Puberty is the name for the time when your body begins to develop and change as you move from kid to adult. During puberty, your body will grow faster than any other time in your life except for when you were a baby.
Developing body odor is one of the many changes kids go through as they enter puberty. Puberty for boys and girls happen at different times, but according to doctors, boys generally begin puberty stages between ages 9 and 14 and girls between 8 and 13 years old. Deodorants for kids help get rid of body odor by covering and masking sweat. However, it is important that a deodorant, not an antiperspirant, be used. You don’t want to stop your armpits from sweating because the body releases toxins through sweat glands.
Understanding Puberty: Puberty for kids can be daunting for everyone because it’s a drastic change for both boys and girls. Physical changes on the body, like body hair, height growth, menstruation, and more, can vary by age, but it’s important to remember: Puberty is normal and a learning process for everyone, including parents. It’s a trying time for everyone both physically and emotionally so keep talking, keep reading and always consult your family doctor with any questions or concerns you may have.
What’s the Best Type of Deodorant for Kids to Use: Although there are no age restrictions for most kids deodorants, it’s important to keep note of the ingredients being used and the potential side effects that can happen. Most deodorants brands on the market can contain some harmful ingredients, such as aluminum, parabens, propylene glycol, and phthalates. These ingredients have been linked to various diseases, such as Alzheimer’s and breast cancer. Scientists can’t even use their bare hands to handle propylene glycol, so why should we put this on our kids’ underarms?!
Many deodorants for men and women will also advertise that they contain “antiperspirant,” which is a huge no-no for kids. A recent study from University of Geneva found aluminum salt in antiperspirant, which can later trigger the growth of breast cancer-causing tumors. To make sure none of these ingredients are present, it’s always best to use natural deodorant instead. Going natural will ensure that these ingredients and possibly more will not be found in your kids’ deodorant!
Benefits of Natural Deodorant for Kids: If popular deodorants are out of the question, what else can your kids use? Natural deodorant, such as TBH Kid’s Deodorant, are packed full of healthy, good-for-you ingredients that will ease your mind and actually help with body odor! Some natural deodorants contain great ingredients, such as coconut oil, which is an anticaking agent that conditions the skin to prevent redness or irritation; charcoal, which soothes and heals skin irritations while getting rid of toxins that don’t belong on your skin; witch hazel, which lowers your skin’s pH level to make it harder for bacteria to survive; and arrowroot powder, which helps absorb moisture without causing dry skin or irritations. Not all natural deodorants are created equal, and sometimes one brand doesn’t work for everyone. It is best to try one for a week or two to see if the body acclimates to the deodorant.
When using natural deodorant for kids, you want to look for what’s in it as well as what’s not. Natural ingredients such as coconut oil and softening ingredients such as TBH’s murumuru butter will help glide the product onto the armpit. It’s always a good idea to leave the stick under your arm for a few seconds to warm it up so you don’t tug at your skin. Lastly, some deodorants can leave a rash under the arm after extended use. This is most prevalent with baking soda or sodium bicarbonate when it’s in a deodorant at too high of a concentration as this changes the alkaline pH. However, this is a great ingredient to have in a natural deodorant when used at a lower concentration. Sweat is mildly acidic and neutralizes the alkalinity of the baking soda and then it dissolves. Baking soda also helps kill body odor-causing bacteria, making it an important ingredient when used correctly. When using a deodorant with baking soda, you must use a washcloth in the shower to thoroughly remove any remnants of deodorant, or if you must, use a wipe to clean off any leftover deodorant at the end of the day and always before re-applying. This should control any issues with rash or redness. If it does not help you, try a powder-based deodorant.
Children reach puberty at different times, and their issues are as individual as they are! If body odor is affecting your child, don’t sweat it—there are safe, natural products made specifically for tweens, such as TBH Kids!