Questions?

We are here to help

Frequently asked questions

We’ve collected the most frequently asked questions about Perspirex to help you find the answers you need.

What is the difference between a deodorant and an antiperspirant?

Often the terms deodorants and antiperspirants are used interchangeably, but there is in fact a significant difference between the two. Deodorants only mask odour, often by the use of fragrances, whereas antiperspirants prevent sweat from reaching the surface of the skin – and herby effectively preventing both wetness and odour.

How does Perspirex work?

Perspirex works so effectively thanks to the active ingredient Aluminum Chloride. The Aluminum Chloride reacts with water and keratin in the sweat duct by temporarily forming a gel-plug preventing the sweat from reaching the surface of the skin.

The plug will be expelled through the normal process of shedding dead cells from the surface of the skin, and over the course of a few days, the sweat gland will become active again. This process varies from person to person and takes from a couple of days up to a week, which is why you have to reapply Perspirex only 2-3 times a week.

How does skin care systems in Perspirex work?

The aluminium ion (from Aluminum Chloride) forms a temporary plug when it comes into contact with water and protein contained within the sweat duct. In this process, hydrochloric acid is formed (HCl). Hydrochloric acid is a strong acid and can cause irritation on the skin due to its low pH. The Perspirex skin care system balances the drop in pH, and consequently minimizes potential skin irritation.

How do you apply Perspirex?

5 steps to follow for roll-on on the underarms:

Apply Perspirex at night just before bedtime with just two strokes up and two strokes down in the middle of the armpit (where you have hair growth).
Apply to completely dry, unbroken skin. Use a hairdryer on a cool setting if necessary.
Before lowering your arms, please make sure the skin is completely dry.
Wash with soap and water in the morning. This will not affect the effectiveness of Perspirex, whether you bathe or shower. No need to reapply – just apply Perspirex roll-ons every 5 days and Perspirex lotions every 3 days.
You can apply a regular deodorant or perfume on top of Perspirex – this will not affect the effectiveness of Perspirex.

When you first start using Perspirex roll-ons:

First use: Apply for 5 consecutive nights.

Maintain protection: Apply every 5^th night, or as needed.

When you first start using Perspirex lotions:

First use: Apply every night for one week.

Maintain protection: Apply every 3^rd night, or as needed.

Please always remember to read the insert leaflet before use.

The gel-plug will be expelled through the normal process of shedding the dead cells on the surface of the skin. This process is different from person to person and can take a couple of days up to a week, which is why you must reapply Perspirex roll-ons only every 5th night, or as needed, and Perspirex lotions every 3rd night, or as needed.

Why should I apply Perspirex at night?

At night, the sweat glands are least active. Therefore, the water level in the sweat glands is low and the gel-plug forms more effectively in the sweat duct. This provides you with long-lasting protection against sweat and odour.

How much Perspirex should I apply?

Perspirex roll-ons
Apply Perspirex roll-ons to clean, dry, and unbroken skin.
Apply two strokes up and two strokes down, evenly distributed in the centre of the armpit area where you have hair growth. This is sufficient to provide effective sweat and odour protection that lasts for up to 5 days.

Perspirex Foot lotion
Apply a thin film of Perspirex to clean, dry, and unbroken skin on the soles of your feet with a cotton pad. This is sufficient to provide effective sweat and odour protection that lasts for up to 3 days.

Perspirex Hand lotion
Pour a small amount into your hand and rub until a thin film of Perspirex covers the palms of your hands. This is sufficient to provide effective sweat protection that lasts for up to 3 days.

How often should I use Perspirex to get optimal effect?

When you start using Perspirex roll-ons, you need to apply it for 5 consecutive nights. When you start using Perspirex lotions, you need to apply it every night for one week. To maintain protection for roll-ons, apply every 5th night, or as needed, and to maintain protection for hand and foot lotions, apply every 3rd night, or as needed. This provides effective sweat and odour protection lasting up to 5 days with our roll-on antiperspirants, and up to 3 days with our hand and foot lotion antiperspirants.

The plug will be expelled through the normal process of shedding the dead cells on the surface of the skin. This process is different from person to person and can take a couple of days up to a week, which is why you must reapply Perspirex only 2-3 times a week.

Can I use my regular deodorant or perfume?

Yes, you can continue to apply your regular scented deodorant or perfume. This will not affect the efficiency of Perspirex.

Why is Perspirex so effective?

The active ingredient in all Perspirex products is Aluminum Chloride. Aluminum Chloride is used as it is extremely efficient in forming a long-lasting gel-plug in sweat ducts. Its effect has been well documented in both literature and in clinical tests.

The most widely used active ingredients in antiperspirants are aluminium salts. Aluminum Chloride is one of the most effective salts used in antiperspirants. Other antiperspirant salts are e.g. Aluminum Chlorohydrate, Aluminum Sesquichlorohydrate, and Aluminum Zirconium Trichlorohydrex Gly.

