Why Your DIY Baking Soda Deodorant is Causing a Skin Reaction
This post has been updated. Please visit this link to read the updated post.
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Comments
this is a tangent, but still related to baking soda use. i have been using a "sorta-poo" for a few months now: 5 mL coconut milk, 15 mL castile soap. i have hard water, so i started adding 0.625 mL baking soda as a water-softener (following this advice: http://www.bubbleandbee.com/shampoofaqs.html). that comes out to ~3% baking soda, but it does get rinsed out plus followed by a diluted acv rinse, however my scalp is itchier/has more dandruff. (my hair is soft/healthy/shiny, though!)
let me admit right now that i have never felt comfortable with chemistry and i am getting all of these molecular formulas from wikipedia. :)
hard water ~= Ca(2+) + 2HCO3(−) + H2O
soap ~= C17H35COO(-)Na(+)
soap scum ~= (C17H35COO)2Ca
i get how hard water + soap = soap scum.
baking soda = NaHCO3... how exactly does that prevent the calcium ions from joining the soap molecules? i am about 99% sure that Ca and Na will not bond together (could have slept through that class :P), but adding baking soda doesn't seem to add any new players to the mix, just more carbonate and sodium ions...
let me distill my confusion into a question: does baking soda work as a water softener / soap scum preventer? how?
Meantime, here's the short answer.
Calcium, magnesium, iron and manganese are divalent minerals in water (divalent = can bond with either other ions or molecules). They are usually also associated with scale formation and 'hardening' of the water.
To soften water, these mineral ions need to be replaced with 2 sodium or potassium ions. This process creates a byproduct .. are you ready? It's baking soda!
If you add baking soda to water of any hardness, it will feel soft.
:)
I have been digging around the internet for the last few weeks trying to not only figure out a good DIY deodorant recipe, but sift through all the "aluminum will KILL YOU" posts floating around. Thanks for posting this!
Thank you so much for your kind words. I have been so saddened to experience how many people are being harmed by DIY baking soda deodorants.. I had to post this.
If you send me more detailed info, I'll be happy to take a look. :)
Also, your reference to the data sheet you provided "SKIN EFFECTS: Non-irritating to intact skin. Minor irritation may occur on abraded skin". It can be a problem after shaving, but one should never put anything on your skin after shaving.
I wrote this post because I have had a worryingly huge amount of questions from people who have had all kinds of negative reactions to DIY baking soda deodorant, so I can't quite agree with your comment about me blowing this out of proportion.
As for your reference to the MSDS, I am referring to the listed potential health effects on page 2:
"POTENTIAL HEALTH EFFECTS: Direct contact with the product causes irritation of the eyes and continuous contact may cause skin irritation (red, dry, cracked skin)."
You mention using baking soda as a face cleanser. I have seen this many places on the net, and have actually been meaning to do some research into the pros and cons of it. You may just have inspired a new blog post. :)
Your statement about parabens and aluminum is incorrect. It sounds very much to me like you are quoting some of the misnformation that has been circulating the net. You are correct about aluminum not being good for everyone. There are some people who are allergic to it. I'm not quite sure what you mean by prepaid science and prepaid bloggers, so I'm afraid I can't comment on that.
My point with this post is to advise DIY'ers to pay attention to amounts and proportions in their recipes. Just because an ingredient can be found in the kitchen cupboard doesn't necessarily make it safe to apply to the delicate skin of the armpits in a large dose. Baking soda is an active ingredient. Putting 23% of any active ingredient into a product for application to the skin is an outrageous amount by any measure.
If you read the comment from Anonymous from Oct 18 along with my answer, you will see my comments as to what the MSDS on baking soda says about potential health hazards.
Have you ever tried natural deodorant crystals? These are solid potassium alum and often sold as 'natural deodorant stone'. They are not antiperspirants, but will keep the smell away (some say for longer than others). Just a suggestion you may want to try.
:)
I have used PURE sodium bicarbonate and water paste in my armpits for about thirty years. It has no smell, and kills the bacteria that cause odor. Once those bacteria are gone, a very small maintenance amount of sodium bicarbonate paste, once a week, is enough to continue the complete prevention of any underarm odor!
Again, let me emphasize that I one of those (are we in the majority or minority?) who have no skin reaction to sodium bicarbonate.
A rash can be everything from a slight itchiness and redness to a more serious reaction that needs the attention of a doctor. It's hard for me to say what the best thing to do is, except to tell you not to ignore a skin reaction from DIY deodorant with baking soda. If it is a slight/small reaction, just waiting it out may be enough. For itchiness, aloe vera can offer some relief. I hope this was some help
I'm so sorry to hear you have had a reaction to using baking soda deodorant. First: stop using this deodorant immediately. If possible, you should really have your doc have a look to be sure it isn't serious. Sometimes the reactions can develop into more serious matters. Meantime, try and stay completely away from deodorant while your skin is healing. If you have itching, you can try and apply pure aloe vera after gently washing with a very very mild soap. - or just water water and more water. You should consider contacting the company that made this product to tell them about your reaction. This kind of reaction should most definitely NOT happen with any commercially made deodorant! Please do let me know how you get on with this.
The quest for natural alternatives to commercial deodorant has unfortunately created a lot of casualties as well. I have seen far too many people jump straight into making and selling homemade products that are a health risk. An example: I have seen DIY deodorant for sale on ETSY (some even offer to 'give away the recipe with each purchase'). EVERY one I have checked out has a dangerously high amount of baking soda in it.
