Natural Deodorant Causes Dark Underarms

Question

This article claims that baking soda ingredients in natural deodorants cause dark underarms. 

"We recommend switching to Kosas Chemistry ASAP because it’s made without baking soda (one of the most common culprits when it comes to skin irritation from natural deodorants) and its formula lightens darkened underarms."

Comments

This claim is false, because there is limited scientific evidence supporting the claim that baking soda in natural deodorants causes dark underarms from this article. While some individuals may experience irritation, it's not a universal issue. It is important to consider factors such as ingredients, the research is inconclusive. The recommendation to switch to Kosas Chemistry is subjective and lacks conclusive evidence. I consider that the source is advertising product which is important because that steers away from credibility as it lacks evidence and reveals personal incentive to convince the audience. Additionally, the assertion that its formula lightens darkened underarms is not substantiated by scientific data. It's important to note that individual reactions to deodorant ingredients can vary. Finally, there seems to be limited research about this topic and claim overall which limits the amount of sources available- which means misleading claims may be believed more easily.. Super problematic!

https://proverbskin.com/blogs/news/help-can-natural-deodorant-darken-underarms

---

although you have evidence to back up this claim, after visiting the link provided and reading through the website it seems as the only evidence found on that website is the claim that baking soda being applied often could potentially irritate your skin possibly causing discolorating in the armpits. Consider diving deeper past a general google search, and try to find a piece of evidence not backed up by advertisement.

---

After looking into the Maed website It seems that there is not enough evidence provided to support their claim in a factual way. Quoting the website "This darkness is caused by melanin—and melanin is created by your body to protect skin that has been damaged or is suffering from prolonged irritation" the theory does not have any specific information attached like what in the deodorant could be causing the skin irritation. This claim can be found by any overall search on google, and seems to be more of an advertisement for their product than an informational purposes.

Answer 1

natural deodorant does not cause dark underarms. According to the new york times, natural deodorant does not directly lead to dark underarms. In fact, there's not much evidence to suggest alternative deodorants are better or worse for you.

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/09/well/live/natural-deodorant-questions.html

Comments

Great job adding a credible source to strengthen your argument. However, I think it would be beneficial if you were to explain in more detail why natural deodorant doesn't cause darker underarms. You could paraphrase or takes quotes from the article to do so.

---

I like how you used a credible source in your answer that this claim is misleading. On one hand, it makes your own answer credible, but I think your answer would've been stronger if you explained more in your own words. It's also unclear on whether you wanted to directly quote or paraphrase what the New York Times stated; more research could've been done to expand this answer with other sites as well.

---

The article you used has great credibility. I think you could go into depth discussing how all deodorants carry the same qualities and ingredients. Using a quote from the article would have made your claim stronger.

---

I would go a little farther to discover where the New York Time's got this information, did they get it from a doctor, or a scientist?

---

Good job finding a source but next time I would look more at quotes specifically stating the reasoning for that claim. Look into ingredient and what could possibly make natural deodorant essentially "safer" than others, if its a general thing or subject to a certain group of people, maybe those with sensitive skin.

Answer 2

Natural deodorant does not cause dark underarms. Dark underarms can occur naturally due to many reasons, some being, hyperpigmentation, sun exposure, and shaving with a razor. Natural deodorants do not cause dark underarms but can cause rashing or redness depending on your skin sensitivity.

https://proverbskin.com/blogs/news/help-can-natural-deodorant-darken-underarms#:~:text=So%2C%20in%20one%20way%20no,you%20to%20avoid%20irritation%20further.

Comments

I like how you debunked this with many other reasons this can occur

---

i liked that you gave possible reasons for dark underarms

---

I agree with your statement, and like how you gave examples to back it up. Great work.

---

This was a great response to the claim. Not only did you dispute what they were saying, but I like how you also gave the possible reasons for dark under arms to further prove the point to be inaccurate.

---

I enjoy not only your strong source but how you also provide an alternative reason for why the dark arms may be the case. I would suggest attaching an additional link to your reason as to give it even more backing. Great job.

---

I like how you listed the different factors that can lead to dark underarms. Your claim would have been stronger if you used a direct quote from the article and discussed more on that. Another way to make your claim stronger would be to find a competing organization and discuss their point of view.

---

I did really appreciate how straight to the point your response to this claim was. One thing I would recommend adding is some reasoning as to why you are so confident in these opinions.. did you personally learn this information somewhere or are their specific sources that have been fact checked that you are using to back you up?

Answer 3

This website talks about natural deodorant with baking soda and ways to avoid darker underarms. 

While there are many reasons that dark underarms may occur from deodorant, baking soda may cause some damage to the under arms leaving them to appear darker than before if the individual has sensitive skin. 

Baking soda can raise the PH level in the skin for an individual causing them to become irritated, leading to thickening of the skin causing it to become darker. 

There have been cases where individuals have had darker underarms in humid climates as opposed to dry climates as well. 

Overall baking soda is a natural deodorant ingredient that seems to cause irritation to a lot of individuals and can lead to darker underarms, yet it varies. 

https://www.beautsy.com/en/blogs/beautsy-blog/all-about-natural-deodorant-with-baking-soda/

Rating: Varies individual to individual 

Comments

very helpful answer!

