[John Chapman (OP)]

From their names I am assuming that antiperspirants blocks the production of perspiration whereas deodorants simply reduce the smell of sweat. Is that right? But how does antiperspirant work?

According to wikipedia, “Aluminium based compounds are the most widely used antiperspirants. They react with the electrolytes in the sweat to form a gel plug in the duct of the sweat gland. The plugs prevent the gland from excreting liquid. The blockage of a large number of sweat glands reduces the amount of sweat produced in the underarms.” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antiperspirant

So my question is this:

If it forms a physical barrier against the release of perspiration does the sweat build up behind the antiperspirant trapping waste products such as urea within the sweat glands? Why does this not poison cells? At the very least you might expect blocked pores to become infected, producing acne. After all, antiperspirant doesn’t actually ‘switch off’ the sweat glands – just blocks them. The glands themselves are controlled centrally by the hypothalamus which contains special thermosensitive neurons.

[Chemistry4me]

At a guess I would say that the concentration isn't nearly high enough. Most of it would be filtered through the kidneys anyway, but I am sure the body can compensate by filtering more through the kidneys when you wear antiperspirants.

[Karen W.]

An aquaintence of mine had a very very bad infection from having her sweatglands completely blocked from the use if her antiprispirant. lasted a few monthes and sh had to discontinue use and it was really bad got so bad it looked like she had something like cancerous ***** lookig weepy nastiness...It scared her to death.. they got it in hand but at the time it was so serious she was hospitalized and on iv etc. the infection was terrible..

[John Chapman (OP)]

Wow. That's amazing.

[Karen W.]

It was awful but as I recall she waited for a long while thinking it was some kind of bite or something....She should have seen a doctor before it had gotten so bad... but he was a single mom and on a budget so finances were behind the waiting so long.

[Madidus_Scientia]

Why doesn't the sweat just push the blockage out?

[Chemistry4me]

According to wikipedia, “Aluminium based compounds are the most widely used antiperspirants. They react with the electrolytes in the sweat to form a gel plug in the duct of the sweat gland. The plugs prevent the gland from excreting liquid. The blockage of a large number of sweat glands reduces the amount of sweat produced in the underarms.” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antiperspirant

So probably the pressure isn't nearly enough. []

[Raghavendra]

ya pressure is really not enough!!!