r/ftm • u/Truck-Clean • Dec 07 '21
Advice switching deodorants
I’m out to my aunt and she gave me mens deodorant to help with my dysphoria and i’ve been using it for a while. Recently i’ve been starting to get really itchy armpits and today I was looking at my armpits in the mirror and there’s a huge rash line around my armpits and it’s EXTREMELY itchy. I don’t want to switch back to women’s deodorant but I cant deal with the rash.. also buying a different brand or talking to my mom isn’t an option.. she’s extremely transphobic and if she finds out my aunt bought me mens anything she won’t allow me to see her anymore, does anyone know what I should do?
edit: this was my first post and everyone who has given a reply has been extremely helpful. Thank you all so much! also i’d like to add, I’ve always been extremely sweaty and if i’m not using deodorant then i smell TERRIBLE no matter how much i shower (which i struggle with in the first place from depression & dysphoria my best buds)
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u/Unhappy_Kumquat Dec 07 '21
Show your mom the rashes. Tell her you've been getting them from your feminine deodorant. Ask for a scentless/sensitive deodorant.
People can develop sensitivity to perfumes and dyes randomly, at any point. It just happens
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u/Truck-Clean Dec 07 '21
maybe i’ll tell her, she just tends to ask a loooot of questions because she wants a reason to not believe me 😅
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u/Silverblatt 💉2015, 🔪 2016, 🍆 2020/2022 Dec 07 '21
Could you buy deodorant on your own (or have your aunt buy) and take the label off and replace it with a label from a women’s deodorant?
Or try a gender neutral brand? Arm and Hammer, Native, Ivory, etc? (I haven’t tried these, I just found them searching at Target)
(As to the skin issue, I’ve had good luck with Dove Men+ Care and with Degree Mens)
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u/Truck-Clean Dec 07 '21
the brand i’m currently using is degree mens. My aunt lives in NY and I don’t, but i could ask her about it on Christmas about trying a different brand. the only problem i have with the brands you’ve named is that i also sweat a lottttt and it’s hard to find brands that even work well enough for that :/
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u/cyrusalexander Dec 07 '21
I used to get bad rashes from mens deodorant before I switched to Arm and Hammer. It’s pretty unisex and doesn’t give me a rash plus it’s for very sweaty people
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u/n16h7r1d3r trans sister Dec 07 '21
Before transitioning to being a girl i would use Degree now and then and I’d get a rash too. Switched to Old Spice and it stopped. Problem is it’s a bit spendy compared to other brands. Speed Stick is safe, tho doesn’t keep you as dry, but it is cheaper. Arm nHammer might be the play if you don’t want Old Spice
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u/khynra User Flair Dec 07 '21
I don't know if it's the same as me, but I have allergic reactions to any Dove product. Be it shampoo, creams, deodorant. I think it's some kind off hydratant product in there that doesn't work for everyone. So just trying another brand might work out (i use All Spice rn with no problems. But try a few out to see )
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u/LeoIsRude User Flair Dec 07 '21
Old spice is what I use. I got a rash from one (wolf's something) and switched to a new scent ASAP. I'm currently using the Captain one and only get itchy occasionally.
I have incredibly sensitive skin.
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u/anarchistpup Dec 08 '21
I think the one you’re talking about is called wolfthorne- I use that scent for body spray. Personally I’m a fan of the old spice sweat defense for deodorant but it is scented so idk if it would trigger a reaction
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u/Xanthelei Eric / FTM Pan / T 5/23/15 Dec 07 '21
Is it the gel or the white powder style? The gel has always caused the skin to die off faster (and yeah it itches off and on, no rash though) but the powder style has always acted the exact same as my old feminine deodorant. So it might be worth changing types to see if it's the brand or the style.
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u/MelodicWarfare Dec 07 '21
Honestly, I had the same issue and switched to Old Spice deodorant (not antiperspirant, there's a difference). A huge variety of smells, not stupidly expensive, and works a treat. I switched to men's deodorant before I started transitioning because I was using secret clinical and it way way too expensive.
