Why did Old Spice turn my armpits green?
If you are looking to pull off a She-Hulk look for Halloween, I may have some advice for you! All you have to do is use Old Spice’s “Swagger” deodorant that can be found at your local Walmart, Target, or Walgreens. Now, this may not be a universal experience, but I can say that I have been personally victimized by Old Spice deodorant.
It started off like any normal day– I applied deodorant right after I got out of the shower. It was a Monday, and I was rushing to get ready for a class I was already running late for. After I showered and applied my deodorant, I put on my clothes like I would any other day. I brushed my hair and looked in the mirror to make sure I was good to go. That’s when I noticed a dark green color on my arm. At first, I thought it was a bruise. Then, I lifted up my arm to find my entire armpit was stained green.
I tried scrubbing off the color, and to my luck, it was not going anywhere. Now, I did not immediately think that Old Spice did this to me. I used Old Spice for months and had no strange reaction prior. However, after writing a frantic text to my mom, she asked, “Did you put on any weird deodorant or perfume?” I told her no, of course, not thinking that I put on anything that I do not normally use.
In the hope that someone else faced a similar issue, I turned to Google for answers. From there, I read that armpit discoloration can occur because of certain chemicals in deodorants. On Google, I read countless articles about chemical burns and rashes that Old Spice deodorant left on their armpits. Old Spice is actually facing a lawsuit because of the painful chemical reactions their deodorant has left on buyers.
I read on to discover that the “Swagger” scent specifically is one of the most noted deodorants in the lawsuit because it is “potentially defective and dangerous.” A Board-certified dermatologist Jeaneen Chappell says that armpit discoloration is likely caused because of a reaction with the deodorant’s antiperspirant element (usually aluminum). I also cannot imagine that the Blue 1 dye they add to the “Swagger” deodorant helps with irritation. Dyes are irritating for the skin as is, but it was likely the blue dye that tinted my skin a deep green color.
Dr. Jeaneen Chappell advises that it is best to use natural deodorants that do not use aluminum or other inflammatory elements. However, for most people, the fix to this problem is not as simple as grabbing a natural deodorant. As a South Floridian, I can say that natural deodorants do not protect you from smelling on a 95-degree day.
Not only do I feel like natural deodorants do not mask odor as well as deodorants like Old Spice, but there are also countless articles claiming they may not be that much better for your skin. Jack Gilbert, a skin microbiology expert at the University of California San Diego, told the New York Times that he had never heard of any developed studies proving natural deodorant is better for you. More specifically, he disagrees with the claims that natural deodorants promote the growth of good bacteria.
More articles explain that just because deodorant is labeled as “natural”, it does not mean that you will not have a bad reaction to some of its ingredients. Because everyone’s skin reacts to things differently, a deodorant that works for you may not work for someone else. After my extensive research into this topic, I decided that the main takeaway is to use the deodorant that works best for you. If you feel any burning or tingling, it is likely time for you to choose a different deodorant.
Now, I am not telling everyone to throw away their Old Spice deodorant. Instead, I am simply spreading awareness. However, if you continue to use it, you cannot say I did not warn you.
Strike Out,
Bella Kubach
Strike Magazine Boca
Bella Kubach is a Content Writer for Strike Magazine Boca. Most of her free time is occupied by buying things she doesn’t need, reading her horoscope religiously, and making an endless amount of Spotify playlists. You can reach her at bellakubachxox@gmail.com