Just because an ingredient readily available in a supermarket doesn't mean it's not a chemical or safe to put on your skin. Sorry for this speech. It just saddens me to see so much misinformation circulating and causing so much damage. I hope your skin reaction lessens and disappears quickly.
From my soap making business, I've have had nothing but amazing positive feedback from everyone except one person who has used my deodorant, which is made from only 4 ingredients: 50% organic cold-pressed virgin coconut oil, 25%arrowroot powder, 25 % regular A&H baking soda and essential oil.
Turns out the one person who had the reaction was rubbing it in too vigorously and the grain was irritating her skin. She took a months break and tried it again and it was fine.
It's too bad you're giving deodorant with baking soda such a bad name because it (in the words of my customers) has been a miracle deodorant for them! Probably the people who had bad reactions were not doing enough research and mixing it with less effective ingredients.. And, quite possibly, rubbing it in too vigorously as well!
People certainly shouldn't be experimenting randomly with ingredients until they do a ton of research from different sources, research individual ingredients themselves and then use common sense.
Thanks for your input. I have heard from many people who have had all kinds of reactions to baking soda deodorant bought from from DIY'ers who sell their products online, some react almost immediately after use, some don't react until after months of use.
I am quite certain you mean well, but unfortunately, every DIY'er I have come across selling baking soda deodorant is doing far more damage than they realize.
There are several things that concern me with what you write.
1. You write that your deodorant has 25% baking soda in it. This at least 24% too much. According to your listed ingredients, there are no pH adjusting ingredients in your recipe. If your deodorant recipe is as you write, then you are selling a product that risks causing all kinds of skin reactions and problems, and is probably doing just that.
2. You write that I am giving baking soda deodorant a bad name. I cannot agree with you. I am merely reacting to the thousands of communications I have received from people that have had skin reactions to using baking soda deodorant - some after making their own, and some from using a baking soda deodorant bought online from a DIY'er.
3. You write people shouldn't experiment randomly with ingredients until they do a ton of research. I absolutely agree with that. If you had done the research, you would not be making (and selling!) your product with such a dangerously high amount of baking soda in it and without any pH regulating ingredients. My guess is you are not getting any complaints because people are looking elsewhere for answers after they have gotten a reaction to it.
4. You have chosen to remain anonymous. This indicates to me that you are not willing to stand by what you write.
Please have another look at your recipe and consider taking it off market until it is safe for use. If you were a registered cosmetics company, it would most certainly not be approved for sale.
i have to comment on your majority VS minority opinion. Just because you have heard from an 'alarmingly' high number, this is a vague 'gues-timation' of whether this represents a majority or minority as it only focuses on one side. This is also the 'negative' side, that you have focused on.
IF you had not experienced any negative effects, remaining in a neutral standpoint or even a positive one where the expected results where obtained (making it kind of neutral because you were expecting it to do what was told).
Would you research and comment, wondering about why it WORKED? no you accept it did what it was supposed to and go back to having a happy life. :) as usual the louder group tends to be the negatively affected group so going by how much fuss they kick up is not a fair way to guess that they are the majority.
Just a friendly comment i hope i caused no offense (or confusion! i am no writer! :) ) best regards!
Thank you so much for your kind words. Please don't feel dumb about trying baking soda deodorant - there are so many places on the net echoing the same misinformation that it is understandable many would feel this is safe and OK to do. Now, please heal quickly and take good care of yourself :)
If you read the MSDS (Material safety data sheet) on sodium bicarbonate, you will find there are warnings of skin reactions with prolonged use on skin. Baking soda is not made for direct contact with skin. It also needs buffering before being used in anything with direct contact to skin. I haven't seen a single DIY baking soda deodorant recipe that comes close to living up to these requirements.
Still, it could be fun to put up a poll on the blog and ask people if they use baking soda deodorant and if they have or have not reacted to it.. I may do that. Thanks for the inspiration.
My best suggestion for you is to try and use nothing while waiting for healing. I know that doesn't sound like much fun, but perhaps you will be able to speed the healing process by applying pure aloe vera (gel or spray on).
Maybe the crystal deodorant stone will be an option to try while healing.. This is pure potassium alum - and it is sold as 'crystal deodorant stone'. I hope this is some help, and I hope you heal quickly!
Within the first week I noticed some redness butt didn't think much of it. It wasn't until the end if week 2 I noticed my armpits turned brown and they seemed dried out, wrinkly. I stopped using my deodorant and went back to dove for a week and a half. My armpits are finally back to normal.
I'm glad I found your post. I thought I may be the only one with this reaction since there are so many of the same recipes out there. The search continues for something that'll work for me.
First, THANK YOU for posting a name! It is somehow so much easier to reply to a name.
I'm so pleased you have healed properly and are no longer struggling with 'baking soda burn'.
Have you ever tried using the crystal deodorant stone? This is potassium alum - is a natural mineral and quite safe for use. I wrote a post about it in the deodorant series (see under topics on the right). You might find this useful. There is also a recipe for a DIY deodorant on the blog as well. When I use that in conjunction with the crystal deodorant stone I get all day protection. Just a suggestion.
:)
I attended the 10th Keele conference on aluminum toxicity in England Feb. 2013 an was really Scientifically satisfied along with other scientists that find antiperspirants and crystal style stone(yes they are in the aluminum world)are truly harmful to the function of the lymphatics(also linked to affecting MC-7 cancer cells). Today one can plainly see the effects using Thermography to detect the changes in the body especially to the cellular waste impeded from draining from the breast to the axilla(underarm). Dr. Darbre and Dr. Chris Exley are two of the most notable authors to aluminum toxicity in deodorants. In my investigation there is a link to using crystal style stone and thyroid health. Ever notice two horizontal lines in some people's neck and a slight sagging, that is because the thyroid lymphatics are linked to draining into the the underarm and stagnation of waste fluid create a buildup of mineral waste such as alums salts.
