Are Deodorants Safe For Children?

When they hit puberty, most kids have to use deodorant for the first time. On the other hand, some have a strong body odor and must use deodorant daily, even before puberty begins. Are deodorants safe for children? Learn what the experts say in this article.

The First Symptoms of Adolescence

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You need to know if your child has started puberty because body odor is linked. Girls normally begin puberty at 8 to 13 years old; boys do as well at 9 to 14 years old.

Puberty symptoms include the growth of breasts, changes in the voice, and the appearance of pubic or axillary (underarm) hair. Consult your child’s pediatrician if any of these symptoms appear before the age of eight in girls or nine in boys.

Other medical problems may induce changes associated with precocious (early) puberty. A medical word for excessive sweating, hyperhidrosis is something you might ask your doctor to look into, especially if it started in your youth.

Controlling Urinary Trunk Odor

Your child’s body odor may be caused by excessive sweating or an overabundance of bacteria on their skin if they haven’t yet entered puberty. Deodorant isn’t the only technique to keep your youngster smelling fresh. For example, it’s essential to teach your child the fundamentals of personal hygiene, such as:

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  • Persuade children to use the bathroom regularly by letting them choose their soaps and other goods.
  • Sports and other activities that cause sweating necessitate showering.
  • Bathing or showering should include washing every body area, especially the more odor-prone armpits, genitals, and feet.
  • The habit of changing your socks and underwear every day.
  • Reducing the amount of sweating by wearing loose-fitting clothing that isn’t obstructive
  • Monitoring their diet to check if garlic, onions, or spicy food is causing or contributing to body odor is an important part of the process.

You may also want to switch the soap your youngster is using. Odor may be better controlled with a particular type of soap.

Antiperspirants for Teenagers

The use of deodorant may be an option if the other suggestions fail to alleviate your child’s body odor problem. However, children typically choose a product specifically designed for them rather than an adult-oriented version of the same thing.

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Every one of these deodorants is designed specifically for youngsters. Larger companies like Secret and Ban manufacture deodorants for teenagers that are also suitable for younger children. Tom’s of Maine, Junior Varsity, and Fresh Kidz make children’s products free of phthalates and parabens.

As a last resort, you can buy your youngster a combination of antiperspirant and deodorant. On the other hand, antiperspirants use aluminum-based compounds to inhibit sweat glands and prevent dampness.

Certain antiperspirant ingredients have been connected in the past to Alzheimer’s disease as well as breast cancer. As the current evidence is insufficient, more studies are needed to determine the extent of harm from applying aluminum-containing items to the skin. Only aluminum salts have been shown to work in antiperspirants and are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Bottomline

Active prepubescent youngsters, even those who adhere to proper hygiene practices, are not unheard of needing deodorant. Any issues or concerns regarding the usage of deodorant should be brought to the attention of a doctor.

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