Q. I live in a warm, humid climate and I haven't been able to find a commercial deodorant that keeps odor at bay all day. I tried a deodorant crystal and found that it worked beautifully, but I developed a rash after I’d used it for two weeks.
Now I just swab my underarms with rubbing alcohol in the morning and at night, and that works just as well. I also keep a small package of alcohol wipes at my desk so that I can refresh at work if needed. I am finally odor free and it costs much less than commercial deodorants.
A. Alcohol clearly has antibacterial activity, which might explain its odor-fighting success. Some people may find alcohol too irritating or drying for delicate underarm skin. Many readers of this column have also reported success with milk of magnesia applied to the armpits. It is non-irritating and controls odor without staining clothes.