You are incorrect about potassium alum. I encourage you to check out the deodorant section on this blog for posts about aluminum and deodorant as well as other ingredients that have been spotlighted in later years. There are links in these posts to documentation.
In response to your opinion, I would like to say Dr. Darbre paper at the 10th Keele Conference focus on aluminum and MC-7 cells, as a attendee we had first hand knowledge from her that a small amount of aluminum in antiperspirants increases cancer cells proliferation. We have the list of studies from the 10th Keele with her work included available for anyone that is interested. Darbre other studies includes the concentration of alumunium in breast cyst and tumors. In another study Dr. Exley found that the alum in antiperspirants was found also in the urine(1%) of the subjects tested, leading one to believe aluminum in antiperspirants travel within the human body. Exley's opinion as well as other leading Scientist such as Darbre, Mannello, that study the connection to aluminum and breast cancer, agree potassium alum is an aluminum and if you purchase it from a manufacture they will ship it as an aluminum product(MSDS)required. Our company even had a stone lab analyze the several crystals and their results show that the potassium alum belong in the aluminum category (AL 26.982).
The testing today is so superior to the old methods that the aluminum manufactures used and avoided detection for tissue and DNA damage and now antiperspirants and crystals deodorants are grandfathered. The FDA gives the crystal deodorant a "drug" status and as long as these are marketed as "cosmetics" they are allowed.
What I'm currently working on is the concentration of aluminum in liver and it association with breast health. It would be best not to use aluminum products as they tend to lodge in tissue(DarbreDOI10.1002/jat.1384) such as breasts and given that radiation from mammograms tend to absorb into metals such as aluminum salts. If the underarm are clogged with alum salts how does the lymphatic fluids from the breast exit the underarm?
How would one know these issues if they were not aware of the facts already. I would welcome a discussion of these issues if your interested. Given the social cultural pattern of using antiperspirants and crystals I understand the idea that many of us are unwilling to change but there are better scientific proven healthier alternative deodorants available today.
Sincerely,
Mike Fessler
Thanks for writing your name.
I'm sorry, but you are still mixing science with some of the more popular misinformation that scaremongers have so successfully spread.
You write as if it is a given that aluminum is readily absorbed through the skin by using deodorant containing aluminum. This is not a given. It is a given that humans are exposed to aluminum throughout their lives – a large part via the food and drink that they consume, but also through physical contact (aluminum objects such as cans/tins are an everyday thing).
Even if a person applied a deodorant containing aluminium salts every single day of their life, they would still be getting less aluminium through their deodorant than they get naturally through the food and water they consume.
This is a fact, not my opinion.
You mention people should steer clear of aluminum in products and that studies are ongoing. Wouldn't it seem most logical to study the aluminum that is consumed as this is where the majority of the exposure comes from?
It has has already been established that the skin is not as readily permeable as many of the scaremongers touting the dangers of 'chemicals in cosmetics' would have everyone believe. Science has not yet been able to state categorically how much skin absorbs of any ingredient, because it depends on a plethora of factors. Even applying the same product to the same skin at 2 different times of day gives different readings. Why do you think most medicines are delivered internally? Because topical delivery of most active ingredients has not been successful or consistant enough to be reliable.
As for potassium alum, you will find that the only toxicology warnings there are consist of : 'a weak irritant to the skin'. Again, you are mixing fact with misÃnformation.
I'm afraid the only thing we can agree on is that overexposure to aluminum is not healthy. On that point, we most definitely do agree.
Thanks so much for publishing this. I have been using a 1/3 baking soda, corn starch and coconut oil recipe for a few weeks after I had a bad reaction to Tom's of Maine Lavender DO. I was fine for a while but then my pits started to itch. Now they are dark and there is some real read parts and it is spreading to above my breast. I have an aloe plant in the bathroom. I am going to try applying that and also will get some crystal DO in the mean time. Thanks so much for helping me. Frannie.
Ouch!! Itsounds like you need to visit the doctor to be sure things aren't getting our of hand. It worries me that you write the irritation is spreading. As for using Aloe directly from the plant, you must be a bit careful here as there is a skin irritant in between the aloe and the fibrous plant part, so extracting the aloe must be done carefully. I hope you feel better real soon!
I noticed in a previous comment that you had the idea for a poll on reaction/non-reaction. I would kind of like to see that! I'd be interested to see the results.
I use a DIY deodorant that has around a tablespoon of baking soda in a cup of finished product. (The rest is coconut oil and cornstarch.) I love it and have used it for over a year with no ill effect. I *think* that is more than one percent if my math is correct (which it may very well not be!), but I have had no problems with redness or itching, etc. Of course it is nowhere near twenty-five percent!
I would also be interested to know how many of the sellers online get repeat orders. That would be one way to gauge how well people like it!
I do totally get your point about too much being bad for your skin. I do wonder, though, if each person has a different toleration point since individual chemistries can be so different? I have one friend who uses about a half-and-half ratio of shea butter and baking soda and loves it (and has done so forf a long long time), and I have another friend who can't use baking soda at all (she ended up using a crystal instead).
I'm not trying to be attitude-y or anything. I just wonder if more people love it than it seems.
