Excessive perspiration may be due to poor health; night sweats, for example, are characteristic of certain diseases. However, if you are in good health but perspire excessively, especially under the arms, you can probably control it by a commercial anti-perspirant deodorant. These preparations contain aluminium chloride, which is usually perfectly safe unless you happen to be allergic or sensitive to this chemical. It is always wise to try any preparation cautiously for the first few times: use very little of it until you are sure it is all right for you, and stop if repeated applications cause irritation. If you wipe off the excess after you apply commercial anti-perspirants and deodorants, they will usually not harm your clothing, although they may discolour it. Chlorophyll preparations do not check perspiration, and while they are deodorants, they are no more effective than simply dusting your armpits with plain bicarbonate of soda. It does no harm to check perspiration in the armpits, the hands, or the feet, as the rest of the body surface will do the work of eliminating it; but never apply an anti-perspirant to the entire body.

The medical name for offensive body odour is ‘bromidrosis.’ Truly offensive body odour is rare; most odour can usually be prevented by bathing and by using a deodorant under the arms. No special soap is necessary.

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