How To Detox Your Armpits & Why You Should!!
What is an armpit detox?
Armpits are the next big thing in the detoxing craze. Instead of drinking teas or doing a cleanse, people are mixing up masks and slathering them under their arms in the name of good health and sweet smells.
But before you go cover your pits in green sludge, do these detoxes really work?
How to make an armpit detox mask
Most armpit detoxes use a homemade mask of bentonite clay and apple cider vinegar. Some also include water to dilute the vinegar. Others use equal parts bentonite clay and coconut oil for a more soothing, hydrating mix that still has some antibacterial properties, thanks to the coconut oil.
The mask is applied to the armpits and left for 5 to 20 minutes, much like a face mask. Once it’s dry, the mixture is washed off in the shower or with a wet washcloth.
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What is an armpit detox supposed to do?
There are many claimed benefits of an armpit detox. Here are five common claims and what the research says.
1. Increases the effectiveness of natural deodorant
Most armpit detoxes are meant to make the transition from an aluminum-based antiperspirant to a natural deodorant easier. Many of the articles in favor of armpit detoxes claim that the natural deodorant will work better afterward.
There’s no proof that these detoxes can reduce odor or make a deodorant more effective. However, deodorant and antiperspirants change the types and amounts of bacteria in the armpit.
A small study found that people who wore antiperspirant or deodorant had fewer Staphylococci microbes than people who didn’t use any antiperspirant or deodorant. It also found that the people who wore deodorant without any sweat-blocking ingredients like aluminum had more Staphylococci bacteria, while people who didn’t use any product had more Corynebacterium.
When people who typically used deodorant without sweat-blocking ingredients, or who went without any product, applied antiperspirant, the Staphylococci bacteria on their skin decreased.
These changes in bacteria can make room for super smelly bacteria to take over. Antiperspirant can increase the amount of Actinobacteria, a bad-smelling bacterium, on the skin, according to a small study.
This imbalance in bacteria can be one reason why transitioning from an antiperspirant to a natural deodorant can make you feel extra smelly. It takes time for the bacteria on your skin to balance out, and any product applied — including natural deodorant, soap, or a detox mask — can alter the types and amounts of bacteria.
The vinegar in the detox may help remove some of the odor-causing bacteria, but so will soap and water.
2. Removes the buildup of antiperspirant or deodorant
Antiperspirant works by temporarily clogging sweat glands to decrease sweating. It does this by creating a gel on the surface of the skin. It’s not absorbed into the skin, but it does contain irritants such as fragrances, alcohol, and other ingredients.
A couple of thorough washes with soap and water using a wash cloth will remove any antiperspirant or deodorant.
A detox mask may also remove the antiperspirant from your skin. But it’s more likely that rinsing the mask off with water when you’re done will have done the trick.
If you need to be sure all traces of fragrances, alcohol, and other irritants are removed, follow the water rinse with a soap and water scrub with a washcloth to remove the antiperspirant.
3. Detoxes your body
From removing “cancer-causing toxins” to draining lymph nodes, some of the armpit detox articles make bold, unproven claims. But can you actually remove toxins through the skin?
“All of these clay products and things that are trying to pull out toxins are really just a myth,” said Shilpi Khetarpal, a dermatologist at the Cleveland Clinic. “The liver and kidneys really take care of detoxing the body from any harmful chemicals. There’s no way to get them out of the sweat glands or out of the skin,” she explained.
There’s no evidence that toxins can be physically pulled out of the skin or deeper layers of tissue. Sweat can carry toxins like heavy metals out of the body, but it’s unlikely that clay alone can lift them from the tissues under the skin.
There’s also no research showing that toxins in deodorants or antiperspirants result in breast cancer. This is just one myth about breast cancer that you should ignore.
4. Reduces irritation from natural deodorants
Redness and itchiness may be from an increase in bacteria as your body adjusts. But more likely, it’s a reaction to the ingredients in the natural deodorant like baking soda and cornstarch.
Stop using a product immediately if you develop burning, itching, redness, or a rash. An armpit detox can’t prevent this irritation. It will likely make it more inflamed if you’ve already had a reaction.
5. Eliminates odor
No one wants to worry about clearing a room with their B.O. The promise of odorless pits almost makes holding your arms over your head while the detox mask dries seem worth it.
There’s actually something to this claim. Apple cider vinegar is antibacterial and can help eliminate odor-causing bacteria. However, it’s important to properly dilute the vinegar and remember that it won’t keep you sweet-smelling indefinitely. Learn more about how sweating works.
