your hair follicles and then onto the skin’s surface. The sweat produced by apocrine glands is more likely to be stinky because the glands are located in areas of the body that are more prone to bacteria accumulation, Rossi said.

Some people naturally sweat more than others, explained Dr. Melissa Mauskar, a dermatologist who is the founder and director of the Gynecologic Dermatology Clinic at The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. “We all have different body odors, and it depends on a lot of different environmental factors and what kind of bacteria is on our skin,” she said.

Obviously, you’ll sweat more during physical activity or when spending time in hot climates. But hormones, stress, medications, diet and medical conditions like hyperhidrosis can affect your body odor and cause you to sweat more.

Whole-body deodorants aim to tackle odor but won’t necessarily address sweating, Ballard explained. They are similar to deodorizing products for your armpits but are designed for various parts of the body, like the groin, thighs and breasts.

Most whole-body deodorants are not antiperspirants, which reduce the amount of sweat your body produces. To do so, antiperspirants contain aluminum salts that block pores, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

Deodorants are typically just fragrances that help mask odors, Ballard said, and they usually don’t contain contain aluminum salts. They don’t require Food and Drug Administration regulation and may be made from baking soda, alcohol, essential oils and fragrances to combat odor-causing bacteria and hide smells, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

“I don’t think they’re necessary,” Mauskar said of whole-body deodorants. Bathing regularly and practicing good hygiene are usually enough to address body odor, Ballard said.

However, “in America, we have this overhygienic culture,” Rossi noted. “I tell people all the time: I don’t wear deodorant, and I don’t wear antiperspirant. I just don’t think it’s necessary. I wear cologne because I like the way it smells, and I’m not sensitive to it.”

The ingredients in whole-body deodorant are likely safe for people who are not sensitive or allergic to them, according to an article written by a dermatologist and posted on The Ohio State University’s health news website. However, ingredients in such products could cause irritation and potentially a rash, especially if you have sensitive skin, Rossi said. In some instances, they could kill healthy bacteria on the skin.

A spokesperson for the American Academy of Dermatology said the organization doesn’t have an official position on whole-body deodorants. Ballard said the International Hyperhidrosis Society doesn’t have an official stance, either.

The effectiveness of these products could vary from person to person, the Ohio State University article said, and they actually might not be safe to use everywhere on the body. For example, many whole-body deodorants are advertised for use on the vulva. Kho said that this area is sensitive, and overcleaning the vulva or applying fragrances and chemicals there could throw off its pH balance, increasing the risk of infections.

She compared whole-body deodorant to douches and other feminine hygiene products that have traditionally preyed “upon women’s vulnerability about this sensitive area” and the notion that it’s unclean or smelly. This is “our culture’s tabooness around talking about normal female body functions,” Kho added.

Much of the messaging around whole-body deodorant seems aimed at making people, especially women, feel shame about how they smell, said Ally Duvall, a senior program development lead at Equip, a virtual treatment program for eating disorders.

“There’s this pressure to really conform to this ideal of being perfect, this ideal woman who smells amazing or not at all,” said Duvall, who runs a body image group. Some products also target men with marketing that reinforces the “masculine ideal,” she added.

Duvall said the messaging around whole-body deodorant could make people, including women, men and nonbinary individuals, feel shame around sweating, body odor, or failing to measure up to a certain body image ideal.

“It puts people in a position where they can’t achieve that because we all have a body. We all have body odor,” she said. “These companies are pushing this narrative that you need to be changing this about yourself.”

Talking to a mental health professional could help if you’re struggling with body image issues, Duvall noted.

Though sweating and body odor are normal, Mauskar said you should see a dermatologist, a gynecologist or another doctor if you’re sweating more than usual or if your natural scent is changing and it’s affecting your confidence or daily life. You could have an overgrowth of bacteria or a medical condition, such as bromhidrosis or hyperhidrosis.

Discussing these topics can be embarrassing for people, Mauskar said. “But if they have odors, if they’re sweating a lot, we definitely want them to talk to their doctor about this — and know that we’re here to help,” she said.