Antiperspirant vs. Deodorant: What’s the Difference?

Antiperspirants and deodorants are the same thing, right?AdvertisementCleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. PolicyNot quite. While they both deal with sweat — particularly sweaty underarms — they work in different ways.So, is one better than the other? And how do you choose when to use an antiperspirant vs. a deodorant?Dermatology specialist Lauren Zamborsky, CNP, explains the key differences between antiperspirants and deodorants and if you should use one over the other.Understanding the difference between antiperspirant and deodorantYou probably have a lot of questions about antiperspirant vs. deodorant: Which is better? What does antiperspirant mean? What is deodorant?Zamborsky breaks down how each one works.How antiperspirant worksAn antiperspirant reduces the amount of sweat that your body makes. One of the main active ingredients in antiperspirants i...