Why does Perspirex contain alcohol?

Perspirex Comfort is water based and does not contain alcohol. However, the rest of the Perspirex portfolio contains alcohol due to the following advantages:

Cleans and disinfects the skin.
Reduces odour development.
Since alcohol is also a disinfectant, it is not needed to add preservatives in Perspirex.
Alcohol quickly evaporates from the skin leaving the skin dry.
Degreases the skin so that the formulation works uniformly on the skin.

Can I use Perspirex due to religious reasons?

The alcohol used in Perspirex products is not sourced from fermented grapes or dates. The alcohol is denatured and derived from petroleum chemicals, which again originate from feedstock.

Is Perspirex cruelty-free?

Yes, Perspirex is cruelty-free. According to the EU Cosmetic Regulation 1223/2009, it is forbidden to carry out animal testing of ingredients in the development of cosmetic products and finished cosmetic product. In accordance with this, no Perspirex product nor raw material used in Perspirex products have been subject to animal testing anywhere in the world, by or on behalf of Riemann A/S.

Does Perspirex contain perfume?

No, Perspirex products do not contain perfume or other fragrances.

Does Perspirex contain parabens?

No, there are no parabens or other preservatives in Perspirex products.

What is the shelf-life of Perspirex?

The shelf-life of Perspirex Comfort is 31 months.

The shelf-life of Perspirex Original, Perspirex Regular and Perspirex Hand Lotion is 48 months.

The shelf life of Perspirex Strong, Perspirex Maximum and Perspirex Foot Lotion is 60 months.

Is it safe to use Perspirex antiperspirants?

Perspirex products are subject to the European Cosmetics Regulation (1223/2009). This legislation requires a cosmetic product not to cause harm to human health under normal foreseeable conditions of use.

Each cosmetic product must undergo a safety assessment by a duly qualified safety assessor before being placed on the market. This assessment takes account of each of the ingredients and the intended use of the product. Only if the cosmetic product is concluded to be safe for human use, according to the requirements of the European Cosmetic Regulation (1223/2009), will the product be placed on the market.

Riemann’s antiperspirants contain Aluminum Chloride. Aluminum Chloride has been safely used in cosmetic products for many decades. There is an ongoing attention in the media on the safety of ingredients in cosmetic products, including Aluminium salts in antiperspirant products.

The safety of Aluminium in cosmetic products has been evaluated by the European Commission’s Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS). The final SCCS opinion from March 2024 confirms the safety of Aluminium as currently used in cosmetic products. The SCCS opinions on the safety of Aluminium supports more than 20 years of overall scientific evidence developed by scientific and health authorities across the world, which shows no causal link between Aluminium used in cosmetics and ill health.

The SCCS final opinion concludes that the use of aluminium in non-spray antiperspirants, in different formats, is safe for human use up to 7.73% Aluminium. The safe use concentration of Aluminium in roll-on antiperspirants is evaluated to be 5.63%. The maximum Aluminium concentration in Perspirex products is less than half of that. The SCCS opinion therefore confirms that the current concentrations of Aluminium used in Perspirex products are safe for use.

The safe use concentrations for axilla antiperspirants are based on product application in the axilla twice a day. Perspirex products are normally only used 2-3 times per week, and the exposure to Aluminium from Perspirex products is therefore very low.

The SCCS also concludes that the exposure to Aluminium via daily use of antiperspirants and other Aluminium containing cosmetic products does not add significantly to the systemic body burden of Aluminium from other sources. Exposure to Aluminium may also occur from sources other than cosmetic products, and a major source of Aluminium in the population is the diet.

Is it dangerous to block for perspiration?

In order not to hinder the essential body functions related to sweating, we recommend not to use antiperspirant on more than 10% of the body surface. Perspirex is recommended for use locally, on body surfaces well below this limit. For instance, both armpits represent only 1% of the total body surface area.

When blocking some sweat glands, the sweating will often increase from sweat glands in other areas of the body. Preventing perspiration from the antiperspirant-applied areas will lead to a marginally increased perspiration from the rest of the body. This will automatically be regulated by the body.

Can I use Perspirex if I'm pregnant or breastfeeding?

Yes, Perspirex is safe to use, also during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Cosmetic products are subject to the European Cosmetics Regulation (1223/2009). This legislation requires a cosmetic product not to cause harm to human health under normal conditions of use. Each cosmetic product must undergo a safety assessment by a duly qualified safety assessor before being placed on the market. This assessment takes account of each of the ingredients and the intended use of the product.

In a safety assessment for a product intended for adults, including pregnant and lactating women, every ingredient is reviewed regarding the risks for the mother’s health, the risks for the baby’s development, and the risks for the pregnancy progression. Only if the cosmetic product is concluded to be safe for human use, according to the requirements of the European Cosmetic Regulation (1223/2009), will the product be placed on the market.

