Chanelle is concerned: I have recently heard of a new deodorant by Secret claiming to have clinical strength to battle wetness and odor without a prescription. I have used many deodorants and antiperspirants in the past but none have actually worked that well. I have some concerns as to whether this particular product would be safe to use.
The Right Brain shares a secret:
First of all Chanelle, remember that deodorants are cosmetics that reduce body odor and antiperspirants are drugs that stop you from sweating.
Over the Counter antiperspirants
Most antiperspirants are available as “over the counter” or OTC drugs which means they can be sold without a prescription as long as they comply with the rules of the FDA (Food and Drug Administration). The FDA determines which active ingredients are allowed and the concentration at which they must be used.
Prescription antiperspirants
There are other antiperspirants that only your doctor can prescribe. These products contain higher levels of aluminum salts that can be irritating to skin. The product you asked about, new Secret Clinical Strength Antiperspirant, contains 20% aluminum zirconium trichlorhydrex glycine which is still within the over the counter guidelines but provides the same wetness protection as prescription products.
Too good to be true?
It sounds too good to be true, but Secret’s claims have been validated by the National Advertising Division of the Better Business Bureau:
“… NAD reviewed two clinical studies supporting Procter & Gamble’s statements about Secret Clinical Strength’s performance and found that the research was conducted in accordance with U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidelines and NAD expectations for “gold standard” product testing.
Similarly, NAD found that Procter & Gamble’s claims regarding Secret Clinical Strength’s effectiveness as compared to other antiperspirants are valid based on two head-to-head studies of Secret Clinical Strength versus the leading prescription antiperspirant, consumer reports of efficacy, and a survey of 200 dermatologists and other physicians who treat patients with severe underarm wetness and prescribe antiperspirants as part of their practice.”
So if you’re looking for an extra wetness protection, Secret Clinical Strength Antiperspirant appears to be the real deal.
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Cate Says:
I have deodorant buying issues as I have claimed in the forum…and this is one that I purchased. You have to use it at night to get the full effect. I however can barely remember to brush my teeth at night let alone apply deodorant. She should definitely try it. My friend suffers from ‘overactive’ armpits and I am trying to get her to buy it. She is a grad student and is having trouble swallowing $10 for deodorant!
Techgirl Says:
I recently switched to Secret “Clinical Strength” after trying many different regular deodorants, and I have to say it really does work! While it does say it works better if you put it on at night, I can’t remember, and put it on after my shower in the morning, and it’s fine. I’m also a grad student, and yes, it’s a lot of money, but in my book it’s worth it! The alternative is smelly, damp pits by about three hours after showering… ewww! I was skeptical, but figured I’d give it a try… it’s SO worth it!
Nicole Says:
Hi,
I suffer from ‘over active armpits’ too. I have been using Certain Dri Antiperspirant for a long time now with great results. My pits are dry and I can wear the colors and styles of clothing I was never able to wear. It contains 12% aluminum chloride, the same active ingredient in prescription antiperspirants. It’s the number one recommended antiperspirant by derms for treating excessive sweating. What’s best, it only costs $5.50 and you only need to apply it 3 times a week at night. SC and all of the other “clincial strenght” antiperspirants out there are made with the same aluminum zirconium trichlorohydrex with a differnce of 1 or 2 % . My doctor told me these antiperspirant are good for mild sweating but for somebody (like us) who sufferes from excessive sweating these won’t work well enough and they may have to be applied 1 or 2 times a day and at $10 a stick who can afford that!!
Give it a try Certain Dri is available every where. God, I sound like an ad, I’m just really loyal to Certain Dri and make it a point to tell everyone who will listen! ~Later! Nicole.
heather Says:
it’s the first antiperspirant i’ve found that’s really worked for me. love it!
Karen Says:
SC is the first deodorant that has consistantly worked for me in quite a long time. I, too, apply in the morning with great results (unless I sweat a little while getting ready for work). I’m trying Degree clinical now, and, so far, it is right up there with Secret clinical on the dry-armpits scale.
Beri Says:
For me, yes it worked through the night. But it didn’t last. And the perfume used in this product is pretty strong. So when hot flashes flare, there is a release of anti-persperant cloud and it embarassess me. I’ll try Certain Dri as it costs less.
Holly Says:
I love love love love love love love love love love love the Secret clinical strength antiperspirant.
The fragrance is strong, but I love the smell so much that I wish it came in perfume form!!
Jen Says:
I agree with Nicole…I’ve been using Secret Platinum Protection because it’s less than half the price of Secret Clinical Strength and has only 1% less active ingredient (aluminum zirconium trichlorohydrex). I still get wet and have irritation, so maybe I’ll try Certain Dry.
Jabes Says:
I use Certain Dri every other night, but I also put on a regular Dove or Secret product every morning, and that combo has been working really well for me for the past few years.
Laurie Ruettimann Says:
OH MY GOD.
I love this stuff. I was two days away from a botox appointment when I tried it.
It made an instant difference.
Alex Says:
I have also pondered about using Secret Clinical Strenght, but as Jen says, Secret Platinum has 19% of the active ingredient instead of 20%. My question is wether this extra 1% is worth the extra 7 dollars it costs.
Thank you Brains, we love you in Mexico!
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[...] The Beauty Brains share a secret about prescription strength antiperspirants. [...]
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Jo Says:
I have to say…
Aluminum is very, VERY bad for you. There are studies out there proving the correlation between all kinds of crazy diseases and an overabundance of aluminum in the bloodstream.
