If you’re looking for an easy way to detox your armpits, you’ve come to the right place. This DIY armpit detox is an easy way to detox your armpits during your normal beauty routine.
I used conventional deodorants for most of my life and they worked really well for me, and smelled nice too. I never thought much about them or what the ingredients were. Not until I started researching them when I was looking for a suitable deodorant for my then 8-year-old daughter who had started experiencing body odor.
When I started looking into deodorants and antiperspirants and how they work, I was shocked to learn that the ingredients used in conventional deodorants were toxic chemicals. Obviously, I didn’t want to expose my daughter to those chemicals so I looked into natural deodorants.
Now before I go into how to detox your armpits, or why you should detox your armpits, I’m going to tell you what I learned about conventional deodorants and why I made the decision for my family to stay away from most antiperspirants and deodorants.
Antiperspirants vs. Deodorants
First, it’s best to understand what the difference is between antiperspirants and deodorants. Antiperspirants stop or reduce the amount of sweat produced and can irritate sensitive skin. The active ingredient in antiperspirants is aluminum salts which dissolve into your skin’s surface and create a barrier. This essentially blocks your sweat glands temporarily in turn reducing the amount of sweat released.
On the other hand, deodorants cover up stinky sweat and odors but don’t stop the sweating. This is a good thing, especially in children, because kids don’t sweat a lot so there’s no need to limit how much they sweat. Also your body sweats for a reason, and blocking sweat is not the answer!
Why You Should Detox Your Armpits
Should you detox your armpits? Why not just use plain deodorant and avoid the whole problem, right? Wrong!
As I was looking for a suitable deodorant for my daughter, I did some research on the ingredients commonly found in deodorants. I soon learned that the ingredients used in conventional deodorants contain a variety of chemicals and additives that are concerning. The list may be short but it’s impressive:
- Aluminum — Evidence links aluminum to Alzheimer’s disease, cancer and osteoporosis.
- Phthalates — Hormone-disrupting chemicals, often added to plastics to increase their flexibility, durability, and transparency. They are linked to a lot of health issues including infertility, early puberty in girls, birth defects in kids, trouble losing weight, and even certain cancers.
- Parabens — Other hormone-disrupting chemicals that interfere with hormonal production. They’ve also been found in biopsied breast tissue samples that are cancerous.
- Propylene glycol — Also known as antifreeze. This ingredient is hotly debated as an additive. Some people claim that it’s harmless while others say it causes cancer. It’s known to cause neurological symptoms such as stupor and convulsions. It’s also potentially toxic to the kidneys and liver, and causes skin irritation and allergic reactions.
- Formaldehyde — Long-term exposure to this known carcinogen can cause neurotoxicity, liver toxicity, damage to the lymphatic system, or even cancer.
So, by using conventional deodorants, I was basically putting a concoction of toxic chemicals in my armpits and was about to do the same to my daughter. Plus antiperspirants block the body’s natural ability to sweat, a system that gets rid of toxins and constantly fights to filter out viruses and cancer cells. I didn’t want to take any chances so I decided not to use antiperspirant again.
You might be thinking that you’ll just make the switch to a natural deodorant and everything will be just peachy. Well, if you have been using conventional deodorants for a while, there’s a lot of toxic buildup in your armpits. If you don’t detox your armpits, you may get a detox rash or experience more body odor as your pores finally open up and release all those chemicals. Detoxing your armpits before using a natural deodorant can speed up this process and ease the transition.
Another great benefit to detoxing your armpits is that it helps draw out some of the toxins and chemicals out of your skin and armpits, which is especially helpful after many years of conventional deodorant use.
Armpit Detox: Does it Work?
I tried an armpit detox, and also did one on my daughter. I also have several friends who regularly do armpit detoxes. We all noticed less odor, even without wearing any deodorant afterward. I didn’t experience a rash when using a natural deodorant and neither my daughter (though she has never used conventional deodorant so this may skew her results). This trial is by no means a scientific one but it’s worked for us, and I definitely recommend armpit detoxes to my family and friends, including you 🙂
Armpit Detox Benefits
Have you been getting sick often or been feeling sluggish? Are your armpits smellier than normal or your lymph nodes tender? This could be from your lymph nodes working extra hard to get rid of the chemical toxin buildup. They need help and not to be suppressed.
Here are some of the benefits of an armpit detox:
- Draws out toxins from conventional deodorants.
- Reduces body odor.
- Eases the transition to a natural deodorant.
- Improves tender lymph nodes and boosts lymphatic circulation.
Even if you have been using natural deodorant for years, it’s still good to detox your armpits every few months to keep things running smoothly. As I mentioned earlier, my daughter has never used conventional deodorant but she still does an armpit detox at least 4 times a year.
How to Detox your Armpits
This is one of the easiest, if not the easiest, DIY recipe you’ll ever make! It requires only 3 ingredients, and you might already have them on hand.
Easy Armpit Detox
Armpit Detox Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoonful of paraben-free bentonite clay
- 1 teaspoonful of apple cider vinegar
- About 1-2 teaspoonfuls of water (to get right consistency)
- Antibacterial body spray with aloe vera (optional)
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Directions:
- Mix the bentonite clay and apple cider vinegar in a small glass bowl (do not use metal!) with a wooden or plastic spoon (metal affects the properties of the bentonite clay). Mix it well until it achieves a paste-like consistency.
- Spread a thin layer on each armpit and allow to sit for approximately 15 minutes. You can start at 5 minutes and work your way up to 15 minutes so you can give your body a chance to adjust. If you feel a tingling or burning sensation, wash off immediately. I personally have left it on for 15 minutes and haven’t felt any sensation.
- Rinse off in the shower or with a warm, soft, wet washcloth. I personally detox before I take a shower so I can just wash it off. After I remove all the bentonite clay mixture I dry my armpits. Then I like to use an antibacterial body spray with aloe vera to help get rid of the odor and to help my skin heal. This is not a must but it helps with the detox process and it’s great for your skin.
- Drink a LOT of water and be sure to move your body each day to help your body flush the toxins out faster and to avoid getting dehydrated!
Here’s a natural deodorant that my daughter has been using and it’s very effective in keeping her body odor at bay. It’s Citrus Mint Natural Deodorant—and it’s baking-soda-free so it’s great for sensitive skin!
How Many Times Should You Detox Your Armpits?
Initially, you need to detox your armpits until your smelly armpits are no longer stinky. If you’re doing this armpit detox because your natural deodorant is irritating, you will have to do this detox until the irritation stops. Although this detox is safe enough to use daily, I prefer to detox 2-3 times a week. You should be able to notice a decrease in the odor soon after your first application.
Alternatively, if you have been using conventional deodorant and you decide to make the switch, detox your armpits right away. This will help keep the odor at a minimum. Just remember that everyone’s body is different, and that yours may react differently. But if you pay close attention, you’ll notice these changes. And you’ll be able to tell when you don’t have to detox anymore.
Additional Things to Try
If you’re still struggling with body odor, have lumps in your armpits, or are experiencing itching, consider using an antibacterial body wash that gets rid of body odor naturally.
Another great option is dry brushing. Dry brushing can stimulate the lymphatic system by improving lymph circulation as it stimulates and invigorates the skin. You can either use the brush on its own or put a bit of organic detox body oil onto the brush before you use it.
It feels good to know you’re helping to get rid of waste and toxic chemicals that have built up in your body for years. Armpit detoxing is one of those things that feels just as good when you do it yourself, and it’s incredibly easy to incorporate into your routine.
Your turn. Are you ready to detox your armpits? If you’ve tried it, what do you think? Share below!
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