You've been applying your deodorant wrong for years

With the temperatures at the moment reaching an all-time high, it's likely that most of will be feeling pretty sticky and sweaty.

Which means that many of us will (hopefully) be relying on heavy doses of deodorant to banish any unpleasant odours that may arise during the sweltering heatwave.

But if you're noticing that your spray or roll-on deodorant doesn't seem to be doing the trick in this hot weather, it may be because you've been applying it wrong.

According to one doctor, a spritz in the morning after a shower isn't actually enough to keep any pesky smells at bay.

Dr Dawn Harper, who appeared on Channel 4's Embarrassing Bodies, told The Sun (opens in new tab) that instead, we should be applying deodorant at night - rather than before we head out the door in the morning.

She explained that by applying deodrant in the evening, you can allow it to dry fully and therefore properly protect your armpits against odours.

Dawn advised, "Apply at night before going to bed to allow to dry fully."

However, it's best not to leave your deodorant routine there. Dawn then suggests that after you wake up, you wash away any residue, and ensure the area dries completely - not an easy feat when it's this hot outside.

She continued, “Leave on overnight and wash off any residue in the morning with soap and water."

"You should allow your antiperspirant to dry fully. You can use a hairdryer on the cool setting if necessary.”

Plus, Dawn suggests that you shouldn't be topping up your deodrant in the morning either. Given that you run the risk of applying to damp skin after a shower, it's best to avoid spraying yourself afterwards.

The doctor also explained that some deodorants protect better against sweating than others. So which should we be buying?

Dawn advised only purchasing anti-perspirant ones, which will actually stops sweating, rather than creating a nice smell.

If you want to keep any odour at bay, the NHS also advises taking some other steps too.

They suggest ensuring you wear clean clothes every day, and making sure that the items you wear are natural fibres, such as silk or cotton, which allow your skin to breathe.

The NHS also advises regularly shaving your armpits which allows sweat to evaporate faster, and limiting the amount of spicy food you eat, to prevent further sweating.