Searching for a deodorant for sensitive or eczema-prone skin can be like trying to find a needle in a haystack! You obviously want an antiperspirant that is effective and keeps you smelling fresh, but at what consequence?
If you experience eczema, you know what it is like to apply deodorant that burns or causes the skin to be more dry and tight-feeling. Here at Make Waves, we don’t want anyone to experience this - especially as one of our co-founders is a fellow eczema sufferer!
That’s why when we were creating our formulas, we worked with leading dermatologists to produce a natural yet high-performing antiperspirant and deodorant that’s kind to your skin. This way, everyone can find their perfect solution at Make Waves.
But enough about us, this blog is about helping you find the best deodorant for your sensitive, eczema-prone skin. Our experts will share their top tips to help you feel confident and comfortable in your underarms each and every day.
Why does deodorant cause such a problem for those with eczema?
It’s no secret that eczema can be a whole-body issue, but for those in the know, somehow the underarms can be more sensitive and troublesome than other parts of the body.
Around the world, there are over 204 million eczema sufferers! That’s a lot of people who experience pain and discomfort every single day. But what causes the pain - especially under the arms? There are a few reasons why.
Your underarms are hot stuff!
As we all have experienced, the underarms can get a little hot. The reason why we sweat in this area in this particular area is because our body is trying to cool us down - hence the sweat patches.
Anyone who lives with eczema knows that heat can cause more flare-ups of the condition. So, having a dedicated part of the body that is known for being warm can cause more issues in this area.
Sweating
Speaking of sweat, this can also cause irritation to the underarms. Although sweat is predominantly made up of water, there is some trace of salt which can dry out the skin under your arms.
The extra moisture under your skin can also cause more friction between the skin and your clothes, further adding to the irritation. You may want to add more deodorant or antiperspirant to prevent this, but even this could have impacts.
Irritating ingredients
To follow on from the above point, traditional antiperspirants and deodorants are typically made with cheaper and often harsher synthetic ingredients. These ingredients can result in irritated skin, contact dermatitis, or even allergic reactions.
If you are constantly washing your underarms to keep the area clean to speed up healing, you may find you want to apply more deodorant to ensure you don't smell. But you could in fact be making your irritation worse due to the bad ingredients in your current deodorant or antiperspirant.
Top tips for choosing the right deodorant for eczema skin
We recognise that choosing deodorant for sensitive skin, whether that be due to eczema, psoriasis, or dermatitis, can be very overwhelming. That’s why our experts have collated a list of top tips to help you next time you’re searching for a deodorant or antiperspirant that is gentle enough for your skin.
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Understand your irritants
First things first, you need to understand what causes your eczema to flare up. This isn’t always the easiest or most fun challenge - especially when you know that irritation will happen as a consequence.
However, it will be worth it in the long run as you will finally know which ingredients your skin doesn’t like. With this knowledge, you can then easily rule out products that have these irritants - meaning less pain for you in the long term.
It’s common for people with sensitive skin to struggle with natural deodorants that have bicarbonate of soda in them. We recognised this, which is why only one of our formulas has this ingredient (our natural deodorant) and the other hasn’t (our antiperspirant with a natural base).
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Look out for harmful ingredients
We understand that reading ingredient lists can be tricky at times. But there are some key ingredients to keep an eye out for that can cause irritation (whether they are known to you or not). Some of these include:
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Fragrance
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Alcohol
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Triclosan
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Choose unscented deodorant or antiperspirant
As we’ve just mentioned, fragrance can be a big trigger for irritation. Therefore, if it is possible, try to opt for a deodorant or antiperspirant that has no scent.
Here at Make Waves, we’ve just launched an unscented antiperspirant. Potentially our most requested scent ever - and we understand why! It’s the perfect choice for those looking for a natural approach to keep your underarms happy.
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Do a patch test first
You’ve probably had a patch test if you’ve ever dyed your hair. This is ensure that you do not have an allergic reaction to the ingredients found in hair dye.
So, why isn’t this more common practice for deodorants or antiperspirants?
Especially if you have sensitive skin, performing a patch test for your new product is a great way to ensure it doesn’t cause irritation to the skin.
Tip: We recommend performing the test on your upper back, arms, or thighs after a shower. This is to make sure it won’t be washed away and the test is effective.