I think I got stuck last time I considered it because I couldn't figure out how to put a poll together so it would give a truly neutral result. My conundrum: most of the people who find their way to my blog do so because they have had a skin reaction to baking soda deodorant. (This is evident from my blog stats). Therefore, my main worry is: if I poll people on this blog, I would most likely be polling mostly people who have had a reaction to using baking soda deodorant.
I'd love to hear any ideas or suggestions you have as to how to tackle that one.
:)
Lise
Or perhaps ask some of the more popular online sellers if they have repeat customers? (I don't know if they share that kind of info. I am not a blogger or a seller, just an avid reader. And I love to DIY products.)
Just a thought!
To be completely fair, I think a poll would need to be placed with a third party...
I think asking any online sellers to share how many repeat sales they have wouldn't give a clear picture either (and I think they would be hesitant to divulge this kind of information).
I shall put my thinking cap on once more and see if I can't come up with a solution here.
Thanks for your input!
Also, if you want a little extra herbal action, grind and add dried herbs of choice (lavender, calendula, chamomile, etc). Let me know how it goes!
:)
I'm curious: have you had no skin discoloration or no thickening of the skin at all?
I turned to the DIY deodorant because of the aluminum scare. While your blog post puts me at ease over aluminum somewhat, I'm still skeptical of it. I have been using this for a few months, 3 Tbsp virgin coconut oil, 3 Tbsp Baking Soda, 2 Tbsp arrowroot powder, 2 Tbsp Shea butter, and essential oil. I originally suspected the essential oil for the rash I get at times but thought to myself look into the baking soda. I find the deodorant works great until I become very active. Hot days, lots of sweat, and lots of movement really seem to trigger the rashes but they usually go away by the next day. Sill I am concerned that I could hurt myself if I continue to use the current formula. I was going to modify the formula and try a lot less baking soda. 4 Tbsp virgin coconut oil, 4 Tbsp Shea butter, 4 Tbsp Beeswax, 4 Tbsp arrowroot powder, 1.5 Tbsp Baking soda, and essential oil. I do like the DIY deodorant but can't continue to use in its current state. Am I playing with fire?
If I SHAVE TOO CLOSE then the BAKING SODA causes a rash.
Hi Anon - deodorant works by maintaining a bacteria-unfriendly pH on the skins surface. Our skin's job is to be a protective barrier - and it's very good at its job! Getting ingredients ( like some medicines etc) to be absorbed through the skin is something scientists have worked on for years. The simple fact is, we don't absorb nearly as much as we think through our skin. So to answer your question, you are spreading a thin layer of product on your skin with a deodorant - not absorbing it. :)
Our skins natural pH is not alkaline, as you write, but acidic. The average pH is around 4.8. There is a reason the skin is referred to as the acid mantel. May I suggest you check out this post (and the links to documentation) about the skins pH. http://www.lisaliseblog.com/2013/10/skin-and-ph-whats-natural.html
I'm so glad you are getting better! Thank you for updating - now stay healthy and happy!
:D
Hi Cathy -
Oh dear - it does sound like you've had a pretty nasty experience with baking soda deodorant. I'm pretty sure the symptoms wont reappear if you stay away from baking soda deodorant. As for alternatives - there are a couple you might want to try. Potassium alum (otherwise known as deodorant crystal) is safe and quite efficient. If you want to do your own deodorant, there is a recipe for a DIY deodorant without baking soda on this blog - check the how to page. I wish you the best of luck with it. Please do check back and let me know how it goes with you-- ok?
Apparently I am one of the many who is sensitive to baking soda. I did not make my own deodorant, instead I used the product in my hair. I recently stopped shampooing my hair and started using a mix of castile and coconut oil instead as I was having so much trouble finding a good shampoo for myself. I had not used heat on my hair or colored it in years and yet it was so dry and just horrible. After a few days, I could hardly stand how oily my hair was! Someone told me to use baking soda to wash it and, against better judgment, I did. I thought maybe it would be okay (despite what I know about it) and I was desperate! I broke out in a horrible rash across my shoulders, back, arms and around my underarms. I was interested in finding out if it was a common reaction for other people, too, and found your post (along with MANY others) advising against it or in moderation. I would never recommend using baking soda for ANY skin or hair care use. I am all for the "natural" and homemade products, but people should definitely take care and remember that everything is made of "chemicals".... Thank you for your post and good luck to other ladies and guys looking for their own best skin and hair care!
Thank you in advance for your help.
There were so many responses that I did not read them all, so I apologize if you've answered this question specifically, but as someone who's made a few DIY deodorant version now, I was hoping for your recommendations on how to modify my current recipe (which I love, and have only started to have the barest "maybe-thats-a-reaction-maybe-I-shaved-too-close" reaction to, but after reading your article I'd like to change it now before I do have a bad reaction).
I've made variations of the 50% coconut oil, 25% arrowroot, 25% baking soda + essential oils recipe a few times now, and any time I've had reactions(nothing as bad as some others have described, but itchiness and some zits even) I've chalked it up to the fact that it's a liquid I have to mix around and I wasn't great about washing my hands before.
My questions are: 1) how reasonable of a theory is that (the having dirty hands theory, that is, that I have been introducing bacteria into the deodorant), and do you have any recommendations for the best way to apply less-solid deodorants?
2)I did some math, and realized that I would have to make a huge batch to "modify" my current deodorant to weaken the baking soda enough, so can you tell me instead why there aren't more recipes that use 2:1 coconut oil and arrowroot powder, with only a small amount of baking soda? Is arrowroot powder just not that effective, or only effective when used with baking soda?
