Making the switch to natural deodorant is becoming more and more popular. Many women are realizing that putting chemicals into their armpits by way of traditional deodorants and antiperspirants may not be the healthiest thing for their bodies, especially in an area so close to their breasts. Detoxing your armpits is the process of switching to natural deodorant and using clay masks to aid the process. A detox is beneficial to boost the health of your armpits and allow the microbiome in your armpit to recalibrate it to a normal state. Wondering how to detox your armpits? We’re letting you in on the benefits and how to do it below!
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What is An Armpit Detox?
An armpit detox is a period of time where you stop applying chemical deodorant to allow your body to cleanse itself. It’s a combination of switching to natural deodorant, using clay masks in your armpits and using probiotic-enhanced products to balance the microbiome of the area.
An armpit detox is done to enhance the health of the armpits and gives the area a break from traditional products. Your armpits are home to a ton of lymph nodes, which are essential for your body’s waste elimination process. By detoxing your armpits, you may be able to remove harmful buildup near your lymph nodes caused by years of traditional deodorant use. This can lead to less smelly sweat, less sweat overall and a healthier body.
Deodorants are designed to mask the smell of sweat and antiperspirants are designed to reduce sweating. When you stop using chemical deodorants and antiperspirants, toxins can start leaving the body, resulting in an armpit detox. Before you get started on an armpit detox, note that it’s possible that the process may cause skin problems and increased sweating and odour before things get better.
What Are The Benefits of An Armpit Detox?
1. Detoxes Your Body
Many deodorants and antiperspirants contain a variety of chemicals and additives such as aluminum, parabens and phthalates. Putting chemicals directly on top of your lymph nodes can screw up your hormones and suppress your immune function. An armpit detox can help pull some of these chemicals out of the skin and tissue of the armpits. While some say the ability to pull toxins out of the body is a myth, at the very least, switching to natural deodorant keeps you from putting chemicals into your armpits at all.
2. Increases Effectiveness of Natural Deodorant
Armpit detoxes are typically used to make the transition from aluminum-based deodorant to natural deodorant easier. Switching to natural deodorant can make you feel extra smelly and sweaty because it takes time for the bacteria on your skin to balance out, and any product that’s applied can alter the types and amount of bacteria. Detoxing the area before switching to natural deodorant can increase its effectiveness, resulting in less sweat and less odor over time.
3. Reduces Odor
One of the ingredients in an armpit detox mask is apple cider vinegar, which is antibacterial and can help eliminate odor-causing bacteria. It’s important to properly dilute the vinegar with water for the mask, and note that it doesn’t eliminate odor indefinitely. However, it does help eliminate odor during natural deodorant wear.
How to Detox Your Armpits
There are a few things you can do to make the detox process of switching from regular deodorant to natural deodorant easier.
1. Make an Armpit Detox Mask
Making an armpit detox mask is easy. All you need is 1 tablespoon of bentonite clay, 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar and 1-2 teaspoons of water. Mix the ingredients together in a glass bowl (don’t use metal) with a wooden or non-metal spoon until you get the consistency of yogurt.
Spread the mixture in an even layer over your armpits and leave on for 5 to 20 minutes. If it’s your first time doing an armpit detox, start with 5 minutes and see how your body reacts before leaving it on for longer. Remove it immediately if you’re in any pain or notice any other reactions (note that redness in the area is normal and harmless). Wash it off in the shower with warm water and a washcloth.
Repeat daily or as needed until there is no odor in the armpits or until natural deodorants no longer irritate the skin.
2. Apply Lemon Juice or Witch Hazel
Natural acids found in lemon juice and witch hazel can help neutralize the bacteria in your armpits and lighten discoloration. After you shower apply a little bit of lemon juice or witch hazel to a cotton ball. Let it dry and then apply your natural deodorant.
3. Dry Off Thoroughly
Make sure to dry off thoroughly after you take a shower or bath. Bacteria love warm, damp environments, which makes your armpits an ideal place to hang out. Spending extra time drying your underarms will help prevent bacteria and help your natural deodorant stay on more effectively.
4. Switch to Natural Fibres
Synthetic fibres, such as nylon and polyester encourage bacteria growth more than cotton or other natural fibres, especially when you sweat. You may be sweating more than usual when switching to a natural deodorant, so try to stay away from synthetic fabrics altogether for the first few weeks of your armpit detox.
5. Sweat It Out
Sweating is good for your body and you can support the detox process by encouraging your body to sweat more during this time. Go for a run, do some yoga in your backyard, hit the steam room – this can encourage your armpits to detox more quickly.
Source: merakiline
