Baking Soda Deodorant: Benefits, Side Effects &Alternatives

Overview

Baking soda

Today, companies prepare cosmetics and deodorants blended with many artificial products that customers become cautious about before using. Armpit odor is a significant problem in every individual, and people use different deodorants to combat the smell. Still, after using deodorant, they sometimes come across certain skin discomfort due to its various chemicals. So, people are now constantly looking for natural skin-friendly substitutes for fighting armpit odor. One popular armpit odor substitute is baking soda (sodium bicarbonate). Baking soda is a versatile ingredient that people conventionally use for cooking, baking, cleaning, and eliminating unwanted odors. Recently, people have used baking soda as a natural ingredient for relieving certain health conditions, like mouth sores and personal self-care ¹ Overview | Researched based study from National Library of Medicine . The article will glance at the alleged benefits of baking soda as well as its potential downsides and also tips to use it in day-to-day personal and health care.

Benefits

Baking soda deodorant benefits

• Odor Eliminating property
• Free of harmful chemicals

Odor Eliminating property

• Baking soda is a popular ingredient to eliminate unpleasant odors. People also keep an unsealed box of baking soda in the refrigerator to prevent the bad smell. The odor-eliminating ability made people consider using baking soda as a natural deodorant.
• There is very little research on baking soda for use as an armpit deodorant, although there is research on baking soda use. The benefits mentioned here are on the informal beliefs of people who have utilized it to ward off the body’s unpleasant odor.
• Research studies have found that baking soda can kill bacteria and might also kill underarm bacteria and prevent foul odor.

Free of harmful chemicals

Other benefits of baking soda, besides its deodorant use, are that it does not contain harmful chemicals such as:

• Paraben
• Aluminum
• Triclosan
• Artificial colors

Some people are very concerned about the above-mentioned chemicals in store bought deodorants due to the following adverse effects on humans ² Benefits | Researched based study from National Library of Medicine .

• Paraben – Some studies have indicated that parabens might increase the likelihood of certain types of cancer, viz. breast cancer 3 Benefits| Researched based study from Scienece Direct.
• Triclosan – Triclosan might disturb the functioning of certain types of hormones, viz thyroid hormones in our body ⁴ Benefits| Researched based study from Scienece Direct .
• Aluminum – Most people are concerned about aluminum in deodorants due to aluminum’s ability to increase the probability of certain types of cancer, including breast cancer. However, no scientific proof confirms the link between aluminum in deodorant and cancer ⁵ Benefits| Researched based study from Scienece Direct .
• Artificial colors -The artificial colors in some cosmetic products, including deodorant, might cause skin discomfort ⁶ Benefits| Researched based study from National Cancer Institute ,⁷ Benefits| Researched based study from National Library of Medicine .

Side Effects

Side effects of using baking soda as deodorant

Baking soda is an excellent option for most people to counteract the body’s unpleasant smell. However, people with sensitive and dry skin might encounter specific adverse effects on using baking soda deodorant in their armpit. Some of them are listed below-

• Itchy skin
• Skin Redness
• Dry, scaly skin
• Skin irritation ⁸Side Effects| Researched based study from National Library of Medicine

Baking soda is an alkaline material with a pH value between 8 and 9. Research studies have indicated that normal, healthy skin has a pH level of around 5, which falls in the acidic range. So, applying an alkaline ingredient, viz, baking soda might upset the skin pH, causing skin dryness and irritation.

One can perform a patch test before applying it as a deodorant to avoid skin side effects.

Tips to do the patch test

• Apply a small quantity of baking soda paste on a small portion of the skin.
• Let it remain for about two days to check for skin sensitivity or redness.

One wishing to stay dry all day has to apply baking soda several times daily. Unlike other body sprays or deodorizers, baking soda only works against body odor without blocking sweat pores.

Recipe

Baking soda deodorant recipe

To use baking soda as an underarm deodorant, one can pat some baking soda into the armpit, but this method might not work very well in most cases. So, some other options to follow for making baking soda deodorant are listed below- 

• Take two tablespoons of lukewarm water and mix a teaspoon of baking soda with it. Mix thoroughly to form a smooth paste.
• Then, gently pat the paste into your armpit with your fingertip.
• Let the paste completely dry out before putting on clothes.

Some recipes of baking soda paste with other component instead of water are as follows-

• Mix six teaspoons of cornstarch with one teaspoon of baking soda. It might act as a body spray and keep you dry and fresh.
• Mix four teaspoons of coconut oil with one teaspoon of baking soda (sodium carbonate), and add drops of lavender or tea tree oil. It might act as a body spray and keep you confident and fresh.
• Mix two teaspoons of coconut or shea butter (fat from shea tree) with one teaspoon of baking soda. It might be a good option for people with sensitive, dry skin ⁹ Recipe| Researched based study from National Library of Medicine .