---

I like how you went into detail with baking soda/ PH levels specifically, nice job.

---

I enjoy how you went beyond fact checking and actually gave a clear explanation as to why people may believe this.

---

I enjoyed reading your comment on why natural deodorant does not cause dark underarms. I think you did a great job at explaining why this is not true, with evidence to also prove it. Like how you explained that baking soda can have some of these effects but not natural deodorant itself.  You also had a strong article to back up your evidence. Great work
!

---

Great job explaining the different ways underarms can become dark! Giving us an explanation of what happens to our skin causing the pigment to change gives us an insight into how sensitive our skin really is. Your research has proved that the title of the original fact-check is misleading. Natural deodorant can cause dark underarms for those with sensitive skin, but color darkness is not permanent.

---

I think the content of this fact-check is great. The website is from a credible blog and also includes information about the multiple ways that underarms can darken.

Answer 4

According to kaianaturals.com, while baking soda itself does not increase darkness in underarms, it can raise the level of one's pH, thus causing irritation which can lead to darkened underarms. Since baking soda is an alkaline substance, if it is combined with anything acidic there will be a reaction. Depending on your skin's pH level, the irritation may be mild or you could have a more extreme reaction.

https://www.kaianaturals.com/blog/can-natural-deodorant-cause-underarm-darkness/

Comments

good source!

Answer 5

A topic of debate that has generated much discussion is the assertion that using natural deodorant results in dark underarms. On the other hand, little scientific study has been done on this subject.

In an interview with SELF Magazine, dermatologist Dr. Caroline Robinson stated that using natural deodorants does not result in dark underarms. She added that a variety of variables, including heredity, hormones, and shaving, can result in dark underarms, which can cause discomfort and inflammation. She added that although baking soda does not directly cause darkening of the underarms, it can irritate certain people who use various natural deodorants.

https://www.self.com/

Comments

I liked how you backed up your answer with an extra source and brought in evidence from someone knowledgeable in the field. It really strengthened your answer and enhanced its credibility.

Answer 6

According to Healthine, Baking soda has the potential to irritate the skin because it is an exfoliant, when this is repeated it can cause the skin to scar and darken in order to protect itself. I think this is misleading because it is not the natural deoderant that causes dark underarms its baking soda. This is interesting to hear because baking soda is common in home remedies for hyperpigmentation and used to whiten teeth.

https://www.healthline.com/health/baking-soda-for-face#:~:text=While%20it's%20generally%20not%20harmful,in%20homemade%20or%20natural%20deodorants.

Comments

Thank you for giving a source that is based off of medical related data. Healthline also helps people that suffer from a variety of medical conditions so your persona; health is their best interest. It is eye opening to know baking soda can do this when it comes into contact with skin. Makes me wonder if people should be wearing more protection when using it for everyday purposes.

Answer 7

According to an article by "Lifefuelled Skincare" "Natural deodorants cannot darken your underarms as a natural deodorant cannot come in the form of antiperspirant, but if you do suffer from sensitive armpits opting for sensitive natural deodorant may be the right choice for you to avoid irritation further." 

https://proverbskin.com/blogs/news/help-can-natural-deodorant-darken-underarms#:~:text=So%2C%20in%20one%20way%20no,you%20to%20avoid%20irritation%20further.

Answer 8

This is not entirely a false statement, because some natural deodorants have ingredients that can make the skin darker, however, there are many causes for this discoloration. An American dermatologist, Aegean Chan MD, says "In folds, there tends to be more skin laxity and redundancy, which gives it a darker look. Also, skin rubbing together can lead to skin getting thicker, which can subsequently leave a darker appearance.". While the addition of natural deodorants can increase irritation and discoloration, they are not the only reason. 

https://proverbskin.com/blogs/news/help-can-natural-deodorant-darken-underarms#:~:text=So%2C%20in%20one%20way%20no,you%20to%20avoid%20irritation%20further.

Comments

I agree with your statement that it is a misleading claim because in some cases natural deodorant can cause darkening, but only if it contains certain ingredients.

Answer 9

According to the article linked with the claim, natural deodorants cause more melanin to be created in a response to the damage baking soda has on underarms. To the contrary, based on an article from Apollo 24/7 deodorants can cause inflammation to the skin that contain "paraben, alcohol, fragrances" and other chemicals. These are not considered natural ingredients but still irritate the skin and therefore cause darkness. This source also recommends that people switch to more natural deodorants, countering this claim even further.

https://www.apollo247.com/blog/article/tips-to-prevent-dark-underarms

Comments

This is a great answer, you did an efficient job of explaining the specific ingredients that could lead to underarm darkening.

Answer 10

This answer is partially true, as deodorant can cause increased darkness in underarms. However, it is not dependent on if the deodorant is natural or not, it is the specific ingredients that can cause darkening. According to Kaia Naturals, "...Certain ingredients that are typically found in your deodorants or antiperspirants can ALSO act as irritants, and thus cause and aggravate dark patches." 

There are also other factors that can cause darker underarms, including shaving and excessive exfoliating. 

https://www.kaianaturals.com/blog/can-natural-deodorant-cause-underarm-darkness/