Everything you've said about baking soda makes sense, but I haven't read much about why arrowroot powder is usually included in tandem. Does it do anything by itself or is it just filler?
I know this was a super long comment, your thoughts are greatly appreciated and I apologize if you answered this and I didn't see it!
Thank you so much for your input and kind words! Let's have a look at your questions:
1. The dirty hands theory. This is always a relevant question. As your deodorant is anhydrous (contains no water), there is nothing in it that bacteria can thrive in. However- if you've been dipping wet fingers into the solution, then there is a risk of contamination.
As for applying less solid deodorants: how about the back of a tablespoon? Dipping a spoon into the mixture and letting it drip off before applying might work. I often use the back of a teaspoon to apply a face mask, and they work surprisingly well. I imagine it would be just as useful for a liquify-type deodorant.
2. Your question about arrowroot is quite interesting.
Arrowroot - applied topically, is said to help heat rash and sunburn, so the assumption may be that the arrowroot will help counteract irritation from the baking soda. Unfortunately, there are no studies on this. I have heard from many who have excellent results using clay (kaolin), which is quite neutral and skin friendly.
Try mixing some clay in with the arrowroot. You can pretty much mix and match the powders to your preference, as long as you keep the baking soda at or under 1% of the total weight of the product. If your mixture weighs 100 grams, you'll want max 1 gram of that to be baking soda.
You could also consider adding potassium alum (in powdered form) to your mix. This is also known as 'deodorant crystals' or 'crystal stone deodorant'. This does have deodorising power and can actually be used solo as well.
I hope I have answered your questions. best of luck with your deodorant!
I’m using only baking soda as deodorant for couple of months now. I apply it mixed with water on my skin. My problem is that I get rash and pimples on my armpits. I think I have quite sensitive skin prone to pimples. I also tried mixing baking soda with olive oil but it’s not getting any better. I shave my armpits a couple of time on week, because my hair grow fast. I never apply it on fresh shaven skin, at night I only use baby powder. What should I do? Stop the usage? How to get rid of rash? Baking soda works very well for me, I don’t stink at all. That’s why I'd love to use it further more.
Thank you in advance for your help.
Laura
It sounds like you need to try and find an alternative to the baking soda. Even though baking soda functions well as a deodorizer - it is a skin irritant and not made for prolonged skin contact - most especially unbuffered. In other words: your rash and pimples will most likely disappear if you stop using baking soda on your armpits.
Have you tried natural deodorant crystals? also known as crystal deodorant stone, this is a natural deodorizer that is much more skin friendly. It can be bought as powder or as a stone. The INCI name is potassium alum.
Best of luck with it!
:)
Thanks for sharing this. You are not the only one to have a 'delayed reaction' to using baking soda directly on the skin. I hope you will be happy with the aloe and crystal deodorant. I have heard form many who do very well with this method (I use it myself in between testing my own deodorant products)
best of luck!
i am currently sitting here with two frozen corn cobs wrapped in dish towels stuffed in my arm pits after a horrible and immediate reaction to a diy baking soda deodorant. (Go ahead; picture it and have a giggle - I had no ice packs or peas available).
Nice to read a post that recognizes the limitations of the ' fix-all ', ' suits everybody ' mindset that many individuals have of ' going natural '. It doesn't work for everybody. I use baking soda and apple cider vinegar to wash my scalp and hair, without any issues thus far, but I'll be thinking twice about it now.
Out of curiosity - how long have you used the baking soda and vinegar method for your hair?
I've been washing my hair this way for about 6 months now. However, I dissolve the baking soda completely in boiling water first, as I found that making a 'paste' as some people describe made my scalp feel tight, although it didn't hurt. This probably removes a lot of the benefits that some people get from washing their hair with baking soda, but it is working exceptionally well for me. I have had chronic psoriasis on my scalp for about 16 years. I've tried all the lotions and potions, both prescribed, and those that claim to be natural/ organic etc., to no avail. This is the first time since the age of 10 that I haven't had embarrassing, giant yellow flakes through my hair, coupled with a red, itchy, irritated scalp. So I'm sure you can understand why I'm hesitant to stop using it.
Do you have any suggestions for alternatives that may not cause a reaction further down the track?
Cheers,
Mel
1. You are not - as one does with baking soda deodorant - leaving this mixture on your skin/scalp. Rinsing it off immediately makes a huge difference.
2. You are following with an acidic rinse to pH balance.
If you are a little worried about possible reactions 'down the road', you might try to periodically use one of the products you used to use - one that seemed to help some - just so you have something to alternate with.
In general, it's never a good idea to continually use the same personal care products for extended periods of time - and that goes for cream, shampoo, soap, serum, face wash, face oil etc etc. If you can find 1 or 2 other alternatives to switch between, you'll probably do better in the long run.
Have tried any tea tree products? If there is a basic shampoo you like/can tolerate, you could even try adding a combination of tea tree and lavender essential oils to the shampoo to boost the effect. Commercially made products rarely have maximum doses of the active ingredients. Again - this is just so you have something to alternate with.
Also, have you ever tried a rhassoul scalp mask? This can also be 'pumped up' with added tea tree oil. This both washes the hair and soothes the scalp. Check the How To page on this blog for a recipe and step by step instruction.
You are welcome to email me directly if you have any further questions - I find your hair washing method and how it is helping you quite interesting and would love to hear more. My email is lise(at)lisalise(dot)com.
