Here's How to Transition From Antiperspirant to Natural Deodorant — the Right Way

You might be eye-rolling and thinking, "I know how to apply deodorant," but there's actually a process to make the transition from antiperspirant to natural deodorants a little easier.

First off, skip deodorant altogether for a few days before making the official switch to allow aluminum traces from leaving your pores. "Waiting two to three days is usually adequate. This can allow pores to breathe [and] help your skin be fresh for your new natural deodorant," says Shilpi Agarwal, MD, a family medicine physician in the Washington DC area.

Once you start using your new deodorant, make sure you apply it on dry — not damp — skin, and don't reapply every time you feel sweaty, as that won't make it more effective. You can, however, help clear bacteria that leads to stinkiness. "As natural deodorants are trying to improve the bioflora (the community of good and bad bacteria and yeast that live on our skin) under your arms, gently exfoliating once weekly with a washcloth or gentle scrub can help remove excess bacteria," Agarwal says.

You can also wash with a charcoal acne cleanser under your arms a couple of days a week. "The charcoal can draw out impurities, and the salicylic acid usually included in these products can provide a little chemical exfoliation to help," Agarwal says. We suggest Bioré Charcoal Acne Cleanser ($8).

An advantage of antiperspirants is that they block sweat glands, which helps keep you dry. Unfortunately, natural deodorants don't have the ability to prevent perspiration, only to mask the smell of it.

If you're not used to sweating, you might be a bit uncomfortable. "In the first weeks of using natural deodorants, people complain of a damp feeling," explains Erum Ilyas, MD, FAAD, a dermatologist in Pennsylvania. "The thing to remember is that time will make this feeling disappear." Otherwise, there's not much you can do.

Yes, sorry, this is another unfortunate side effect of making the switch to natural deodorants, as your body isn't drying itself as effectively as it might with the help of an antiperspirant. "Sometimes, this damp feeling turns into sweat stains on your clothes. Dabbing with some witch hazel on a cotton swab can help stop the stains and the sweat through the day," says Ilyas. If you're in a pinch, "apply hand sanitizer directly on a tissue, then swipe across your underarm," she adds.

"Wearing clothing that wicks away moisture can help as you make the transition," says Ilyas. "Athletic wear commonly uses fabrics with this purpose, but other clothing will often use them as well. Some clothing even has antimicrobial qualities by weaving silver in the textile to help with the odor while adapting to these deodorants." If your lifestyle doesn't allow for athletic clothing, we suggest linen and cotton to stay fresh.

When switching to natural deodorant, you change the pH level of the skin on your armpits, which can lead to bacterial growth and result in a yeast infection, acne, or a rash, explains Ilyas.

Excess moisture under your arms also contributes to chaffing. "If you start to feel that the area is raw and uncomfortable, use a little cortisone cream and an over-the-counter antiyeast cream for a couple of days," she says. If it doesn't get better, you may need to see your doctor.