Some people are more prone to body odor (BO) than others. Excessive perspiration or particular foods you eat can cause an unbearable stench. Sometimes, the root cause of your BO is poor gut health, i.e. a gut that doesn’t have a healthy balance of beneficial bacteria. Whatever the cause of your stinky pits, you don’t want to be the one smelly person. Why not detox your armpits, then?
What’s Wrong With Commercial Deodorants?
Commercial deodorants, especially anti-perspirant deodorants, are replete with chemicals that can harm the nervous and endocrine systems. Those chemicals can actually cause you to sweat and stink more than a natural deodorant can. Some common ingredients that are problematic are detailed below:
- Phthalates: These endocrine disruptors are found in plastic and can cause hormonal imbalance, or even infertility, especially in men.
- Formaldehyde: This known carcinogen may kill germs, but it can seriously harm the body.
- Parabens: These hormone disruptors have unfortunately been found in biopsied tissue with breast cancer.
- Aluminum: There is some evidence that links aluminum to cancer and Alzheimer’s disease, but more research is necessary to confirm this.
- Propylene glycol: The common name for this toxin is antifreeze. The Environmental Working Group reports that it carries a moderate risk of immunotoxicity and allergies. It is a highly controversial ingredient in personal care products.
- Antibacterial Substances: Antibacterial substances are bad? Well, some of these substances are known endocrine disruptors and can negatively affect immune function.
Does Armpit Detoxification Work?
We’ll say this up front: there is no concrete medical or scientific evidence that supports the concept of armpit detoxing. A person’s body does not simply detox via the armpits. The liver, kidneys, lymph nodes, and spleen filter toxins that enter the body. The body then eliminates toxins via sweat, urine, and feces. The skin does not typically filter toxins, as armpit detox proponents claim.
Some ingredients that people use to detox their pits can often cause irritation or other problems. Apple cider vinegar, for example, can irritate the skin, especially if the person has dry or sensitive skin. However, there are some supporters of armpit detoxification, but they stress that you should not use a scrub if you notice a rash under the arms. Additionally, if you use the underarm scrub in this article and find that it causes irritation or burning, stop the use.
Whether or not an armpit detox works may be entirely personal. Some people swear that a regular armpit detox helps eliminate odor, even without wearing any deodorant. Other people notice that they sweat less after trying the armpit detox. All of this is completely personal and not based on scientific evidence. However, should you want to experiment with an odor removing underarm scrub, consider the recipe below.
Odor Removing Underarm Scrub
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup sea salt
- 1 tablespoon each: lemon juice and lemon zest
- 1 tablespoon each: melted coconut oil and honey
Instructions:
- Mix the sugar and salt together in a large mixing bowl and then add the lemon juice and lemon zest. Mix well to combine.
- Drizzle in the coconut oil and honey and mix well before scooping into a glass container. Make sure to store in a cool, dry place and use one to two times per week for fresh underarms and smoother skin.
