This fabric reduces odor 1:05
(CNN) --
Just like brushing your teeth or washing your face, putting on deodorant every day can seem like one of those crucial rituals for basic hygiene.
But chances are your decision will be based more on personal and cultural preference than possible medical necessity, dermatology experts say.
"People have strong olfactory preferences and sensitivities. People, since the beginning of time, have used perfume (or) colognes to mask odor," says Nina Botto, MD, associate professor of dermatology at the University of California at San Francisco.
"But it's not like flossing, where there's data that you're actually going to live longer if you floss regularly."
Deodorant may not have to be part of your regular hygiene routine, according to experts.
We explain why.
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"We live in a society where body odor is not universally accepted, so deodorant is a part of your daily hygiene routine," said Dr. Joshua Zeichner, associate professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in the city of New York, via email.
"There is also a stigma around making clothes damp from sweat, which has pushed the adoption of antiperspirants as part of daily skin care routines."
Deodorants neutralize body odor, while antiperspirants reduce skin moisture, Zeichner adds.
Often both are offered in a single product.
Despite the commonly accepted reasons why people wear deodorant, natural body odor is not necessarily considered unpleasant by everyone.
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Your smell and your voice also influence whether you are attractive
Before returning from a military campaign, Napoleon is said to have written to his wife, Josephine Bonaparte, that he would return home in three days and not to wash first, according to Tristram Wyatt, a senior fellow at Oxford University's department of biology. , on "Smelling Your Way to Love," the Dec. 6 episode of CNN's podcast, "Chasing Life with Dr. Sanjay Gupta."
Like many people today, Wyatt added, Napoleon was an "enthusiast" about scents, both colognes and natural scents, or at least his wife's.
One of the reasons someone may find a certain person's natural scent more attractive than others is due to different immune systems, Wyatt explained, as we tend to be more attracted to people who are immunologically different.
There is no right or wrong answer when it comes to personal preference and the products that can be used to mask body odor.
Taking these preferences and other personal factors into account, CNN asked dermatologists to explain the most common reasons behind people's choices and how to act in both cases.
Reasons for or against antiperspirant or deodorant
Sweat has a purpose.
"We sweat to control our body temperature," Zeichner explains.
"However, in some cases we sweat more than necessary. This is known as pathological sweating or hyperhidrosis. The sweat itself is odorless. However, bacteria on the skin break down the sweat, creating an unpleasant odor."
If you decide to use antiperspirant products for this reason, apply them at night, says Zeichner.
"Because we sweat less at night, they can form a plug inside the sweat gland more effectively if you apply them before bed."
But if you don't sweat excessively, blocking sweat production with antiperspirants "is probably not a good idea," said Dr. Julie Russak, a board-certified dermatologist and founder of the Russak Dermatology Clinic in New York City.
"(By) completely blocking it, you risk a paradoxical increase in sweat production in other areas."
Some people prefer to wear deodorant to smell nicer or if they deal with certain skin problems, such as irritation under the breasts or between abdominal skin folds, Russak said by email.
Diet can also influence the smell of sweat, according to Zeichner.
The sweat of people who eat large amounts of cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, kale, and cauliflower, for example) can have a distinctly sulfurous odor.
"Gut health, skin health, and the health of the skin microbiome can influence our body odor," Russak says via email.
"Some metabolic disorders produce a very particular odor in general (for example, ketoacidosis or uremia from diabetes). Healthy skin and a healthy body should not smell bad."
What are the health risks caused by exposure to asbestos?
If you're thinking about giving up deodorants or antiperspirants because you're concerned about potentially harmful ingredients or because of rumors that using those products causes cancer, know that these claims haven't been scientifically proven, these experts told CNN.
Research on whether there is a causal relationship between cancer and the use of non-asbestos talcum powder, also known as asbestos, has also been inconclusive.
"The use of inorganic ingredients such as aluminum salts in cosmetics and personal care products has been a concern for manufacturers and consumers alike," said Dr. Amanda Doyle, a board-certified dermatologist who works with Russak at the Russak Dermatology Clinic.
"Although aluminum is used to treat hyperhidrosis, some concerns have been raised about the role of aluminum in breast cancer, breast cysts, and Alzheimer's disease. The absorption of aluminum through the skin is not yet fully understood, but Its carcinogenicity has not been proven.
After Suffering from Excessive Sweating, This Man Received an Unexpected Diagnosis
Get by without deodorant
Not using deodorant or antiperspirant products can have pros and cons, depending on how you and others feel about your natural body odor.
"If you stop using deodorant or antiperspirant, you can develop a stronger odor over time," Doyle said.
"When you stop using (those products) and sweat more, it creates a breeding ground for bacterial and fungal overgrowth, which can make the odor stronger."
However, bathing thoroughly every day is the most important way to prevent body odor, according to experts.
Pay special attention to washing your face, armpits, and genital area, as they tend to sweat more than other parts of the body, which can facilitate the overgrowth of microorganisms such as yeast and bacteria, Zeichner notes.
Having unusual body odor could indicate that you're not cleansing your skin as you should, he added.
Other ways to reduce the risk of odor by avoiding sweat and bacterial overgrowth are to wear loose-fitting, breathable, cotton clothing, and to use antibacterial topical washes such as benzoyl peroxide or prescription topical antibiotics such as clindamycin, Doyle said.
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