How to Detox Armpits & Diminish Odors in 3 Steps
Discover how to detox your armpits for cleaner, fresher underarms in 3 steps.
Between sweat and deodorant build up, your underarms could do with a detox every once in a while. An armpit detox fights body odor, makes your deodorant work better, and brightens up your skin.
So much to gain. Nothing to lose. Here's how to detox armpits and the best products for mega-fresh pits. Plus, everything you should know about detoxing armpits.
Detox Your Armpits With
These exfoliating, odor-fighting products that smell incredible.
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What is an Armpit Detox?
An armpit detox is the process of clearing out impurities, product buildup, and chemical residue from your underarms.
Typically, this involves ditching aluminum-based antiperspirants to allow your skin to purge sweat, oil, bacteria, and product gunk. As your skin resets, the barrier has a chance to repair and function at its best.
While switching to an aluminum-free deodorant is a crucial step, it’s just one part of the detox. To fully support your underarm microbiome and refresh the area, a proper armpit detox includes deep cleansing, gentle exfoliation, and targeted treatments to leave your pits smooth, bright, and healthy.
How to Detox Armpits in 3 Steps
Follow these simple steps to detox your underarms and reveal fresher, smoother, and brighter skin.
Step 1: Buff Away Dead Skin Cells
Cleanse away dead cells and impurities with this charcoal and salicylic acid-powered scrub that deeply exfoliates for instantly fresher, smoother underarms.
Dead skin cells trap sweat, bacteria, and deodorant residue, which can lead to odor, irritation, and uneven texture. They also block your deodorant from absorbing properly, making it less effective.
To fix that, exfoliate your underarms 2–3 times a week. Use a gentle scrub or chemical exfoliant to slough away buildup, unclog pores, and create a smooth surface so your deodorant can actually do its job. Regular exfoliation helps your skin breathe, brightens the area, and even prevents ingrown hairs.
Step 2: Switch to a Clean Deodorant
Smell like fresh coconut & vanilla all day long with this clean, aluminum-free deodorant infused with coconut oil and mandelic acid.
Ditch aluminum-based antiperspirants and switch to a clean, aluminum-free deodorant. Traditional antiperspirants block your sweat glands, trapping toxins, bacteria, and product buildup in your skin which can throw off your natural microbiome and lead to more odor in the long run.
Clean deodorants let your body sweat naturally while neutralizing odor with gentle, skin-friendly ingredients. Look for formulas with baking soda, magnesium, or plant-based enzymes to fight odor without clogging your pores.
Step 3: Apply a Lactic Acid Serum
Feel smoother, smell scrumptious with this lactic acid body serum featuring notes of sweet jasmine and pear.
Smooth on a lactic acid serum to gently exfoliate, brighten, and balance your underarms. Lactic acid dissolves dead skin cells, fades discoloration, and helps prevent clogged pores all while being gentle enough for the delicate underarm area.
This step keeps your skin smooth, supports your microbiome, and helps reduce odor over time. Plus, by clearing away buildup and evening out tone, it allows your clean deodorant to work even better. For best results, apply it at night and let it absorb before layering any other products.
Benefits of Armpit Detox
According to dermatologists, detoxing your underarms will reduce odor-causing bacteria and ultimately help to combat body odor. Here are all the benefits of detoxing your armpits.
Combats Body Odor
When it comes to how detox armpits and why, one of the leading benefits is the effects it has on body odor. An armpit detox cleans your underarms and keeps bacteria and odor in check for fresher smelling pits.
Here's why: armpit microbiome impacts your B.O. significantly. There's a strong link between the abundance of malodor-associated bacteria and the development of malodor. The more types of bacteria that live on your underarm area, the worse the odor. According to the experts, antiperspirant can make this worse.
By taking a break from antiperspirant, your microbiome has chance to restore itself, resulting in less odor.
Makes Your Deodorant Work Better
If you’ve recently switched to a natural deodorant but feel like it’s not working, an armpit detox might be the missing step. When your pores are clogged with buildup from years of antiperspirant use, your new deodorant can’t do its job properly. Detoxing clears out those layers of residue and rebalances your skin’s microbiome, allowing your deodorant to work more effectively. You may find you stay fresher longer—and need fewer reapplications throughout the day.
Prevents Irritation
Antiperspirants are generally quite harsh on the skin. By taking a long break from them or switching them for a natural deodorant, you give your skin chance to restore itself to a normal, healthy state. If you regularly experience underarm redness or irritation, an armpit detox can help to prevent future irritation.
Thanks to the deep cleansing involved, it also removes the buildup of product residue, cleansing your pores and preventing further flareups from trigger ingredients.
Keeps You Healthy
Because antiperspirant and deodorant are applied near the breast, some healthcare professionals have suggested a connection between their ingredients and breast cancer. An armpit detox is a preventative step to stay healthy.
Top Clean Deodorants for Long-Lasting Odor Protection
How to Make an Armpit Detox Mask
Another method with regards to how to detox armpits is applying a detoxing armpit mask. And it's so easy. You can make this at home.
Simply mix together one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar, one tablespoon of bentonite clay, one teaspoon of coconut oil, and two teaspoons of water. Spread the mixture onto your underarm area and let it sit for 10-15 minutes. Rinse off with warm water.
How Long Does it Take to Detox Your Armpits?
It depends on how long you've been using conventional deodorant or antiperspirant. If you've only been using it for a matter of weeks or months, it won't take long to detox. On the other hand, if you've been using it for years, it can take up to four weeks to detox your armpits and release all the aluminum and toxins.
How Often Should You Detox Your Armpits?
Now that you know how to detox armpits you might be wondering how often you should do it. First off, you should be cutting out aluminum-based deodorant completely. If you want to get rid of all the impurities and toxins, you'll need to use a natural deodorant instead going forward.
As for the armpit detox routine we showed above, we recommend doing this two to three times a week to keep odors at bay.
Can You Do an Armpit Detox Without Bentonite Clay?
Absolutely! With our armpit detoxing routine you don't need to use bentonite clay at all. You can simply skin the DIY mask and just cleanse, exfoliate, and switch to a clean and natural deodorant.
Is it Safe to Detox Your Armpits?
It's safe to detox your armpits. Provided that you follow the steps above and stick to natural ingredients, you shouldn't experience any armpit detox side effects.
That said, many of the ingredients found in DIY armpit detoxing masks like apple cider vinegar can irritate the skin. If you have sensitive skin, it's best to avoid these DIY treatments and stick to gentle skincare products instead.
While there's not a lot of evidence to support claims that armpit detoxes remove toxic substances from your body, there are still many reasons to give it a try. An armpit detox cleans your underarms and keeps bacteria and odor at bay. What's more, taking a break from (or dropping) your conventional deodorant can prevent health issues in the future.
With Truly's guide on how to detox armpits you'll also get the added bonus of brighter, smoother underarms as well as smelling like a sweet treat.