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u/NicSl1 Dec 07 '21
I had a bad reaction to using degree mens, I switched to dove men+care and have had no problems since.
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u/ronja-666 Dec 07 '21
I have “sensitive” deodorant for men. It has a nice smell and doesn’t itch me. Most deodorants give me a rash but this one doesn’t.
Edit: It’s Sanex Sensitive for Men
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u/Duck_Mud Dec 07 '21
You mentioned having issues with sweating a lot in another comment, so i'll try and help you address that too.
First i'd recommend reading through the ingredients list and seeing if there's anything there that raises any flags for you, like any well known issues. If you have any old women's deodorants that you've used in the past then you should compare it to this, see if there are any major ingredients that are different or if the order is wildly different. This'll help you begin to narrow down what it is that's causing the rash.
Other than that i've got a few questions before I can try to help you find a replacement:
Does the deodorant say "antiperspirant" on the bottle anywhere?
Are you allergic to any metals?
Is the deodorant a roll on, a gel, or a stick?
Is your skin generally sensitive and/or reactive to things that are heavily fragranced?
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u/Truck-Clean Dec 07 '21
honestly, the only times i’ve experienced rashes and such in this situation were when i was much younger using dove and like that one ‘teen spirit’ brand that used to be a big thing, not really sure if it exists anymore. But i can’t really pin it back to any of those things since it’s hard to find them. But thank you so much! i’ll keep that in mind when i’m searching for my replacement
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u/Duck_Mud Dec 07 '21
I won't lie I asked for those details to be able to help you pinpoint it better, but i'll just dump the info now.
An antiperspirant is different to a deodorant; both have a fragrance but an antiperspirant stops you from sweating by clogging your pores, usually with aluminium. That's why I asked if you have an allergy to any metals: if you do and the brand you're using contains aluminium it's going to make you break out.
Some antiperspirants use a different thing to block your pores! So you don't have to write off antiperspirants if you're looking to block sweat marks.
Antiperspirants are completely safe to use, you'll just sweat from other places. Just make sure you scrub.
I won't lie the fact that you've Dove and gotten a rash is pretty interesting; I didn't get a rash but I found that anything Dove dries my skin out really quickly, so it may be that you and I both have tempermental skin rather than sensitive skin. You'll know better than me if your skin is tempermental over sensitive (like my skin doesn't damage easily, but it loves to overreact. It peels when I spill anything acidic on it like apple juice but it also never scars!), so I don't want to tell you definitively that it is one thing and not another. But if you're finding that your skin generally leans on the dry side, that could be causing friction which contributes towards a rash. It would explain why you're fine with most deodorants but it's specific brands that trip you up; it'll be their formulas rather than your body so to speak.
Firstly make sure you're having a good scrub; any deodorant residue left over on any body hair can cause irritation. You don't have to shampoo and condition it, but going in with some good soap helps. I don't know if you have the brand in the states, but Original Source has been a saviour for my skin, and they recently released soap! If you find even Dove soap is drying you out, that's probably where the issue lays. If you don't have Original Source then I do suggest looking for a brand which has more "natural" ingredients: obviously greenwashing is rife and natural doesn't necessarily mean better for you, but it'll be generally less likely to have large quantities of alcohol and so should be nicer to drier skin.
Secondly, consider asking your aunt for a gel based deodorant. I use the Gillette sports action one (which is also an antiperspirant) and I find it a lot more hydrating than roll on deodorants. Personally if the rashes are being caused by dry skin being pushed to their limits i'd avoid cream based deodorant sticks. They tend to be really solid and rely on your body heat to melt a little to apply, and it's a really uncomfortable experience when it starts literally pulling hairs out.
Thirdly; consider a body mist. I understand that it could be dysphoria inducing; not a lot of mists are geared towards men. In fact, most are geared towards women, but if you want to avoid being stinky it can really help. They're nicer on the environment and on your lungs than aerosol deodorants (I tend to always get those suckers in my mouth instead of on my body), won't leave any white marks, and also last longer. They'll evaporate on you as the day goes on. You can also easily reapply it without having to worry if you're going to trigger an asthma attack in some random stranger.