Thanks again for sharing.
I agree with you about the crystal stone being reliable and long lasting. I hope you continue to have luck with baking soda as a deodorant. If you do, you are indeed among a small percentage of people who can tolerate it without getting a skin reaction.
You are right about baking soda being an excellent deodoriser, and this is of course why so many choose to use it in their DIY deodorants.
You can count yourself among the lucky ones to not have experienced any more irritation than you have. The fact is though, the pH of baking soda is not in the least skin friendly. Baking soda is a documented skin irritant.
I have heard from a person who used DIY baking soda deodorant for 10 years before experiencing any kind of reaction. You also seem to be one of those lucky few who can tolerate it for a long period of time.
As for whether or not you should continue using it: this is something only you can decide.
I wish you the best - whatever you choose to do. :)
(It's funny, but I even went an extra day, just to experiment, and still smelled like nothing. Nothing)
Just straight baking soda. I use olive oil as a 'body lotion' (after reading about Bernando LaPallo) and sprinkle a little baking soda on my armpits with a little rub. Presto
Rashes? Really? It literally takes a sprinkle, people. I'm going to clean out an old Mrs. Dash shaker and it will be my deoderant for life. Best ever
http://markkalaitinen.blogspot.fi/
Cheers
Kylile
Tina
I went two days without it and at the end of the 2nd day, the redness was starting to go away.
I used it yesterday and only one of my armpits burned all day and is really red. Baking soda is listed as the second ingredient.
You asked about aluminum and if it isn't something we are all trying to avoid in our deodorants.
If you use an aluminum-based antiperspirant every day of your entire life, you would still be getting less aluminum from your deodorant than you are getting from your natural intake of food and water.
Aluminium chlorohydrate and Aluminium zirconium tetrachlorohydrate gly – commonly found in deodorants – do not cause cancer, alzheimers, or anything else. There is no factual, tested, or documented evidence of any kind that aluminum salts in deodorant are dangerous.
In short: the aluminum scare is quite comparable to the paraben scare - there is far more fear mongering involved than actual facts.
I wrote a post about aluminum and deodorant here http://www.lisaliseblog.com/2012/06/no-sweat-about-aluminium-and.html
:)
Itchy Carl. :)
8 tbsp. of coconut oil
4 tbsp. of cornstarch and
3 or 4 tbsp. of baking soda.
BEFORE the DIY deodorant I wasn't shaving at all because of a rash I had gotten a while back after shaving so I was taking a long break from shaving. I am very strong smelling and for the longest time the only deodorant that worked was mitchum, then I switched to Kal Crystone roll-on and was doing well for a while. Then I got that shaving rash and I could not tolerate ANYTHING.
After healing for a week I decided not to return to stoe bought deodorant because I really dislike them, and how hard it is to wash them off of me and my clothes etc. I started the DIY deodorant with the proportions I wrote above. After I realized I was probably reacting to it, I tried to go back to regular deodorant again but it was worse than before.
I decided to change the proportions on my recipe and for the last week have been using it.
I made a smaller batch since it was just an experiment to see if it would work.
I used
5 tbsp. of coconut oil
3 tbsp. cornstarch
ONLY 1/2 (HALF) tbsp. of baking soda.
I decreased percentage of baking soda from 20% to only about 3%.
The rash I had has pretty much completely healed this week even though I've been applying the new one that still has a little baking soda. I sometime itch a little bit but only later in the evening after getting home from work. What I've been doing is in the evening after work I wash my underarms to wash off deodorant and I just apply plain unrefined coconut oil. The next morning I wash up like usual and apply the deodorant. AND the deodorant still works to control the smell like before. The first day of changing to new deodorant the smell was bad after I washed it off but not anymore.
I will keep this up if it continues to work well as long as I don't get that rash again. I will consider trying your non baking soda recipe if this deodorant starts causing trouble.
Thanks
Pati
As an aside, my friend's mother got breast cancer and her oncologist actually advised her to stop using regular deodorant.
Thank you for sharing this. I can't help wondering how long you have been using baking soda in your deodorant, because I have heard similar stories from many people. Some can go for quite a while before their skin reacts. I hope you are one of the hardy ones who never has a negative reaction to baking soda deodorant.
when i read about harm from baking soda, mostly ph is used as an argument. But seawater has also ph around 7,5-8,5 and there are people swimming there for hours daily... And a lot of ill people get adviced to spend more time at the sea because its healing.
Doesn't make sense to me :/
I use baking soda as bath for feets bcz i used to have hard and dry skin and these baths are awesome!
That's why i was thinking to use it as deodorant and whole body baths.
Are you sure baking soda is so bad?
Baking soda has many uses and is a very versatile ingredient. I am not saying it is bad. As a foot bath - dissolved in water as you are using it, is an excellent use for baking soda.
Baking soda mixed into an anhydrous (water-free) formula is creating a double-problem: introducing an unfriendly pH but also direct contact with the chemical on the skin. Baking soda is an abrasive and irritant with direct contact.
:)
I experienced the most unexpected underarm darkening and irritation from a home crafted deodorant with baking soda in it. I had not used any deodorant whatsoever for approximately six months prior to purchasing my first (well researched) home crafted deodorant.
I responded wonderfully to this first product; the ingredients were of high quality and even included baking soda. Unfortunately, it was out of stock, due to high demand, go figure :), and I purchased an alternative, with what appeared to have the same ingredients. Within a few days I noticed slight irritation. Assuming my body was adjusting, I used it for a few more days.
