My Son Got a Rash from His Deodorant

I don't know if he is using roll-ons, sprays, gels, etc., but my husband breaks out horribly if he uses a roll on or a gel, especially gels. He can only use the spray on kind. Good luck . . . this must be frusterating!!

When I was a kid, my mom started me on this powder stuff called "Shower to Shower". Maybe his skin just needs something a little gentler to break him in with?

Most every product that says anti-perspirant has some kind of aluminum ingredient to stop you from sweating. Try products with deodorant only. Tom's of Maine is a good one available at Target. Mennen makes a deodorant only one too as does Arm and Hammer, but they are very hard to find.

My favorite is Almay unscented gel. I am allergic to every deoderant I have ever tried and this one is wonderful. Works really well also. It's pretty gender neutral as it's not scented and such so it's a good one to try.

10 years old is not too young (that mom must not have boys!!), but it's a good idea to stay away from anti-perspirants, which contain aluminum. My son's first deodorant was recommended to me, believe it or not, by the clerk at Wal-Mart! It's "Herbal Clear" Naturally! and it's a clear, unscented, natural deodorant, which is free of aluminum. It is a yellow container, and it's a stick---not a gel. It worked like a charm for my son (when he'd remember to use it!!)!! He couldn't use the free one that came home from school because it made him itch and burn, so this one was perfect!! I wouldn't worry about allergy testing, etc, which so many posters mentioned. Their bodies are still growing and aluminum and fragrance can be hard on anybody's skin!! Avoidance is a simple and inexpensive solution in this case, isn't it??

Hi:

Since your son seems to be having an allergic reaction to something in the deodorants, I would suggest that you have his allergy tested and cured. This is now possible, and through a non invasive procedure called NAET. I have been cured of several allergies, as have two of my grandchildren. I go to Dr. David Karaba in Fullerton and love him dearly.

Best wishes,

M.

My husband gets strange lumps from antiperspirants so he can only use deoderants. It doesn't help with the sweating thing... but controls the smell! I bought him this spritzer stuff called Waleda. It has a sage smell that I love and it works really well. It is natural and does not use the harsh ingredients that deoderants use. I found this at a specialty store, but I did notice that Target started selling Waleda lotions in the beauty section. You may want to check Jimbos or any store that sells natural products. I am sure you can find it online. Hope this helps.

Tom's Natural. And don't use Antiperspiration, only a Deodorant. It is natural to perspire. You don't want to close off the ducts. At the age of 10, sweating should not be too big a problem. Talcum powder works good, too. Good luck.

aloha C.: i recommend a crystal. you can get it at most health food stores. it is non-toxic, non-staining, no perfumes and lasts a very long time. i've used one for close to 20 years, and have bought maybe six in that time period.

he'll have to experiment with different brands, as everyone's body chemistry is different. some are better than others. the one i like the best is in a purple container that says "crystal" in big letters. you can also go to www.thecrystal.com to find out where in your area it is being sold.

just another note: when my boys were going through their "junior high smell" time, it worked for both of them as well.

best wishes...D.

I'm not sure, but isn't 10 years old a little young for deodorant? Anyway, my husband used to get terrible rashes from anti-perspirant (not deodorant). It contains a chemical that he is allergic to. He switched to deodorant only, and does not have the problem anymore. Are you sure it's not anti-perspirant that he is allergic to? Trader Joe's makes one that is unscented and contains cotton. That is very mild. Check with your dermatologist if you still get the rashes using only deodorant.

I would take a trip to Whole Foods or another natural foods store and buy a deodorant without all of the chemicals. I use them and have been very successful. K.

Trader Joe's has two deoderants they sell, all natural, no aluminum, etc. I have had breakouts from other deoderants and have had no problems with these and have been using them for about 2 years.

Try spray on....once upon a time I had a boyfriend who had really sensitive skin and could only use spray on deodorant...good luck

My husband has a hard time with this too. We found that he can't use the clear gel ones. It has to be the solid ones. They still make a lot of them that aren't too horrible smelling. My husband uses the Axe ones. Personally, I am not a big fan of Tom's. It works good, but I think it smells funky. Just my opinion, yeah?