Perspirex is produced according to prevailing cosmetic legislation, in all Riemann markets. If you are in doubt regarding the ingredients of Perspirex in relation to pregnancy or breastfeeding, please consult your doctor for advice.

Can I get breast cancer from using Perspirex?

No, there is no evidence that Aluminium in antiperspirants could increase the risk of breast cancer. The safety of Aluminium in cosmetic products, including antiperspirants, has been evaluated by the European Commission’s Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS). The SCCS has thoroughly reviewed the available data on the use of Aluminium ingredients used in cosmetic products and considers them to be safe, based on worst-case theoretical cosmetic exposure. The SCCS noted that worst-case cosmetic exposure might be comparable to the typical dietary intake of Aluminium. The SCCS concludes “Based on the actual available information, the SCCS is of the opinion that there is no concern for carcinogenicity in the context of use in cosmetics”.

This is also confirmed by Cancer Research UK. A review of all the available evidence found no link between the use of antiperspirants and breast cancer (Cancer Research UK; www.cancerresearchuk.org).

Also, according to the American Cancer Society, no epidemiologic studies exist, which report a statistical association between breast cancer risk and the use of antiperspirants.

Can I get Alzheimer's disease from using Perspirex?

No, a link between the use of Aluminium containing antiperspirants and Alzheimer’s has not been proven. The US Alzheimer’s Association also states that there is no evidence to suggest that Aluminium exposure increases the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.

The research community is generally convinced that Aluminium is not a key risk factor in developing Alzheimer’s disease. Public health bodies sharing this conviction include the World Health Organization (WHO), the U.S. National Institutes of Health, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and Health Canada.

As described above, the safety of Aluminium in cosmetic products, including antiperspirants, has been evaluated by the European Commission’s Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS). The SCCS has thoroughly reviewed the available data on the use of Aluminium ingredients used in cosmetic products and considers them to be safe, based on worst-case theoretical cosmetic exposure. The SCCS noted that worst-case cosmetic exposure might be comparable to the typical dietary intake of Aluminium.

Can Perspirex be used on children?

Children – pre-teenager

Do not use on children. Heavy perspiration rarely occurs before puberty. Perspirex can be used from the age of approx. 13 years. It is very important to read instructions carefully before use and always under parental supervision.

Children under the teen-age

If a child under the age of puberty has sweating problems, we recommend that you consult your GP or dermatologist to make sure that the sweating is not related to a disease. It may well be that there is no disease-related problem, and the doctor merely recommends using Perspirex.

What should I do if my skin gets irritated?

Mild skin irritations

In some cases, Perspirex may cause skin irritation. Skin irritation may occur when using extra-effective antiperspirants, containing Aluminum Chloride, like Perspirex.

The use of Aluminum Chloride is, however, the first choice in controlling excessive sweating in both armpits, hands, and feet according to a consensus statement and is evaluated safe.

Most of the skin irritations are temporary and occur during use in the first week of application. If consistent skin irritations or an allergic reaction occurs, discontinue use.

To minimize the risk of skin irritations, the product should be applied according to the instructions for use in the insert leaflet.

More serious skin reactions

Some consumers experience more serious skin reactions, mainly if the product has not been used correctly. In such cases, it’s important to discontinue use of Perspirex immediately and consult a doctor. A Perspirex Customer Care Questionnaire should be sent to the consumer. The completed questionnaire together with any other documentation related to the complaint, should be evaluated. The product can be sent to Riemann for analysis.

In case of a Serious Undesirable Event (SUE), contact Riemann immediately (within 2 calendar days).

Darkened skin in the armpits

Extra effective antiperspirants, like Perspirex, can cause irritation of the skin in the armpits, which in rare cases results in skin darkening. The skin irritation induces low-grade inflammation, which then can cause increased pigment. If this occurs, discontinue use and treat with a skin moisturizer.

Staining on clothes

Antiperspirants contain aluminium, which is the active ingredient. Aluminium interacts with proteins in the sweat, and this combination, when transferred to the clothes, may result in staining. Also, the acidity of the Aluminium can cause fading and discolouration of fabrics.

When using Perspirex at night, the potential staining will be limited to the night-wear clothes. Perspirex should be washed off in the morning using soap and water, as therefore the day wear clothes should not be affected.

How to apply

Stop sweating. It’s as simple as sleeping

To minimise the risk of skin irritation and ensure full protection, all Perspirex antiperspirants must be applied at night clean, unbroken, and completely dry skin when the sweat glands are least active. All it takes is a small habit change in your routine.

Our products

Life-changing protection against sweat and odour

Clinically proven to provide superior and long-lasting protection, Perspirex is able to solve any sweat problem.

Our expertise

The life-changing formulas

Perspirex expert antiperspirants are the simple solution with clinically proven results. Formulated with a doctor-recommended active ingredient for excessive sweating, they have already made a difference for many people, helping them live with less sweat, odour, and emotional stress. Learn more about our extra-effective protection formulas.