After 5 days, I was left with very dark underarms and a rash that rivaled the itching of a yeast infection. Within days of stopping, I was relieved of the itching but now have very dark underarms and had no idea what to do about it or what had actually caused it. Until now, that is. :)
Needless to say, I went back to the original product I was using with great success and have been very pleased. Thanks again to all for the great comments and information that has been provided. Now I'm off to rid myself of my pits of darkness lol
I'm not sure I quite agree with you about commercial deodorants being bad. Of course there are some people with allergies to some ingredients, and there are some commercial deodorants and cosmetics that are superior to others, but all in all, I think we can assume that the manufacturers of cosmetics are not out to kill us off -- they would loose all their customers! That said, I also understand wanting to DIY - because the control factor is a great thing. :)
About 4 months ago I wanted to switch to a natural deodorant (without aluminum), so I went from using an antiperspirant (scented secret gel) for years without irritation to Tom's. I immediately developed red, itchy & stinging underarms. I then switched to Arm & Hammer's deodorant and my condition didn't improve. The stinging stopped, but my armpits remained red and felt...wrong. So then I switched to a homemade coconut oil & baking soda deodorant that my friend's daughter made. The stinging stopped, but my armpits are still discolored - kind of a light brown hue and they randomly turn bright red. No real itching or stinging anymore. I assumed that sodium stearate was the culprit, because Tom's and Arm & Hammer both contain that...baking soda isn't in Tom's, so I thought it was okay. I also read an article about "detoxing pits," and felt relieved...man do I feel like a tool! After reading this I will stop using any baking soda or sodium stearate, and go back to an antiperspirant.
In the meantime, should I avoid using any deodorant, or is it okay to use secret right away? Is it okay to continue shaving? :( I workout about 5x times per week, so not using deodorant would be ugly, I'm sweat quite a bit!
Thanks again! ;( xx
I am Jam, 21, from the Philippines. And I just recently started using baking soda as a deodorant. Like, 2-3 weeks ago. After taking a bath, I put baking soda directly to my underarm. But just a small amount of baking soda. I'm using my index and middle finger just enough to get a small amount of baking soda from its container. However, it doesn't lighten my underarm skin. But in all fairness, it doesn't make any bad smell even if I'm getting sweaty. But why is it not lightening my underarm? :(
Thanks for your input. Baking soda does not lighten the skin. If anything, it may cause a darkening or reddening of the skin. I cannot recommend applying baking soda directly to the skin and leaving it on as you are doing. I hope you do not experience any reactions to it. If you are looking to lighten the skin, then C-vitamin-rich skin care products are a better bet. Best of luck to you.
As for your baking soda deodorant and 'bullet-proof pits', I think you can indeed count yourself among the lucky few who do not react to direct prolonged skin contact with baking soda. Mind you, I have heard from folks who didn't react until after years of use, so it's hard to say if you will be 'hit' at one point. Let's hope not, because you are quite right about baking soda being an excellent deodoriser.
You ask if it is possible that it is something else beside the baking soda that could be the culprit causing irritation and discolouration in folks. Nope. It's the baking soda. If you check the MSDS for baking soda you'll find these exact symptoms described with prolonged skin contact.
Thanks again for sharing!
Thanks so much for your article! A few weeks ago I bought a natural deodorant with baking soda and I already had slightly dark armpits so I read somewhere that mixing lemon with baking soda can lighten my dark armpits but I have recently noticed that my armpits turned darker!! And leathery ugh! So I stopped using the deodorant and now just applying an olive oil lotion to heal the leathery dry skin and I'm hoping my skin lightens a bit too..do you have any suggestions on how to get rid of dark armpits? Once my skin heals I'll go back to using regular deodorant. Luckily I don't sweat too much so I can go without deodorant for a while :)
Thanks again for this article!
Wanda
No need to make one. Just dust your armpits. That's all.
Yours is one very smart post about nothing.
If you have been using banking soda straight up as a deodorant with no skin reactions, then you can count yourself among a lucky few percent.
I can't help wondering how long you mean when you say you have been dusting your armpits with baking soda 'for years now', because I have had mails from people who used DIY baking soda for up to 10 years before experiencing a reaction.
I hope you never have a problem with it, and wish you the best.
I did not have any odor, matter of fact, it smelled nice like the lavender essential oil I used in making it. However !!, I was completely uncomfortable .., the burning was near unbarable, and I will throw out the remaining deodorant. So..., with that.. I will never try baking soda DIY deoderant again. I'm positive the % was too high in my recipe. I do ha e a recipe for a DIY Bentonite Clay deoderant... Any thoughts on that?
Thank you for your post!!
Sally
I have been using bakind soda and water (pour a bit in my hand, mix with water and spread under arms) after each shower for the last 5 years without any real adverse effects aside from the occasional acne bump (once in a blue moon) and, as you had mentioned, a slight discoloration (darkening) around the under arm area. Appreciate your feedback.
I don't know about diluting it, but I've been using pure baking soda, with a powder puff directly onto my underarms (and under some places i would rather not say) and i have to say it is a miracle worker. it softened the dead dark skin on it, caused by rubbing, and i was surprised that in just one night that i was rubbing off dark unwanted skin.
The skin on my underarms also have gotten so dark from using Crystal Deodorant (and this product is already free from any aluminum (or whatever the ingredient is). I don't shave, I use an epilator, so the darkness definitely didn't come from that). But my underarms are already peeling! And some really big chunk of dead skin peeled off after the second day. I actually got scared I thought it was a bad reaction, but it wasn't itchy, and it wasn't irritated either, so i just let it be.
