How old can a child use deodorant

Using Deodorant for Kids and Teens (for Parents)

For most kids, body odor is part of growing up. Kids start to have body odor around the time puberty starts and hormones change. Usually, this happens when females are 8–13 years old, and males are 9–14. But it can also be normal to start puberty earlier or later.

Bathing every day, especially after a lot of sweating or in hot weather, can help with body odor. So can wearing clean clothes, underwear, and socks each day. But many parents also wonder if it’s time for kids to start using deodorant.

What Are the Types of Deodorant?

Two types of products can help with body odor:

Deodorants cover up the smell of body odor, usually with fragrances.
Antiperspirants stop or dry up perspiration or sweat. They do this by temporarily blocking the pores where sweat comes from.

Deodorants, antiperspirants, and combination products come in sticks, roll-ons, gels, sprays, and creams and are sold at any many stores.

When Should Kids Start Using Deodorant?

There's no set age at which kids can start using deodorants or antiperspirants. When they do start, they should read and follow the directions. Younger kids should use a stick, roll-on, or cream product rather than a spray (aerosol) option until they’re old enough to use those safely without spraying them in their face or inhaling them.

What Kind of Deodorant Is Best for Kids?

Early on, kids may get benefit from deodorant. Later in puberty, sweating increases so it might help to switch to a product that handles both odor and perspiration.

Deodorants and antiperspirants are safe for kids. Some have packaging or scents designed to appeal to young users, but the main ingredients are the same. Some are labeled “natural,” but they aren’t better for health than regular options. Use whatever you and your child are comfortable with.

To help your child or teen with body odor, choose a product that feels comfortable and works well. Watch for a rash to make sure it doesn’t irritate your child’s skin. If a rash develops, try a different product. Your child might prefer the scent of one product over another, or even an unscented one. It might take a few tries before you find the right one.

Using Deodorant Correctly

For an antiperspirant or deodorant to do its job, it must be used correctly. Some antiperspirants work better if they're used at night, while others recommend application in the morning. They generally are for use under the arms, but some antiperspirants are OK to use on the hands or feet if those areas are especially sweaty. Read the label so you know how to use it.

When Should I Call the Doctor?

Some kids develop body odor before the usual age of puberty. Talk to the doctor if your child has body odor and is younger than 7 or 8 years (for a girl) or 9 years (for a boy). The doctor can check for signs of puberty starting early, which sometimes needs treatment with medicine. If there are no signs of early puberty, body odor isn’t usually a health problem. But your doctor can reassure your child if they feel self-conscious or worried about sweating or body odor.

Reviewed by: Melanie L. Pitone, MD

Date reviewed: June 2022

Deodorant for Kids: The Safe Options

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Is it time for your child to start wearing deodorant?

You may want to keep your child a baby forever, but kids grow up fast. In the blink of an eye, they’re starting kindergarten, learning how to ride a bike, and before you know it, they’re going through puberty. Kids start puberty at different ages, with many girls beginning between the ages of 9 and 13 and many boys between 10 and 15, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Puberty causes undeniable physical changes in your child. Children grow taller, girls develop breasts, and a young man’s voice may deepen. Puberty is also when children start growing body hair. As underarm hair develops, you may notice a distinct odor coming from your child. Just about every parent expects their child to start wearing deodorant by their teenage years. But some children develop body odor at a much younger age. It’s not uncommon for a parent or child to start thinking about deodorant as early as 8, 9, or 10 years old. You may feel your child is too young for deodorant. But the truth is, there’s no specific age for a child to start wearing deodorant. Each parent and child have to make a decision together based on what they feel is best.

Deodorant vs. antiperspirant

If you and your child decide that now’s the time to address their body odor, you can choose either an antiperspirant or a deodorant. Some people use these terms interchangeably, or feel that antiperspirants and deodorants are the same thing. But there are clear differences between the two. An antiperspirant is a product that stops perspiration, and a deodorant is a product that eliminates odor caused by sweat. Some products function as both an antiperspirant and deodorant, but this isn’t always the case. Since sweat is usually the underlying cause of body odor, you may look for products that only control perspiration. Although an antiperspirant can be effective, some people are concerned about potentially harmful side effects of these products.

