Article summary:
- Discover how to detox your armpits and how long it takes
- Learn how often you may want to detox your underarms
- Get answers to common questions about underarm detoxes and deodorants
Antiperspirants and deodorants are a bathroom staple. They’re part of everybody’s personal hygiene. Most of these products, of course, contain harmful chemicals, but we use them anyway because they work in minimizing sweat and preventing body odor. According to proponents of armpit detox, prolonged use of these hygiene products causes a buildup of toxins on our skin, and armpit detoxification can help eliminate these toxins.
How do you do an armpit detox? And does it really work? Read on to learn more
How do you detox your armpits?
Armpit detoxification can be done once a day, every day, or two to three times a week. It’s important to remember that you will have to refrain from using your usual body products once you begin your detox.
The armpit is one of those body areas that produce a lot of sweat, and it provides the perfect environment for bacteria to grow and proliferate. When left unchecked, these bacteria produce the characteristic armpit odor that deodorants are supposed to mask. On the other hand, antiperspirants work by reducing the amount of sweat the body produces to prevent the appearance of embarrassing sweat stains and minimize the growth of odor-causing bacteria.
An armpit detox is supposed to allow you to switch from chemical hygiene products to natural ones, eliminate body odor, and help you rid your skin of the toxins that have built up over the years from daily use of antiperspirants and deodorants.
To do an armpit detox, you can either make a paste from a mixture of bentonite clay and apple cider vinegar. Other blends also include water or substitute coconut oil for the vinegar. Bentonite clay is supposed to help remove the toxins, and the apple cider vinegar or coconut oil prevents bacterial growth with their antibacterial properties.
The best time to use the armpit detox mask is after showering so that your armpits are clean and free of chemicals. You simply apply the paste to your armpits and leave it on for at least five minutes or up to 20 minutes. Wash off the dried mask afterward. Do the detox routine daily.
To make the paste, mix one tablespoon of bentonite clay, one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar or coconut oil, and one to two tablespoons of water (depending on how thick you want your paste).
You will have to either completely stop using antiperspirants and deodorants or switch to natural products once you start your armpit detox. You will know that the detox is working when you no longer notice any armpit odor. Then you can stop the routine. Some skin redness is a normal reaction to the armpit detox mask, but you should stop using it if you notice any other adverse skin reactions.
How long does it take to detox armpits?
It can take between two and four weeks for the armpit detox to work and your skin to adjust. Prolonged use of traditional antiperspirants and deodorants may have altered the balance of your bacterial environment and the types and number of bacterial growth.
Whether you switch to a product with natural ingredients or completely stop using any product, it will take some weeks to restore the natural balance of healthy bacteria and eliminate odor-causing bacteria. You will most likely smell worse while undergoing detox until the balance is restored. The apple cider vinegar or coconut oil does help minimize the growth of odor-causing bacteria, but this effect also wears out eventually after you stop applying the mask. But most folks report having less smellier pits post-detox.
How often should you detox your armpits?
Armpit detoxification can be done once a day, every day, or two to three times a week. It’s important to remember that you will have to refrain from using your usual body products once you begin your detox.
It would be best to schedule your first few detox routines during the weekend so you’d be at home during the worst-smelling period. You should also consider using natural alternatives products to help minimize sweat and smell, especially if you are going to work while on your detox period.
Can you detox your armpits by not wearing deodorant?
Antiperspirants and deodorants clog up the pores in your skin and alter the types and number of bacterial communities in your armpits. When you stop using these products, it generally takes a few weeks to a month for your body to restore the balance of healthy bacteria. Regularly washing your armpits with soap and water typically works effectively in removing the chemical residues from your hygiene products.
Do armpit detoxes really work?
Several studies have shown that daily and prolonged use of antiperspirants and deodorants can result in the growth of certain bacteria that actually cause a worse smell than your natural flora typically do. If you want to transition to natural odor-fighting products, doing an armpit detox can help your body control the growth of these odor-causing bacteria in your armpit. In contrast, your body adjusts to the absence of chemicals it has been exposed to on a daily basis.
Suppose your goal is to eliminate body odor. In that case, the antibacterial properties of apple cider vinegar or coconut oil are effective in reducing the growth of odor-causing bacteria and, therefore, preventing smelly pits. However, the effect wears off, so you should consider finding a natural solution that you can still use daily after your detox.
To remove toxins from your skin, science says that an armpit detox is unnecessary, but that it does have it’s benefits. Daily washing of your armpits with soap and water typically works in getting rid of the chemical residues from your antiperspirant or deodorant. Plus, the liver and kidneys already do an excellent job of eliminating harmful toxins from your body.
Using the paste mixture on your armpit is relatively safe and can offer some skin health benefits. Just watch out for any adverse reactions, and discontinue the armpit detox paste if you experience severe skin irritation.
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References:
- Deodorant use: https://www.pennmedicine.org/updates/blogs/health-and-wellness/2019/june/deodorant
- Antiperspirants usage: https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/myths/antiperspirants-fact-sheet
- Studies about deodorant and antiperspirants: https://www.webmd.com/breast-cancer/features/antiperspirant-facts-safety
- Armpit detox science: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/319624
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