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Check out reviews and recommendations
Sometimes, it feels like you are the only person going through an eczema flare-up. The pain, the embarrassment - it can all get too much. It’s important to remember you’re not alone in all of this.
Unfortunately, you’re one of the many people who experience eczema and other skin sensitivities. However, that can work to your advantage…
When looking for new products, make sure to check out reviews and get recommendations from other people. Did you know that we have over 1,000 5-star Trustpilot reviews? Just check out this review from one of our many happy customers:
The likelihood is that if it’s worked for them, it will work for you too! There’s only one way to find out…
Take a look at our skin-conscious natural antiperspirant and deodorant.
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Keep an eye out for products that have been dermatologically tested
We’ve likely all seen the phrase ‘dermatologically tested’ on various products, but does anyone know what it actually means? Well, it’s not just a marketing ploy.
When a product is tested by a dermatologist, it has been assessed by this expert to ensure that it is suitable for multiple skin types without irritation or allergic reactions.
Not every company does this, but those who are passionate about their products tend to do so. Like us. Especially considering that our co-founder, Owen, suffers from eczema himself, we knew just how important it was to have this extra layer of assurance for those with sensitive skin.
Owen says:
“It was so important for us in developing our formulations that they were both really effective (it's a functional product after all!) and kind to skin.
“That's where the natural ingredients come in, and undergoing dermatological testing was a way to independently verify that our products live up to our expectations, and those of our customers.”
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Select moisturising ingredients where possible
Those with eczema tend to have a weakened skin barrier which can lead to more frequent irritation and discomfort.
Therefore, we recommend choosing deodorant or antiperspirant that has ingredients known for their moisturising properties. Some of the moisturising ingredients in our deodorant and antiperspirant include:
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Shea butter
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Apricot kernel oil (rich in Vitamins E, C and K)
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Sunflower seed wax and oil (rich in Vitamins E and K)
Ingredients like these will help to balance the moisture in your armpits to prevent eczema flare-ups.
If I’m having an eczema flare-up, should I move on to a new deodorant straight away?
There’s nothing worse than waking up to painful underarms when you go for that morning stretch. The impulse decision would be to stop using your current deodorant and switch it out for a new one straight away.
But that isn’t necessarily the best solution. We recommend you do the following:
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Stop using your current deodorant: Of course, if your deodorant is causing sore underarms, the first thing you need to do is stop using it!
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Give your skin time to reduce the irritation: Before switching to a new deodorant, it’s important you give the skin under your arms time to calm down. This may include not using deodorant where possible to give your armpits the best chance of healing.
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Find an eczema-safe deodorant: Whilst you’re waiting for your underarms to heal, take this time to look for a deodorant that is specifically eczema-safe. Make sure to follow our advice above and check out reviews to see if someone has mentioned it doesn’t cause skin irritation.
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Perform a patch test: Another bit of advice we mentioned above - but for good reason. Before you begin using your new deodorant, make sure you perform a patch test to double check you won’t react to the ingredients.
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Use the deodorant with a gentle skin routine: Finally, we recommend using the new deodorant in conjunction with a gentle skincare routine for your underarms. For example, shower gel that is fragrance-free to ensure there are no more flare-ups.
By following these simple steps, your eczema flare-ups should be few and far between so you can get back to enjoying life!
Say goodbye to painful, eczema underarms with our natural deodorant and antiperspirant!
We hope these expert tips will help you when you’re searching for your next deodorant for your eczema-prone skin. But we have some good news:
You’re already looking at your next sensitive skin deodorant or antiperspirant.
That’s right! As we mentioned before, our formulations are loved by our customers who have sensitive skin AND we’ve just recently launched our unscented antiperspirant - specifically designed for those who want a stripped-back approach to underarm protection.
The best bit? Our formulas are award-winning and have over 1,000 5-star Trustpilot reviews - we’re the highest rated brand on Trustpilot! So, you can trust that with us, you’ll find natural yet high-performing antiperspirant and deodorant that also helps the planet.
It’s a win all round! If you’ve been wanting to make the switch to natural deodorant or antiperspirant, now is the time.
Check out our award-winning natural antiperspirant and deodorant today!
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