If you don't find something that works for him, you can take him to a Dermatologist. I think they have prescription deodorants for people with allergies.

I agree with Nancy S. about Tom's. My 10 yr. old stepdaughter uses it and it works fine for her. I found it at Target. A little more expensive than some of the more mainstream brands, but not much, and definitely worth it to have something that's gentle on their young skin! I also agree that just a deodorant is all they need at this age. :)

Try the Arm and Hammer unscented for sensitive skin. It's the only thing I can use.

Is he using just a deodorant or an antiperspirant/deodorant? My husband can only use deodorant not the combo because of the rash issue. Have him try just a deodorant and see if he has the same problem if yes then you might want to check out some of the natural products at a health food store.

Good luck

A.

Hello C.,

I bought my eight year old son an all natural deodorant called Tom's from Maine. It's a white container and it has no alluminum or any other unnatural ingrediants. I was really careful about what I bought because he's so young yet he sweats alot. This is also unscented. He's been using it for about a month and it works great. Hope this helps. I bought it in Ralphs.

regards,
C.

I would recommend Tom's of Maine or Jason. Both of them are very effective and have all natural ingredients. You should be able to find them at Longs or at Target. It's not an anti-perspirant, just a deodorant. Avoid the tea tree oil scent since your son is prone to rashes. I used to use it thinking it would be good to have a natural anti-bacterial agent in the product. It worked to control odor, but if I did any activity that made me sweat a lot, I broke out in a rash. Good luck!

Hi C.. My boyfriend has the same problem! When he was younger he tried different deoderants, ones on commercials and ended up with hives and rashes and had to sit in front of a fan and ac unit to cool off his pits! I laughed but its serious!
I'd recommend a deoderant by Melaleuca, from the mens Alloy line. I can tell you how to purchase it at wholesale prices as well as other household products.
So. Melaleuca is a Wellness Company that puts much time and research into their products using the best natural ingredients and sells them at reasonable prices.
Chances are its not only just the deoderant that is affecting your sons rash. As we grow older our bodies change and things that were once ok with us soon become a problem. What I'm saying is your son needs deoderant because he wants to avoid sweat and odor. But deoderant in combination with your laundry detergent could also be a cause for his rash.
Melaleuca also makes a chemical free laundry detergent to help prevent any rashes, illnesses, etc.
All Melaleuca products are Eco-Friendly, Biodegradable and made from the best ingredients on earth with extensive research! I wouldn't recommend anything else!
Good Luck. Feel free to contact me on how to purchase Any of Melaleuca's 400+ products!
Oh be careful with Dove, my boyfriens got a rash from it. And anything too heavily scented! Check your body wash too!
Best wishes!

It sounds like he has a sensitivity to some ingredient. Try something without a lot of chemicals or scents. Kiss My Face is on grocery store shelves and offers both roll on and stick deodorants (avoid anti-perspirants that contain aluminum). Your body needs to sweat, you just don't want it to smell bad. Stores like Whole Foods has a larger assortment of natural deodorants. Rashes are a bummer. If you can't find a product he'll probably need to see a doctor for what appears to be contact dermatitis.
Good luck.

Dear C.:

Nancy S totally got it right. Yes, the child may be allergic but the simplest cause could be what Nancy mentioned: Anti-perspirants don't allow the sweat to escape and it causes those weird bumps. I learned this when I first got married and accidently bought my husband deodorant/anti-perspirant instead of just deodorant. Some people just can't handle that.

In addition, I, too, agree with the other posters and I buy my children natural ingredient deodorants and they work well. Try Whole Foods or any other natural foods stores for a variety to try. They really work! I actually took one with us on a mission trip to the tropics (where there was no one I knew!) and tested it there. Surprise! It worked!

Best wishes,

M.
PS: Mamas, take it from a former schoolteacher...most kids need deodorants at around age 9 or 10! EEEK!

I would try using the Trader Joes brand it is unscented , paraben and aluminum free. It is for sensitive skin. I hope this helps.
:O) T.

