In an increasingly toxic world, more people are looking for natural and simple remedies way to detox. If you've spent any time reading articles online or keeping up with social media, you may have come across something called an armpit detox. Baking soda is a common ingredient in these recipes, but does it really do what people claim?
What is an armpit detox?
A armpit detox it's like a face mask for the underarms. It is a paste applied to the underarm area to remove toxins, chemical buildup and odor-causing bacteria. Apply it wet and let it dry for a few minutes, allowing the paste to absorb toxins and germs. Then you rinse it all off and dry it.
People often try an underarm detox mask as part of their transition to natural deodorants from conventional ones. They believe it helps the body adjust to the lack of aluminum and other sweat-blocking chemicals in conventional deodorants and antiperspirants.
Depending on the ingredients, underarm detox can reduce skin irritation, underarm odor, or excessive sweating that can occur as the body adjusts to the toxin-free deodorant.
Underarm pastes usually consist of natural absorbent or antibacterial ingredients that draw out toxins and kill bacteria. For example, baking soda, bentonite claycornstarch and charcoal all help absorb toxins. Apple cider vinegar and essential oils help balance microbes.
What are the benefits of underarm detox with baking soda?
Although not exactly recommended by a dermatologist, an underarm detox can offer several benefits:
- Reduced armpit odor: Regular deodorants can leave a residue on the skin that can clog sweat glands and trap odor-causing bacteria. Cleansing the skin, balancing its pH and managing the bacterial balance can help reduce odor.
- The healthiest skin microbiome: Using more acidic ingredients in detox pastes can help restore the skin's natural microbiome. Promoting a healthy skin microbiome with the skin care products we use helps maintain a healthy barrier, protecting against toxins.
- Lower risk of breast cancer: Avoiding toxins near the lymph nodes by maintaining a healthy skin barrier can help reduce the risk of cancer. However, there is still no scientific evidence that doing an underarm detox helps.
Overall, reducing your toxic burden by supporting a healthy microbiome goes a long way toward creating a healthy body.
How not to detox your armpits
The most popular underarm detox recipes call for mixing baking soda and vinegar. While the chemical reaction (writing) looks impressive, mixing the two is not a good idea.
Baking soda is sodium bicarbonate, an alkaline compound. Vinegar is acetic acid, which is definitely an acid. So the acid and base cancel each other out and do not detoxify the armpits in any meaningful way.
In fact, baking soda's high alkalinity (pH around 9) can upset the skin's natural pH balance if used too much. (Human skin should have a pH close to 5.0) When the pH becomes too alkaline, it can negatively affect the skin's microbiome, increasing body odor over time.
If you want to use baking soda in an underarm detox, it's best to use it separately as an exfoliator. Abrasiveness can help remove dead skin. However, it is important to use it only occasionally, as it can have side effects. Baking soda can dry out and irritate sensitive skin there, potentially doing more harm than good.
Do not apply any underarm detox to freshly shaved skin as it can irritate the area. If you are worried, you can also do a patch test. Try applying a baking soda paste to the inside of your arm and leave it for about an hour to make sure it doesn't irritate the skin.
How to detox your armpits effectively
To make an underarm detox, first mix your ingredients and make a paste. A good combination is bentonite clay with water or apple cider vinegar. Apply it to clean, dry armpits and leave it on for 5 to 20 minutes as you would face mask. Once dry, wash off the mixture in the shower or with a warm, damp washcloth.
It may also be helpful to add some essential oils to your underarm detox. Essential oils are more than fragrances; many of them are powerful antibacterial agents. Some essential oils to consider are lavender, lemon, rosemary and tea tree oil. Just add a few drops to the paste as you mix it.
Using lymphatic massage can also help. There are over 20 lymph nodes in the armpit, and the lymphatic system does not have a pump to keep it moving. This is where massage comes in.
After you've done an initial underarm detox, it's time to move on to natural personal care products. You can do it yourself homemade deodorant with coconut oil and other natural products. this has magnesium to help restore mineral balance underarms.
You can also find a variety of aluminum-free, paraben-free natural deodorants at your local health food store. However, it is important to read the ingredients, as they may contain synthetic fragrances, talc, lanolin or unwanted additives.
The best deodorant for smelly underarms
Many of the natural deodorants on the market are not very effective. People complain about having to reapply them throughout the day. This is why I decided to formulate Wellnesse's Mineral deodorant. This deodorant uses natural ingredients that work on underarm odor without adding to your toxic load.
It has coconut oil and shea butter to moisturize and baking soda to absorb odor and toxins. And it's pH balanced, so it won't irritate the skin like baking soda will. Essential oils and zinc ricinoleate from castor oil also help fight odor. Plus it has a soothing palo santo scent. I love using it after showering or detoxing my underarms!
Have you done some sort of underarm detox? Have you noticed any benefits? Share with us below!
