When you’re standing in the aisle of deodorants and antiperspirants, you may feel a bead of sweat trickle down your neck due to the endless options of this toiletry. Your familiar brand and scent may call out to you, but are you really choosing the right option for your needs?

“Initially, sweat starts as an odorless liquid mostly comprised of water, salt and proteins,” says Dr. Alex Means, a dermatologist at Aurora Dermatology in Oshkosh, WI. “The formation of an unpleasant odor is a result of the metabolic activity of bacteria in the armpit region, influenced by various factors like dietary intake and age.”

Antiperspirants differ from deodorants because they are designed to decrease sweat as well as mask odor.

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