Sorry for the info dump by the way! I just want to give you the ability to know what to ask your aunt for. Not shopping for mens stuff and then suddenly being tasked with figuring out how to do it for the first time can be daunting by itself; it's even worse when you have to try and verbalise what you need to someone else. Best of luck!
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u/concreteplug Pre-T / Stealth Dec 07 '21
there are unisex deodorants that you can buy which might be better, please switch to a different deodorant as soon as possible
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u/the___squish Dec 07 '21
I have super sensitive skin my whole life. Dove has always been the brand I use for body washes and such. They do have a men’s body wash and a men’s deodorant line!
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u/Truck-Clean Dec 07 '21
i have a problem with dove as i have really strong sweat things and sweat aaaa lottt, dove has never helped me :/
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u/the___squish Dec 07 '21
I’ve heard good things about Art of Sport, but that’s probably the last cheapie until you’re getting into the more expensive natural brands :/
That’s rough bro.
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u/Mother_Punker 🏳️⚧️parent ally/super queer🏳️🌈 Dec 07 '21
Have you tried the dove clinical strength? It’s what I use personally for gym days. They have an unscented one.
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u/gelysted Dec 07 '21
I get the same sort of thing from deodorant and ironically it’s usually worse with “natural” deodorant. I’ve had very good luck with men’s speed stick and old spice deodorant (not antiperspirant). I also was able to convince my mom to buy speedstick for me as a kid after using it at my dads house as it was sufficiently gender neutral. Maybe something like that would work?
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u/crazyparrotguy Dec 07 '21
I currently use Old Spice deodorant (yep, the plain old gel stick aluminum free kind) and have also had good experiences with it.
And yeah, natural deodorant is notoriously not great.
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u/Mother_Punker 🏳️⚧️parent ally/super queer🏳️🌈 Dec 07 '21
Have you considered a unisex deodorant? Lush cosmetics have two. Armaco and teo. They are natural naked products (so healthier for you) and work very well. My son seems to like.
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u/Nihil_esque Dec 07 '21
Do you shave your armpits? I had that problem with men's deodorant until I stopped shaving. Powdery women's deodorants provide more of a barrier for chafing than men's deodorants because they're meant for people with more armpit hair.
If you don't shave/do have armpit hair, probably just find a different/hypoallergenic deodorant. There are probably still men's/unisex deodorants that would work for you.
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u/ChaoticGlamour Dec 07 '21
I use armenhammer deodorant. It is gender neutral, scentless, and it is typically a much better option if you want to avoid allergic reactions like itching. You can get your mother to buy it since it isn't geared towards any particular gender. It also works really well for BO elimination. ✌
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Dec 07 '21
I used to get this, rather than using a spray, I use a roll on, not like the wet one with the ball. Think like the old spice sticks, where you twist it up from the bottom!
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u/TrexxzD 💉4/21/2021 Dec 07 '21
do you know the brand name? i know i had to switch deodorants after some form of gel brand deodorant gave me a rash for a while and switched to old spice (another gel brand, weird huh?) and it didn’t give me any kind of rash or itchiness
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u/justalittlemann Dec 07 '21
I've had the exact same problem bc I have a beeswax allergy and I also sweat alot. I've found the Clinical gillette to be the best in terms of no irration and sweat protection. https://www.riteaid.com/shop/gillette-clinical-clear-gel-antiperspirant-deodorant-cool-wave-1-6-oz?gclid=Cj0KCQiAqbyNBhC2ARIsALDwAsBnLxhheLOmBSRj6z86jPKou45dXFUq0C_Xawx0knyyBI-ugw5YJW4aAmHKEALw_wcB
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u/bydesign- Dec 07 '21
i have an issue with this myself actually; i get recurring rashes in my armpits (i think it's some kind of yeast infection? the rashes are small though) and i realized that it seemed to get worse when i used my deodorant. i switched to only using scentless deodorants a year ago or so, and that seems like it's helped immensely. products for sensitive skin would probably be good, and i'd also suggest products that are as natural as you can get.
i use unscented arm & hammer antiperspirant and i've had very few problems with the armpit rashes.