One more thing, I also use Baking soda as a scrub/exfoliant on my face. I use a Tablespoon of baking soda and a teaspoon on water mixed on the cover of my soap dish and use my fingers to pick it up and just massage it on my face. I do this every other day in the morning. It's so fine in texture that it doesn't irritate my skin and dont enlarge my pores.
Please take note that i have combination skin, and i now live in super humid weather. I have not tried doing this in winter so please take note of that. But so far I am loving it to bits! Goodbye buying commercial stuff for deodorant and for a facial scrub! And its safe for when you're pregnant and breastfeeding! Wahoo! I wish I knew about this before I ever picked up deodorants when I was in puberty.
As for using it as an exfoliant-face-wash, this is less 'risky' if you do not rub too hard or leave the mixture on for very long. I'm not quite sure I would recommend using it as every other day though - perhaps only once a week. It really is an effective exfoliant and your skin needs time to regenerate. Best of luck to you and thanks for sharing your experiences :)
Butyrospermum parkii Butter (Shea)*, Cocos nucifera (Coconut) Oil*, Arrowroot, Sodium Bicarbonate, Natural Tocopherol (Vit E), Essential Oils Of: Agonis fragrans, Lavender and Lemon*
I used this with great results for about 3 weeks. No smells, armpits were beautifully moisturised. And then after 3 weeks suddenly I broke out in pimples (some like big boils) all over both armpits, and the surrounding areas, even were the deodorant was not applied.
I've stopped using it now for over 2 weeks and I still have these pimples. So I was wondering if maybe it was caused by something else and not the deodorant. Or is it normal to take a long time to recover from a reaction to baking soda?
I also wondered whether it was not the baking soda but the essential oils in it that caused the reaction, because I had tried a different natural deodorant (a spray) that did not have baking soda but did have essential oils and I had a reaction within a week - broke out in a sore rash (but not huge pimples/boils like this time). Could it be the essential oils instead? Or both baking soda and essential oils that Im reacting to?
It does indeed sound like you might be reacting to something in one (or all) of the essential oils as well as the baking soda. I can't say for sure how long it takes to recover from a reaction to baking soda because every person is different. There are some who don't react to baking soda at all, while others break out a short time after applying. I would stay clear of both the baking soda and any essential oils near the armpits until you are completely healed. If you are feeling adventurous after that, you could try reintroducing one component at a time. Meantime, to soothe the skin, try applying a pure aloe vera gel. I wish you the best.
i heard that lemon and baking soda whiten armpits i used it for three days but suddenly my armpits turned far darker than before, what should i do and would it return to normal
I think it would be really interesting if our "scientists" could simply bind some kind of trace element to the aluminum molecule so that if someone were using the commercial AP for some time it could be tracked in the persons body. Or, maybe make some nanobots that go in and stick their finger in our sweat glands like a little dutch boy.
As for the poll, if you check the sidebar under TOPICS you'll find a post among the deodorant posts with 'almost poll' in the title (maybe quicker to find if you just use the search function). That's as close as I got to a poll. It got tge attention of a few scientists though, so who knows, maybe we'll see an actual scientific study on this one of these days.
Thanks for reading :)
Here's what I do (very simple): Right after showering and patting dry my armpits, I rub coconut oil (organic unrefined) all over my pits. Then I dip my fingers into some fresh baking soda I keep in a small glass container and very lightly dust my pits, over the coconut oil. It's just a dusting and I don't rub it in.
I not only have absolutely no oder (even if I occasionally skip a day showering!) AND my underarms are much softer and the pores are now clear, not plugged up as they were while using the the Arm & Hammer deodorant.
Just wanted to report that at least in some cases, baking soda works and isn't damaging. I think it's 1) the combination of ingredients and 2) the fact that the coconut oil is the main ingredient and goes on first, rather than being combined with the baking soda.
Thanks for your post on this!
You have inspired me to do a blog post on propylene glycol - perhaps it will be possible for me to shed a little light on this ingredient so people can make a choice based on whether or not they will use products with propylene glycol based on fact and information. Thanks for your input. :)
Initially, I had the same issue with baking soda deodorants. After a few days of use I would get redness and rashes under the arms. However, I've been trying many things with it over the years and have found that the reason baking soda deodorants (and other uses of baking soda) irritate the skin is I believe because of the concentration. You don't really need so much baking soda to deodorize and if you use to much it cause dryness and irritation.
One of my techniques is to use a baking soda and water paste while in the shower. Let it sit for a few minutes under the arms, then rinse off without rubbing. I let my under arms air dry so that the water will leave a light residue of baking soda which is plenty of all-day protection for me (even while exercising). No irritation or rashes whatsoever and no moisturizers are necessary.
On more sensitive skin though, I have a different technique. For example, I also use it as a facial scrub and it cleans better than any other scrub I've ever used. The technique I use here works without the need for a moisturizer afterwards (although natural oils may be used if desired). I do my facials in the shower and on the final rinse I make sure to place my face in the running water and gently rub all over my face while it is in the running water to gently remove any residue from the baking soda. I make sure to cover every part that had baking soda on it. None of the baking soda facial recipes mention this step. This was crucial for me to remove the redness/dryness after doing a facial and my face has never felt better!
As for using baking soda as a cleanser, this is indeed possible but do be mindful that it is abrasive on the skin and shouldn't be used more than once a week. It's a good idea to follow up with face oil after use.
:)