Applying deodorant is a staple part of most people’s daily routine, but according to a medical doctor who specialises in skin, many of us have been doing it incorrectly. Dr Ree Adel recently took to social media to share a hygiene tip, stating that if you’re applying deodorant in the morning or post-workout, you’re “doing it wrong”.
This could be the reason “why your deodorant isn’t working”. Dr Ree elaborated: “To get the most out of your deodorant you actually need to put this on at night before you go to bed and that’s because your sweat glands are less active while you’re sleeping, which means that this has more time to do its thing.”
This method can lead to better absorption, making the deodorant more effective the following day.
She also advised applying it to dry skin for optimal absorption, eliminating the need for reapplication throughout the day. Dr Lindsey Zubritsky from Mississippi supports this advice, suggesting that antiperspirants work best when applied at night due to the body’s natural cooling process as it prepares for sleep, driven by increased melatonin production.
As daylight fades, our melatonin levels rise, leading to a decrease in body temperature, blood pressure, and heart rate, signalling the body it’s time to rest. Applying deodorant or antiperspirant in line with this rise in melatonin may boost their effectiveness in managing sweat and odour from sweat glands.
Viewers on TikTok have been astonished by a fresh revelation, with one person responding: “Omg this makes so much sense, my deodorant never works!!” A second exclaimed: “Wow did not know this!!!” Meanwhile, a third offered advice: “It’s actually game changing. Also another tip is to figure out if you need a deodorant or antiperspirant as they’re different things and target different problems.”
One user questioned the practicality, asking: “Won’t it just wash off after you shower in the morning?,” which Dr Ree addressed, clarifying: “It works by absorbing into the skin so it doesn’t matter if you wash it off in the morning because it will have already absorbed to do its thing.”
What’s the difference between deodorant and antiperspirant?
According to Healthline, deodorants and antiperspirants reduce body odour in different ways. For example, deodorants work for eliminating odour, but won’t stop you sweating. They are usually alcohol-based, and when you apply them they turn your skin acidic, which makes it less attractive to bacteria.
Meanwhile, antiperspirants have active ingredients and are usually aluminium-based, which temporarily blocks sweat pores.