However, one should never forget to do a patch skin test before using any baking soda recipe to ward off any skin complexities post-using.

Reasons

Why does baking soda turn my armpits dark?

• Bicarbonate of soda /baking soda is an alkalic material with a pH of 8 to 9.
• This high pH can interact with your skin pH of just around 5.
• People with sensitive skin might have a skin reaction to the changed pH, making it dark. Hence, some people who use baking soda deodorant might experience darker armpits.
• To get the original color of the armpit, one can use some lemon juice with a cotton ball and gently scrub the underarm area.

Alternatives

Alternatives for baking soda in deodorant

People who cannot use baking soda because of sensitive skin can try other natural deodorants without baking soda. Some of them are listed below-

• Coconut oil
• Witch Hazel
• Diluted apple cider vinegar
• Lemon juice
• Corn starch
• Crystal deodorant

Coconut oil

Coconut oil has antiviral and antibacterial properties. It can kill the bacteria that create a foul smell under the skin.

Tips to use coconut oil-

• Take a small amount of coconut oil on your palm, then apply it under your armpit with your fingers.
• Allow it to dry out before putting on clothes.

Witch hazel

• Witch hazel is a natural substance that tightens the tissues.
• Research has indicated that witch hazel has anti-microbial properties and can also eliminate excess moisture from the body.
• It is a well-liked deodorant alternative for most people because it can quickly eliminate body odor and does not leave any remains on the body.
• However, the main drawback of this deodorant is that the effect goes off very fast, and one needs to reapply many times a day.

Tips to use witch hazel-

• Take witch hazel in a cotton ball and wipe it on the armpit area.

Diluted apple cider vinegar

• Apple cider vinegar is a product made of fermented apple juice.
• It is a versatile ingredient; one can even use it as a deodorant.

Tips to use apple cider vinegar

• Mix one tablespoon of water with equal amounts of apple cider vinegar.
• Take the mixture with a cotton ball and apply it under the arm.

Lemon juice

• One can use lemon juice as a deodorant.
• Lemon juice contains citric acid that can eradicate the harmful odor-producing bacteria under our arms.

Tips to use lemon juice

• Add a teaspoon of lemon juice with a cotton ball to your armpit.
• However, do not use lemon juice directly after shaving the underarms, as it might cause a stinging sensation due to its high acidic content.

Cornstarch

• Take a small amount of cornstarch in your palm and apply it under the arms to prevent excess sweat and foul odor.

Crystal deodorant

• Crystal deodorant comprises potash alum, i.e., potassium aluminum sulfate (a natural mineral).
• It has antibacterial properties and prevents foul odor ¹⁰ Alternatives | Researched based study from National Library of Medicine .

Tips to use crystal deodorant

• One can use crystal deodorant on moist skin.
• One can also rinse the crystal in water before application in the armpit.
• Allow it to dry out before putting on clothes.

Deodorant Spray

Baking soda deodorant spray

For the preparation of natural homemade baking soda spray, first, assemble the following ingredients viz-

• Baking soda (120 milliliter)
• Aloe vera gel (4 tablespoons)
• Witch hazel (120milliliter)
• Lavender essential oil (5 drops)
• Tea tree essential oil (6 drops)
• Myrrh essential oil (4 drops)
• Amber spray bottle

Steps to follow-

• Mix all the components in a clean spray bottle and mix thoroughly. The baking soda spray is ready for use.
• Always store it in a cool place away from direct sun rays.

FAQs

FAQs on baking soda as deodorant

How long do I leave baking soda on my armpits?

• Prepare baking soda and water paste. Apply the mixture under your arms with your fingertip.
• Let it stay for around half an hour before washing it off with lukewarm water. It will help you prevent the unpleasant odor and remain fresh.

Is it safe to use baking soda as deodorant?

• Baking soda can be cruel to our skin due to its high alkalinity that helps ward off foul odors.
• The high alkalinity of baking soda may prove disastrous for people with sensitive skin.
• So, people must go for a skin patch test before utilizing it as a deodorant ¹¹ FAQs| Researched based study from Wiley Online Library .

Takeaway

Baking soda deodorant-Don’t be hasty

Baking soda is a good ingredient in combating the body’s unpleasant odor. However, one should never forget that baking soda is an alkaline material with a pH value much more significant than our normal skin pH so baking soda application as deodorant might lead to specific side effects viz; redness, itching, rash in certain people with sensitive skin. People willing to use a natural product as a deodorant must talk to their dermatologist before adopting baking soda deodorant or any other natural product in their everyday lives. It might enable them to decide the best realistic option for their skin type without facing complexities.