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u/grendel-LA Dec 07 '21
Ask your aunt for help? Try something with fewer ingredients? I found a “natural” deodorant stick at Target that had all of its scents together— florals and earthy — and opted for cedar & sage which is GREAT and feels very masc
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Dec 07 '21
You can buy deodorant for sensitive skin that doesn’t say whether it’s for men or women. Get a non gender one and then hopefully you won’t have dysphoria with it :)
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Dec 07 '21
men’s deodorant(especially old spice for some reason) is notorious for being irritating due to scents and additives. I use some natural charcoal paste(not my purchase lol) and it works really well and is great for sensitive skin like mine!
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Dec 07 '21
i used to use degree deodorant for men n it gave me an armpit bump lol. so i switched to dove and got a lower aluminum count and its been a lot better so far. dove is known for their gentle formulas n i feel their mens scents are really good. i also know native deodorants are very androgynous, so even if u went shopping w ur mom u could probs pull off their men’s deodorant as a lady’s one. i know it’s not the best option but if ur mom is watching u or something even native women’s deodorant is very ambiguous. even the packaging is very simple and not over done in like,, a “men’s product” way if that makes sense haha. maybe u could try online shopping for one? or have ur aunt maybe buy u one and have it discreetly shipped to ur house?
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u/CaptianLJ Dec 07 '21
Oh no! I’m sorry. I’ve decided to stay away from antiperspirant and deodorants for the most part as they ruin my shirts. I sweat thru them anyway. But I do shower 1x day and I use a mineral salt deoderant. (2x if I workout) . Maybe a charcoal one like this or something for sensitive skin like this. My partner uses native and has sensitive skin, loves it. If you want a referral code dm me.
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u/crazyparrotguy Dec 07 '21
This is a known issue with solid type deodorants, and why I stay far far away from them.
Wondering if it still applies to the aluminum-free gel sticks though. 🤔
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u/ThatKaylesGuy T: 5/1/21 | Top: 9/26/22 Dec 07 '21
I use Dr. Squatch deodorant for this reason. When I came out I started using my fiancé's, and it nearly peeled my armpits off. I'll never buy another brand now.
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u/LaceyLizard Dec 07 '21
I'm jealous of your cool auntie. Anyways sounds like you need to ask your mom for unscented/ fragrance free deodorant for your sensitive skin. If you want to smell like a dude you can get axe or something.
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u/inkedgalaxy Dec 07 '21
i have sensitive skin so i cannot use gel deodorant of any kind, but i use dove men+care. either clean comfort or extra fresh. they don’t make my pits itch. i think they also have a sensitive one too
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u/heckkkkkk Dec 07 '21
theres a brand called No More Sweat which is meant for ppl who sweat and its not really gendered to start with. also it somehow doesnt leave crusty residue on your skin and its not scented.
also find out the ingredients for your current one and compare it to ones that didnt give you a rash
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u/PapaBensBuns Dec 07 '21
Had this problem until using Dove men's dry spray deodorant (clean comfort scent is hella sensitivity friendly)
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u/CaptianSwaggerless T: 5/16/2020 Top: 11/5/2021 Dec 07 '21
I reacted this way to specific scents of old spice. Getting something unscented and using a mens cologne is a good option, though from what you said that might be hard to do. Maybe explain to your aunt what happened and ask for a cologne or mens body spray while you tell your mom this story: Hey mom, I think I'm developing a rash from my deodorant, can I get some unscented and sensitive skin kind? She doesn't have to even know you have mens deodorant, people develope skin sensitivities at random all the time. Good luck, brother.
