Why Your DIY Baking Soda Deodorant is Causing a Skin Reaction
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Comments
As for using baking soda as a cleanser, this is indeed possible but do be mindful that it is abrasive on the skin and shouldn't be used more than once a week. It's a good idea to follow up with face oil after use.
:)
Water is not good if it contains chlorine & fluroide.
Like in the past doctors told us tobacco was safe - now it is concidered unsafe.
Thalidomide was considered safe - but it resulted in birth defects etc.
Sacchrin cyclamate aspartame - was all alleged to be safe but is now linked to cancer.
Like buyer beware, user beware and if a person wants to ingest detrimental items that is their sole perogative.
I'm glad you have found a solution that works for you.
Day one was great, no problem.
Day two, minor irritation.
Day three, slightly worse.
Day four, rash with bumps, burning and I think slightly swollen, though it could feel like that because of the rash.
I am actually using a sunburn treatment on it with Aloe, A and E and Lidocaine.
Kills most of the burn.
Most...LOL
Like you., I react to most synthetic scents while essential oils don't seem to bother me. I'm glad you pinpointed the problem in time!
Great article and wonderful replies to comments. I have reacted badly to two purchased natural deodorants over two years trying to persist with them not understanding what the issue is. Especially as the weather heats up at Change of season. Sometimes so badly that I would put a sheet of toilet paper under my Arm pits to prevent the skin resisting on each other and causing pain! I have found one I Australia that doesn't react from Moo Goo, but it's not as effective, so now that I know what the reactive ingredient is I can now search for another product or try your diy. A big thank you, as I hand been listening to those people who say the rash is a detox, I should have known better after it's been off and on for two years! A big thank you for all this info. Emma
I have to add though, that that I use a baking soda deodorant (with coconut oil and tea tree essential oil), and it works great for me. In fact, I've never had any better. The only thing I don't recommend- don't apply a baking soda deodorant on a freshly shaved armpit.
@Paulina - Thanks for sharing. I can only say I surely hope you never experience any reactions. Most people do, but maybe you will be one of the lucky few who can continue applying baking soda to armpits without issue.
2 tbs arrowroot powder
1 tbs baking soda
1 tbs coconut oil
1 tbs shea butter
No irritation.
I didn't even know for any other DIY solution with soda bicarbonate, so I was using just pure, 100% soda bic. as my deodorant, and it was a smooth ride, best deodorant I have ever used, well that was going on for 3 - 4 years until recently when my armpits start to getting red and irritated. I stopped using soda bicarbonate for a month and the rash was completely gone.. Then I tried it again and rash was back..so I guess I'm done with 100% soda bicarbonate for good. I'll try to check your suggestions and hopefully that will work...or I'll have to go back to commercial deodorants, sadly.
Great article btw!
Mitja
I love my DIY deodorant - I use coconut oil, corn starch and baking soda and lavender essential oil - sometimes I add vitamin e oil to it as well. I've tried to add beeswax but didn't care for the one I purchased but may try it again as the warm months are now here.
One tip that I have for those that want to try a DIY deodorant is to use an acne cleanser for your underarms. I use one that has salicylic acid and it definitely helps me with my underarm breakouts. It at least worked for me.
For those that can't do baking soda - I would try the coconut oil and corn starch mix. Just note that you might need to add it multiple times a day - which I had to do. BUT the difference between this and a stick of store bought deodorant - I actually felt great after applying. I smelled great and didn't have the weird "BO/sweat masked by deodorant smell".
And as someone noted in a previous comment - some may have issues b/c of shaving. I highly recommend shaving the night before instead of in the morning. Any underarm would get a breakout after having any kind of deodorant applied to it.
I'm thinking it's the propylene glycol.
So many positive reviews on baking soda deodorant. Only a small percent of people are experiencing these terrible side effects. People that have success with baking soda deodorant don't go around the internet writing blog posts and comments about it as much as people that are experiencing rashes with it. Bad news travels faster than good news.
I don't use the baking soda deodorant daily, as I haven't needed it as much. I've also been using essential oils on days I don't use baking soda. I haven't been as active lately, but in the past at the gym the baking soda deodorant would perform the best and longest for keeping odor away. I would still sweat a lot, as I normally do at the gym, but no odor. Better than any store bought brand from the big name companies. My friend tried like a dozen different store bought deodorants and got rashes a bunch of times and now he uses and loves baking soda deodorant and its the best.