Go to any health food store and they can point you in the direction of noatural, often organic brands. They are the best. No aluminum, no SLS, just natural goodness.

I wonder if he may be allergic to one of the ingredients in the deoderant. I don't know what possibilities are out there (or good ones, that is), but maybe getting him a hypoallergenic kind at Trader Joe's or your local health food store. I'd also probably take him to the doctor and see what he has to say about it.

Go to your natural food store... and buy a deodorant that is "natural" based. These are gentler. There are all kinds.

I suspect he is allergic to either the chemicals in it, or to the "scent" in it. These deodorants are for "men" and may be too strong for a young boy.

I myself get "itchy" from some women's "adult" deodorants....so I try to use the more natural ones.

I would recommend trying different brands, and buying several different kinds so you don't have to go back and forth to the store. Whichever one you have left over, then you or Hubby can use it. At first it will cost you... but it's an "investment" and once you find what works for your son, then it will be more cost effective.

Here are some links on deodorant rash:
http://parents.berkeley.edu/advice/beauty/deodorant.html
http://www.ehow.com/how_###-###-####_soothe-deodorant-ras...
http://www.tomsofmaine.com/toms/product.asp?dept_id=500&a...

Good luck,
Susan

Good Morning,

All regular deodorants contain aluminum, this may be causing your sons rash. Try a all natural Deodorant. You can buy all natural deodorants at Wal Mart, CVS, K-Mart basically any where some stores like Whole Foods carry a bigger selection of all natural deodorants. Just look for all Natural or the breast cancer symble on the front and when you look at the ingrediants on the back there will be no aluminum in it. I had breast cancer and my oncologist told me one of the many causes was aluminum in deodorant.

Good Luck,
K.

I also agree that 10 seems a bit young, but if he needs one either a crystal or Tom's of Maine.
You should all be using one that does not have aluminum in it. If either of those don't work, you can also use tea tree oil. You can test any of these products first on the crook of his arm for any sensitivity.

I would suggest using the natural deoderants without the aluminum z. This is a harmful, irritating substance that actally is found in the cancerous tissue of men and women diagnosed with cancer. I use the natural stuff like Natures Gate, arm and hammer has a natural one, even adidas has one for women that is strong at fighting odor. Who really cares about a little sweat, its the smell that we all want to avoid, right?

Try the crystal type of deodorant. It comes in crystal and roll on. It looks unisex in a milky clear bottle. You can get it at pharmacies, definitely at Whole Foods, and maybe the supermarket. It doesn't contain any aluminum (which is in anti persperants) and is made with mineral salts. Mine is called "Naturally Fresh Deodorant Crystal." Forgot to say the nice thing about this type is it does not have any scent to it. It is not effective all of the time when you're extremely active but effective most of the time.

Hello! I started using Naturally Fresh deodorant crystal spray mist after I found out the aluminum in antiperspirants is possibly linked to breast cancer. You can find it at Walmart - it's a white square shaped bottle with a blue spray top on it. I started my husband on it and he has also been happy with it. Keep in mind that it wont stop you from sweating, but just controls any odor. It does a great job and I feel better using something natural.

i know kids are developing at a much faster rate, but do you really think a 10 year old needs to have harsh chemicals in his arm pits? He is a a child. My son is 11 years old and i have also noticed some body odor, but a bath will normally do just fine.

Hi,

Have you tried the crystal rock deodorant? My daughter has very sensitive skin, but has not had a reaction to this. It comes in spray, roll on and rock. Tom's of Maine also makes a more natural deodorant, but I have not had any experience with this particular product from their line.

I hope this helps.

Thanks!!

A.

I break out something awful from many deodorants, especially the "extra dry" type as well as a lot of the heavy fragranced type (coconut, etc). I have never had a problem with Dove brand, and you can buy it anywhere. I knew someone else (a man) who broke out in a rash from deodorants. He used plain rubbing alcohol on a cotton ball every morning. This seemed to work just fine because the alcohol kills the bacteria that causes odor...