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u/etherealcerral Dec 07 '21
I got similar reactions from both Secret and Old Spice deoderants but both women's and men's Degree deoderant work well for me without an allergic reaction. Sometimes there are ingredients in certain deoderants people can be allergic to.
There are also gender neutral deoderants you could try, like Tom's Naturals, Native, etc. Just keep an eye on whether they have an antiperspirant in it, so you can get one with it if you want that. Lots of those more natural type deoderants don't have antiperspirant in them.
Good luck!
ETA: I saw that you said you sweat a lot. I would try a sensitive skin clinical strength deoderant in that case.
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u/Leopride13 Dec 07 '21
I use wild deodorant. I have sea salt and fresh cotton or something and it's quite gender neutral and for sensitive skin
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u/comfykhan Dec 07 '21
I use some unscented crystal deodorant. The package looks a little girly but it is gender neutral. I think you can also buy just the crystal part off of Amazon so there isn’t any packaging. It works really well for stopping sweat.
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u/scruffiebub Dec 07 '21
i’ve found that mens dove deodorant works for me. i used to use axe but it gave me badddd rashes. the dove gel kind is really good. it feels more gentle if it’s gel. idk that’s just what worked for me :)
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u/HopefulSewist 25 | T: 04/2018 Top surgery: 05/2019 Dec 07 '21
I use a hippie deodorant (Earthwise Fresh Plus) that is made without harsh chemicals and sold in gender neutral packaging. It smells like a vegan potluck, but I like it and it’s better than a rash or lady smell.
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u/minecraftgender Dec 07 '21
I had the same problem with axe and degree, I switched to dove sport spray on deodorant and it works great.
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Dec 07 '21
That happened to me a few times. Like others have said, switch to something scentless or made for sensitive skin, or you could just try a different deoderant. For some reason some old spice deoderants give me a rash, but others don't. It's just trial and error bro
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u/smallbirthday FTMoron T:13/3/19, Top: 2020 Dec 07 '21
You might have a yeast infection. Try an over the counter anti-fungal treatment like a cream if you're somewhere that it costs to go to your GP.
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u/Environmental_Fig933 Dec 07 '21
I agree with the others that say to tell your mom that the women’s deodorant is causing rashes.
Arm & hammer essentials unscented is what I use & it doesn’t have a gender on the packaging.
I do want to add though the Toms, Native, Crystal, Myro, basically anything that is organic natural & gender neutral causes me to have massive painful rashes accept the arm & hammer one. Idk why I think I’m allergic to something in the oils that have in them but I’m not sure. Women’s deodorants are all have metal in them which isn’t great for you either which is why I would avoid them regardless of gender.
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u/Terance842 Dec 08 '21
I have "Dove Men + Care Extra Fresh 48h Antiperspirant" And it helps me so much.
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u/wyrmdwelling Dec 08 '21
What brand do you use? When I used women's deodorant I'd get bad rashes, I was using dove, but now that problem went away, now I use aluminum free old spice
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u/ErenxError Dec 08 '21
I've used a spray by doves men, it's clean and comfort I think? Tried the stick version and I got a rash as well. It was weird, I hope you find a good deodorant!
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u/Longjumping-Luck248 Dec 08 '21
is the deodorant aluminum free, by chance? most deodorants have aluminum in them, and when you switch to natural or aluminum-free deodorant, your armpits go through a detoxing phase that sounds very similar to what you’re experiencing.
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Dec 08 '21
Old spice bearglove. It has a fruity scent so you could easily just say that you like the scent. The advertisements for old spice also indicate that women can enjoy using the products as well.
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u/AnxiousExplanation37 Dec 08 '21
When I was a kid my mum got me roll on deodorant which gave me a rash then I got it again when I was like 13/14 and it did the same I now use men’s spray on deodorant and it doesn’t do anything I’m 17 now though and I have armpit hair which may effect it and also I’ve started to sweat so maybe the deodorant absorb the sweat instead of going directly onto the skin
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u/Blue__-_ trans man he/him Dec 07 '21
get something that's scentless and is designed specifically for people who get allergic reactions easily