Just be careful. I use an organic antipersiprants without aluminum and highly recommend studying up on the subject before just rubbing all that harmful mineral stuff in your armpits.
Blog Roundup: Heard on the Web This Week Says:
[...] The Beauty Brains share a secret about prescription strength antiperspirants. [...]
Texas Reader Says:
Jo - the safety of aluminum in anti-perspirants has been investigated and the scientific conclusion is that the aluminum in these products does not get into your blood stream. The “aluminum” antiperspirant scare has been debunked just like the 1970’s “your dental fillings will give you MS” scare.
Elaine Says:
Wow, clinical strength anti-perspirants… is really new to me. For people are so worried about the aluminium, is there is some kind of surgerical procedure that can be done underneath the arm pit to help decrease over sweating? Which has a lower risk of bad side effects?
Stephanie Says:
Honestly, I was skeptical as well- but this is the only thing that works for me. I had tried everything and even altered what I wore until I found this product out of desperation. It’s worth the extra $s over the other deodorant.
diana Says:
Living in DC, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve wished for winter to come early, while I commuted and turned into a sweaty mess before I even got into the office.
I tried the Secret Clinical Strength when it came out, and though it seemed to work for a little while, I couldn’t get over the scent - it was too strong and powdery for me.
I recently found another product that works great - better than Secret and Certain Dri (which I’d always forget to put on at night, and would irritate my skin after shaving). The cost is a bit pricey, as I had trouble justifying $16 for an antiperspirant, but it’s SO worth it! Kiehl’s Superbly Efficient Anti-Perspirant & Deoderant has kept my underarms as dry as they’ve ever been in years. The scent is light, almost nothing there, and since it’s a lotion you just rub it in and let it absorb/dry, and you’re good to go. I apply a little scented deoderant, but it’s not necessary. No residue, no damp pits on your shirts - you really ought to try it.
Abbey Says:
I’ve got some stuff called Drysol, you can get it OTC from your pharmacist in Canada. I’ve got the mild version, and it’s got 6.25% aluminum hexahydrate. You put it on before bed (the instructions say every night, but I find a few times a week is enough for me. I believe that’s what my doctor told me as well), and it really cuts down on sweating. I throw on a little bit of basic Secret in the mornings, and I’m good, I usually don’t sweat much at all - and I will sweat quite a bit normally, regardless of the weather.
David Marston Says:
Here are some comments on the previous post regarding BOTOX treatments for underarm sweat. I tried every possible solution to relieve my acute underarm sweating problem. Finally, a friend told me tiny BOTOX injections can treat severe underarm sweating. Then I read BOTOX is FDA-approved for the treatment of excessive underarm perspiration, and one BOTOX treatment can significantly reduce underarm sweat. Their Official BOTOX Hyperhidrosis Web site was very helpful and informative, and it really gave me hope. I tried BOTOX, and it has definitely helped me with my sweating problem when nothing else worked for me. Now I have my self-confidence back and I’ll never have to deal with sweaty armpits or a limited wardrobe again.
chase Says:
I have been using the Secret Clinical and it works for the problem of underarm perspiration very well. But now, it seems to create excessive sweating in different areas. Since using this product I have been sweating a lot at night, especially my head. This morning I saw that the new pillowcases I bought 3 days ago are ruined from the sweat leaching the color away. I guess I cant win.
danette Says:
I paid 7.45 for secret clinical and hate to say it did not work and am going to try and get my money back cause it;s guaranteed!! (still have the embarrassing wet spots on my shirts!)
Kim Says:
I’m a 15 year old teenager, and swimming, so I don’t extreamly involved in water polo and have sweating problems while playing sports, but everywhere else I do. I live in Chicago, and even in the below zero weather, my armpits will sweat. It doesn’t smell, it just makes me self consience. Secret is a great, long lasting deoderant, but I only saw a little improvment as an anti persperant. While it is a step above regualr anti-persperant/deoderants, it’s deffinatly not that wonderful.
Kim Says:
correction: I’m a 15 year old teenager, and extreamly involved in water polo and swimming…
Shan Says:
I read some of the comments on here and agree with the lady that mentioned excessive sweating in other areas. I find that the sweat comes out on me now where it never did before. My back, my chest and around my hairline. I used it for the first time a couple of days ago and woke up soaked in sweat. I had to change my pjs! Is this a normal side effect? I didn’t see anything in the pamplet about it.
While I was at work during a stressful moment I began to sweat profusely around the hairline… this has never happened to me before. It was rather embarrassing. Is this common for anyone else? I mean my armpits are dry but the sweat is coming out everywhere else and it never did before (unless I was exercising profusely).
Leslie Says:
I have been using scs for a week and it works great. As for the smell i bought the hypoallergenic one there is no perfume smell.
clara Says:
I use Mega Dry and I found that to be the best..no stains, no smells, no sting…I’ve used drysol and that burned and stank..it did work but after a while it stopped working.
I wonder if its worth it to get secret since I already use the antipersperant secret platinum and its just 1% less than the clinical and when I use that stuff alone it did not cut it. I need the mega dry at night and thats whats been solving my problem. http://www.megadry.com
Wishes Says:
wow who knew people actually had these conversations on the web? Well i have a tad bit of a sweating problem and since its getting hot now my degree isnt quite working as it did in the winter so my sister spent her money and bought me Secret Clinical Strength today and after reading all of these comments I might have to pray before i use it haha sounds like there are most definitly side effects