Side effects of antiperspirants

If you check the label of antiperspirants in your bathroom or on a retail shelf, you’ll find brands containing the ingredients aluminum chloride or aluminum zirconium. These ingredients work like a plug by constricting and stopping up sweat glands. If applied daily, your child may stop sweating completely or only sweat a small amount. Adult antiperspirants can be used by children and teens. This includes brands like Certain Dri, Old Spice, Secret, and several other products on the market. While aluminum-based antiperspirants are effective against sweat, it’s been suggested that aluminum and other ingredients founds in antiperspirants (parabens and propylene glycol) might be linked to an increased risk of some medical problems. However, studies haven’t shown that applying these substances to the skin causes an increased risk of any disease. If you’re concerned about these ingredients, you can skip the antiperspirant and choose a gentle deodorant for your child or teen.

Safe, gentle deodorants for kids

If you need a product to mask your child’s body odor, and you prefer a product that doesn’t contain aluminum, parabens, or other similar ingredients, there are many natural deodorants for kids. Here are some options:

Primal Pit Paste
Tom’s of Maine
Junior Varsity Natural
Truly’s
Crystal Spring Salt of the Earth
Fresh Kidz

Since deodorants don’t contain ingredients that stop perspiration, these products only control your child’s body odor, not sweating. The good news is that young children don’t usually sweat a lot. Understand that children respond differently to natural products. If a natural deodorant doesn’t immediately produce the desired results, give it a few days and allow your child’s body to adjust to the deodorant. If this doesn’t work, your child may respond to a different type of natural deodorant. Natural deodorants are safe, but your children may be allergic to one or more of the ingredients. In fact, your child could just as easily be sensitive to an ingredient in a deodorant as to one in an antiperspirant. Before your children apply either of these to their underarms, you might want to test the product on a small section of their body, maybe on the back of their hand. Look for any signs of an allergic reaction like redness, bumps, or itchiness. If a reaction doesn’t occur, it’s likely safe for your children to apply a larger amount under their arms.

Do-it-yourself deodorant

If you don’t want to expose your child to the ingredients in purchased antiperspirants or deodorants, you can also make your own deodorant at home using a variety of ingredients like coconut oil, baking soda, and essential oils. There are a variety of simple recipes online. A basic concoction might include mixing:

1/4 cup of baking soda
1/4 cup of arrowroot powder
4 tbsp. of coconut oil
1/4 tsp. of an essential oil like tea tree or lavender

Combine all ingredients, and then melt and pour into a used deodorant tube or another container. Since essential oils and other natural products are largely unregulated, it’s difficult to evaluate the safety or efficacy of any individual product. Though no links have been established between essential oils and hormonal balance, research is ongoing. In this recipe, any scented oil could be used instead of the tea tree oil or lavender, as the only role of this is to cover up body odor and smell better than sweat. Since homemade and natural deodorants are mild, these products may not be as effective as other types of deodorants. To control body odor all day, your children may need to reapply deodorant after physical activity or on hot days. Your children can also take additional steps to control body odor. These include bathing at least once a day, showering after activities, and changing their clothes, socks, and underwear every day.

Takeaway

Body odor is common in children and teenagers, especially when they’re going through puberty. There’s no cause for alarm. Speak with your doctor to get to the bottom of body odor issues if your child’s odor doesn’t improve or worsens despite using an antiperspirant, a deodorant, and improving hygiene habits. Sometimes, children can have conditions that cause excess perspiration. In rare cases, your doctor may suggest running tests to confirm whether body odor is due to growing up, or other problems like an infection, diabetes, or an overactive thyroid.

At what age can you use deodorant?

According to statistics, only 50% of women and 25% of men use deodorants. It is worth teaching hygiene from childhood, so as you grow up, introduce your child to the means of protection against sweat and odor. Rexona experts will tell you at what age a child can use deodorant.

Minimum age to use deodorant

Sweating is a normal physiological process that helps to cool the body. The baby begins to sweat within a few months after birth, but at an early age, sweat does not smell in children.

In fact, sweat does not smell even in adults: a pungent odor appears due to the vital activity of bacteria. Before the onset of puberty, only the endocrine glands are responsible for thermoregulation, and with the onset of adolescence, the apocrine glands are activated. They are located next to the hair follicles on the scalp, pubis, and armpits.

The sweat secreted by the apocrine glands is more viscous in texture and contains not only moisture but also volatile fatty acids. It is the proteins and lipids in sweat that create a breeding ground for bacteria that actively develop and cause unpleasant odors. Therefore, you can start using deodorant with the onset of puberty (9-13 years for girls and 11-14 years for boys*). At the same time, you need to monitor the hygiene of a teenager: he needs to take a shower regularly, and also put on clean and dry linen and clothes every day.

