Detoxes have been trending in the health and wellness spheres for years now. Usually, when you think of a detox, you imagine green juice diets, sweat lodges, and clean eating. But have you heard of the latest wellness craze, the armpit detox? If you’re interested in making the most natural and healthy personal care choices, you might want to try one out.
In this article, we’ll share everything you need to know about armpit detoxes from what they are to how they work and how you can do them. Once you’re through your armpit detox, we have many more tips to help manage and stop armpit sweat. Let’s dive in.
What Is an Armpit Detox?
If you grew up like most of us, you’ve probably been using standard, store-bought deodorants and antiperspirants since your early puberty years. But nowadays, people are starting to look at these products and wonder if there might be a better option. That’s where armpit detoxes come in.
The armpit detox is designed to help the body transition more efficiently from standard, “chemical-laden” antiperspirant deodorants to more natural deodorants. They work by clearing the clogged pores from the build-up of years of standard deodorant and antiperspirant use.
See, most people have a hard time switching from standard antiperspirants to natural alternatives. This is because long-term use of antiperspirant changes the nature of the bacteria living on your body. So when you stop using them, you tend to stink more. You may also sweat more, experience rashes, and notice a change in the smell of your BO.
This can often discourage people, and then they end up changing their minds about making the switch to natural deodorant. Armpit detoxes are designed to help people get through these totally normal side effects more easily.
Note that while they are called a detox, armpit detoxes don’t actually detoxify your body. They’re more like a deep cleansing treatment that clears pores and removes the sticky buildup of antiperspirant and/or deodorant from the underarm area.
According to its proponents, the benefits of armpit detoxes include:
- Eliminating odor-causing bacteria
- Making the armpit skin softer and smoother
- Rebalancing the body’s natural microbiome faster
- Making natural deodorant more effective
- Reducing excessive body odor
- Reducing irritated skin from ingredients in natural deodorants like baking soda and cornstarch
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The Science Behind an Armpit Detox
The idea behind armpit detoxes is that the products that you apply to your underarms have an effect on the natural bacteria and flora that live there. If you spend your entire adulthood applying one type of product with certain active ingredients and then switch to another, this can affect the bacteria in the underarm.
Indeed, a small 2016 study found that participants who used traditional antiperspirant and/or deodorant had fewer Staphylococci microbes than participants who did not use them. Participants who did not use antiperspirants had more Staphylococci bacteria.
So making a switch from using traditional antiperspirant deodorants to not using them, then, can create an imbalance in armpit bacteria that makes body odor stronger. A sudden change in personal care products leading to bacteria imbalance can have negative effects.
Supporters of armpit detoxes claim that they can ease this transition and improve the effectiveness of natural deodorants. However, there is currently no scientific research to support this claim.
Why Does Armpit Detoxing Work?
Supporters of armpit detoxes point out that conventional deodorants and antiperspirants contain a variety of chemicals and additives. These include:
- Aluminum
- Phthalates
- Propylene glycol
- Formaldehyde
- Parabens
- Antibacterial agents
According to armpit detoxers, these ingredients can lead to hormone imbalances, allergies, and disease. As such, applying them near your lymph nodes can, they claim, cause hormone and immunity issues. As such, they believe in avoiding using these chemicals on the skin until more research is done.
An armpit detox, then, not only can speed up the period of adjusting to natural deodorant, which does not contain these same types of ingredients but it is also thought to be able to pull these chemicals out of the tissues of the skin and armpits. This is especially desirable for those who have been using conventional deodorant for years.
Again, it’s important to note that there is currently no scientific evidence that suggests that traditional deodorants and antiperspirants are harmful to the body.
How to Do an Armpit Detox
If you are interested in trying out an armpit detox, here are instructions for how to do it.
You’ll need the following ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon bentonite clay
- 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
- 1-2 teaspoons water
Follow these steps:
- Mix all of the ingredients in a glass bowl with a non-metal spoon until it reaches the consistency of sour cream
- Spread the mixture over the underarms in an even layer
- Allow the mixture to sit for 5 - 20 minutes
- Wash off in the shower or with a wet washcloth
- Repeat daily or as needed until you achieve the desired results, namely reduced underarm odor and being able to use natural deodorant without irritation
Some tips for armpit detoxes include:
- Start out by leaving the mixture on for shorter periods of time. See how your body reacts and work your way up to longer periods if desired.
- If the mixture hurts at all, remove it immediately
- The detox may cause redness, but it should go away quickly
Should You Do an Armpit Detox?
As you can see from the above, there are conflicting claims about armpit detoxes. Proponents of them claim that they reduce odor, sweat, and skin irritation. However, there is no scientific evidence that armpit detoxes are beneficial or that standard deodorants and antiperspirants are harmful. So all of this conflicting information may leave you wondering whether or not it’s worth it to try an armpit detox.
Ultimately, what you do with your body is a personal choice. But if you’re asking for our opinion, there is no reason not to try an armpit detox if you’re curious about them. Since there is no research proving that it’ll be effective, don’t go in expecting a miracle cure. But there’s no reason to believe armpit detoxes will be harmful, either, so you might as well try it if you want. It’s probably a good idea to start with a small patch of skin and only leave the detox mixture on for a short time so that you can test whether or not you may have an allergic reaction.
Wrapping It Up: Is an Armpit Detox Worth It?
At the end of the day, there’s no real reason why you should have to switch to a natural deodorant if you’re happy with the results you get from standard deodorants and antiperspirants. However, if you are interested in trying out a natural deodorant and an armpit detox, there’s no reason not to. As long as you’re aware that there is no guarantee that they will work or improve your health, it won’t hurt to try and see for yourself. Whatever you decide, we hope you’re happy with your results!
How Social Citizen Sweat Proof T-Shirts Can Help You
If you’re reading up on armpit detoxes because you’re trying to find a way to reduce the extra sweating you’re experiencing from having switched over to natural deodorant, you should know that there are other options available for you to help you manage your perspiration. One of the best ways to manage excessive sweating is by wearing one of Social Citizen’s sweat-proof Social Tees.
Designed to help keep you clean, cool, and fresh all day no matter how much you sweat, the Social Tee is guaranteed to stop 100% of sweat stains. The secret is in the discreet underarm pad that absorbs excess sweat so it doesn’t soak through. The pad is also made with anti-microbial bamboo to help reduce odors.
Best of all, unlike other sweat-proof clothing, the Social Tee is uniquely designed to look just like any other stylish shirt in your wardrobe. That way, you can wear it on any occasion without looking like you’re wearing something unusual. It comes in three neutral colors to make it easy to pair with any outfit. Check out it today in men’s and women’s cuts and learn what it’s like to stop worrying about sweating.
