So THAT'S Why Some People Don't Need To Use Deodorant (2024)

FAQs

So THAT'S Why Some People Don't Need To Use Deodorant? ›

But if you're one of the lucky few who possess a gene called ABCC11, you don't even have to worry about deodorant. According to the website LiveScience, the presence of the gene means that your armpits lack a chemical that, when combined with sweat, bacteria feeds on to produce smelly body odor.

While deodorant can help you smell great, Dr. Zeichner says taking a break can be especially beneficial if you have sensitive skin. “Deodorants may contain fragrances or acids that help fight odor but can be irritating to the skin,” he says.

Many don't really feel the need to apply deodorant. According to the studies, Koreans had the highest rate of having the type A gene, one of the ABCC11 genotypes involved in armpit odor, among various races. People with the type A gene produce fewer apocrine sweat glands and thus tend to have less body odor.

The survey from YouGov, a polling firm, found that approximately 40% of people ages 18 to 24 don't typically wear deodorant, according to TV station WISC. The percentage is almost as high — about 30% — for people ages 25 to 34. The reason? Most people surveyed said they don't believe they need it.

CAN YOUR ARMPITS BECOME IMMUNE TO YOUR DEODORANT? If a product you use no longer works, it has to do with your body's physiological changes, not an immunity to the product's ingredients.

“If you stop wearing deodorant or antiperspirant, you can develop a stronger odor over time,” Doyle said. “When you stop using (such products) and sweat more, this creates a breeding ground for bacterial and fungal overgrowth, which can cause odor to become stronger.”

Most of the world's population has the gene that codes for the wet-type earwax and average body odor; however, East Asians are more likely to inherit the allele associated with the dry-type earwax and a reduction in body odor.

The lowest average deodorant use occurs in East Asia, where roughly 90% of people do not use deodorant. Nor do they necessarily need to, as most East Asians possess a specific genetic genotype that makes their sweat less odorous.

Deodorant/antiperspirant

They do sell something they call “deodorant” but it's basically perfume. Antiperspirants aren't sanctioned by the Japanese version of the FDA, so Japanese deodorants just try to cover up smells, not prevent them.

Scientists in recent years have shown that many East Asians, a group that includes China's ethnic Han majority, have a gene that lowers the likelihood of a strong “human axillary odor” — scientist-speak for body stink.

Do some people's armpits not smell? ›

Two percent of people carry an unusual form of a specific gene (ABCC11) that means their armpits never smell. The finding came from new research involving 6,495 women who are enrolled in the Children of the 90s study at the University of Bristol, England, and was published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology.

The length of a detox phase (as well as the amount of odor and sweat) varies from person to person, but most people say it takes them about a month to fully adjust. This adjustment typically happens in a few different stages.

Of course, the question of when to put on deodorant and how often to apply deodorant ultimately comes down to personal choice or preference – whatever works for you is usually the best call. It's all about what fits your needs and your lifestyle.

Deodorant usage is generally frowned upon in Europe, but among the Czechs, there is more than simply hesitation. The frequency and potency of the smell suggest that it is a direct protest against proper underarm hygiene. But everyone is affected; it's not just one individual.

As your body continues to become accustomed to living without aluminum, its sweat and odor levels will self-regulate and begin to function normally. That means you'll sweat slightly more than when you used antiperspirant, but considerably less than if you were to use nothing at all.

ABCC11: the “no body odor gene”

Genetic variants that cause a loss of function of the ABCC11 gene are very common among East Asian ethnicities (80-90% of the population). In other population groups, it is rare to have no body odor. In fact, only around 2% of Caucasians carry the 'no body odor' version of the gene.

Two percent of people carry an unusual form of a specific gene (ABCC11) that means their armpits never smell. The finding came from new research involving 6,495 women who are enrolled in the Children of the 90s study at the University of Bristol, England, and was published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology.

The ABCC11 gene plays a role in the production of earwax and body odor. People with a particular variant of this gene, known as the "non-functional" variant, are more likely to have dry earwax and less body odor.

Many factors--including genetic makeup, temperature, and social norms--contribute to whether people in different cultures choose to use deodorant. While deodorant is available around the world, it's more commonly used in some places than others.