How to choose

When choosing a deodorant, evaluate:

how it is applied. Pencil and roll-on deodorant are easy to apply, the aerosol should be used at first under the supervision of parents, since if it is sprayed incorrectly, it can get on the mucous membranes. The most hygienic way is an aerosol, it does not have an applicator in contact with the skin;
medium type. If the child has excessive sweating, it is better to use an antiperspirant. It will reduce the activity of sweat glands, help prevent irritation;
fragrance. Let your child rely on his own taste and choose the smell that he likes.

Parental Precautions

Dermatologists do not recommend using the same roll-on or stick for two different people. Your child should have their own deodorant or antiperspirant. Tell us about the precautions: warn that a small amount of the product should be applied to dry and clean skin immediately after a shower, that the product should not be applied to damaged skin or immediately after shaving, convince them of the importance of daily hygiene procedures and the specifics of how deodorant and antiperspirant work. If irritation or allergies appear on the skin, stop using the product and consult a doctor.

* A.V. Solntseva, A.V. Sukalo "Premature sexual development in children", Educational and methodological manual, Minsk, Belarusian State Medical University, 2010

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Choosing a deodorant for teenagers | Rexona

Most people first start using deodorants during adolescence. Why does such a need arise specifically for teenagers and what deodorants are suitable for teenagers? Let's figure it out together.

At a transitional age, the body is rebuilt to a new model of work. Hormonal changes in the body also affect sweating. You may notice that in childhood, sweat almost does not smell. In adolescents, apocrine sweat glands are activated, which are responsible for the appearance of an unpleasant odor. As a rule, they start working at the age of 11-14. From this age, you should start using deodorant.

It is important to know that teenagers sweat more than adults. Apocrine gland activity peaks at puberty. After that, the glands secrete less secretion.

Changes in the body often make teenagers nervous. This also affects self-esteem. If stains in the armpit area and an unpleasant odor can cause discomfort, it is better to use a sweat deodorant. For teenagers, this will be an excellent safety net against unpleasant situations.

Can teenagers wear deodorant?

The skin of teenagers is almost as sensitive as that of children. Incorrectly selected cosmetics can cause irritation or allergies. What is the safest deodorant for a teenager?

All deodorants sold in stores have been dermatologically tested. They are safe for both adults and young people. Irritations can only occur in case of an individual allergy to the components. To protect yourself from this, it is better to test the product in advance on a small area of skin. Also, do not use deodorant immediately after shaving. For example, Rexona antiperspirants for teens are free of alcohol*, parabens, and dyes.

Which deodorant should I choose for my teenager?

When choosing a deodorant for teenagers, it is important to take into account the lifestyle and habits of modern girls and boys. How do teenagers live?

They lead an active lifestyle. School, circles, communication with friends - all this takes a lot of time and effort. Do not forget about physical activity. With such a high pace of life, you don’t want to waste a single extra minute. This means that deodorant for teenagers should be easy to apply and absorb quickly.

Young people value comfort. The fashion for sneakers and oversized clothing proves that comfort comes first for teenagers. This also applies to deodorants. The product should have a soft and silky texture, pleasant to the body. For example, Rexona Teen Antiperspirant Deodorant contains no alcohol*, which can dry out delicate skin. But there is vitamin E** in the composition - it moisturizes and nourishes.

Adolescents strive for independence. Self-expression, the opportunity to make choices and try new things are very important for them. This applies even to small things like the smell of a sweat remedy. The Rexona line of deodorants for teenagers includes three fragrances that can be chosen according to your mood:

Delicate and Juicy
Fresh and Invisible
Bright and Floral

Teenagers love beautiful things. For the generation of Instagram and Youtube, the visual component is almost in the first place. Product packaging should be bright and concise, as well as emphasize the character of its owner.

Teenagers value reliability. The popularity of the trend towards conscious consumption confirms that quality is the most important thing in a product. Deodorant should become a true friend for a teenager, whom you can always rely on. The Rekson brand tried to take this into account. Rexona Teen Deodorant does the job - it protects against sweat and odor all day long.

Wrapping up

Can teens use deodorants and antiperspirants? Yes. In adolescence, the sweat glands begin to work more actively, and deodorant helps to cope with unpleasant odors.

All kinds of deodorants are available in stores. What can a teenager use? All products on the market have been certified and are safe to use. If you are afraid of skin irritation, choose products with a gentle composition: without ethyl alcohol, but with moisturizing ingredients.

What kind of deodorant will a teenager like to use?

For teenagers, it is important that the deodorant matches their lifestyle: it is easy to apply, quickly absorbed, has a pleasant texture, does not stain the skin and clothes, and is gentle on the skin. Self-expression also matters - the design and smell of the product must match the character.