Along with physical and hormonal development, children begin to experience changes in their sweat and body odor. This is often a sign that it is time to consider using deodorant. When choosing the right deodorant product for children, parents should consider several important factors. One of them is the ingredients contained in the product. In addition, the factor of children's skin sensitivity should also be seriously considered. To avoid making the wrong choice, please read the explanation about using deodorant for children and how to choose it below!

Generally, puberty occurs around the age of 12, although this time can vary between individuals. During puberty, the armpit area of a child tends to become wet due to the activity of sweat glands, both eccrine and apocrine, which have become active. Eccrine glands produce sweat that is watery, clear, colorless, and odorless. On the other hand, apocrine glands produce sweat that is thicker, odorous, and influenced by sexual hormones. Therefore, children who have already experienced puberty are allowed to use deodorant.

To reduce unpleasant odor in children, it is recommended to choose a deodorant that contains zinc. If the goal is to control sweat production, a good alternative is a product that contains alum. On the other hand, for children with sensitive underarm skin, a good choice is a deodorant that contains magnesium hydroxide or starch. Then, the main priority is a quick-drying deodorant, which will be discussed further below.

During puberty, children produce a large amount of sweat and fatty acids, which can be broken down by bacteria and produce an unpleasant odor. In addition to choosing products that contain zinc, another alternative that can be considered is products with alum content. Alum has been proven effective in reducing sweat production in the armpit area of children, which can reduce the risk of unwanted odor by reducing a source of nutrition for bacteria.

Magnesium hydroxide has the ability to fight bacteria that cause body odor on the surface of the skin, thus able to overcome the problem of underarm odor in children. Starch also has a similar function in addressing underarm odor. Both are carbohydrate powders derived from plant sources such as corn, cassava, or potatoes. Starch is used to absorb excess moisture produced by sweat, thus keeping the underarm area dry. Its gentle nature and soothing effects make it safe to use on sensitive skin.

When choosing deodorant for children, the priority should be given to products that have quick drying time to facilitate usage. Stick deodorants are often preferred because they do not leave any liquid residue, so there is no need to wait long for drying. Aerosol spray deodorants are also popular because they dry quickly and are convenient to use. Meanwhile, deodorants with lotion formula can also be used as they contain more water.