So, in case the title didn’t give it away, today’s post is on an interesting topic, but hear me out before judging!
I get a lot of questions from people who try my homemade deodorant and have issues with rashes or odor or excessive sweat. I’ve found that magnesium spray deodorant can be a good alternative, but wanted to find a way to help those who were still having trouble.
After much experimentation, research, and help from a few brave friends, I found an unusual solution that works really well!
Detoxifying Armpits: Yes, It’s a Thing
It occurred to me as I sat researching the sebaceous glands one night with a bentonite clay face mask on that perhaps my face mask was the answer to the armpit question as well.
After all, I’d used bentonite clay to detox my hair before (and use it in my shampoo now) and in natural detox baths and it worked incredibly well… perhaps it would speed up the adjustment period to natural deodorant as well.
Why detox your armpits at all? Why not just keep using regular deodorant and avoid the whole problem? Glad you asked…
Conventional deodorants and antiperspirants contain a variety of chemicals and additives. It takes something unnatural to block the body’s natural ability to sweat, and the chemical list in some deodorants is impressive:
- Aluminum– Some evidence links aluminum to cancer and Alzheimer’s Disease
- Phthalates– Endocrine disruptors often also found in plastic that can cause hormone imbalance and even infertility (especially in men)
- Propylene glycol– Common name: antifreeze. It is a hotly debated additive in personal care products but the Environmental Working Group reports that it carries a moderate risk of immunotoxicity and allergies
- Formaldehyde- A known carcinogen… guess it kills the germs though
- Parabens- Another hormone disruptor and parabens have been found in biopsied tissue with breast cancer
- Antibacterial Substances- I talked about these before but they are endocrine disruptors and can negatively affect the immune system
Why is this a big deal? Ever gotten sick and had a lump in your neck or armpit? That is a lymph node and they are a major part of your immune system. Putting endocrine disruption chemicals directly on top of them is a great way to screw up your hormones and suppress immune function.
The skin is the body’s largest organ and what touches our skin can easily enter our bloodstream. With skyrocketing rates of breast cancer, it would seem prudent to avoid these chemicals until further research is done.
A great advantage to doing an armpit detox, besides that it helps speed up the natural deodorant adjustment period, is that it might help pull some of these chemicals out of the skin and tissue of the armpits. This can be especially helpful after years of conventional deodorant use.
Does Armpit Detoxification Work?
I tried it personally and had several friends who hadn’t yet made the switch to natural deodorant try it as well and then switch. Here are the results:
- We all noticed less odor, even without wearing any deodorant afterward
- Nobody who tried the detox noticed a rash when using the natural deodorant
- All but one person said they noticed less sweat
- Everyone said they would recommend it to a friend
Completely un-scientific trial but practically applicable and the results seem promising!
How to Detox Your Arm Pits
Don’t you love when something is so easy that it almost doesn’t need instructions?
You might already have the ingredients on hand. You’ll just need bentonite clay, apple cider vinegar, and water.
Detoxifying Armpit Clay Mask Recipe
Ingredients
Ingredients
- 1 TBSP bentonite clay
- 1 tsp apple cider vinegar
- 1-2 tsp water
Instructions
Instructions
- Mix all of the ingredients in a glass bowl (do not use metal!) with a wooden or non-metal spoon until about the consistency of sour cream.
- Spread in an even layer over the armpits and allow to sit for 5-20 minutes. I suggest starting slowly and working up to a longer period of time once you see how your body adjust. If it hurts at all, remove immediately.
- This may cause some redness as it will increase blood flow to the area, but it will go away quickly.
- Wash off in the shower or with a warm, wet washcloth.
- Repeat daily or as needed until underarm odor goes away and natural deodorant is non-irritating.
Notes
Additional Armpit Tricks to Try
If you are still struggling with odor or have itching or lumps in your armpits, consider dry brushing, which is said to help improve lymph circulation.
Also, make sure to drink a lot of water any time you stimulate lymph flow (dry brushing, massage, detox, etc) to help flush the body and avoid getting dehydrated.
Transitioning to Natural Deodorant
After detoxifying, keep armpits functioning properly by letting them sweat! I know this isn’t the most socially acceptable (or the most pleasant at times), but I find that I experience less sweat the longer I use a natural approach.
DIY Armpit Care
If you have some coconut oil, shea butter, and a few essential oils on hand, you can probably make your own natural deodorant! It costs a lot less than natural deodorant in the store and works just as well. I’ve been experimenting with recipes for years and perfected a few different kinds:
- How to Make Natural Deodorant (your basic recipe, customize the scent)
- Natural Deodorant for Men: Best Kinds and How to Make Your Own
- Spray Deodorant Recipe (just a preference thing as to how it’s applied)
- How to Make a Probiotic Deodorant Bar (Easy Recipe)
I make up several jars (or bars) at a time since they keep for up to a year or more. That way I always have some on hand. These are great too for teens who are just starting out on the journey!
Where to Buy Deodorant
I’ve also found my favorite brands to buy over the years (because life gets busy!). Here are our favorites:
- Crunchy Betty’s Kokomo Cream – This deodorant has been my standby for years. It smells lightly tropical and reminds me of vacation and the beach!
- Schmidt’s (any scent, but this one is great) – goes on smooth, and slightly more affordable than other natural options
- Real Purity – One of our staff who is sensitive to baking soda swears by this (non-baking soda) brand. Amazon is convenient but the best price is often directly from their website.
That’s it! Enjoy your new stink-free armpits!
This article was medically reviewed by Dr. Ann Shippy, who is Board Certified in Internal Medicine and a certified Functional Medicine physician with a thriving practice in Austin, Texas. As always, this is not personal medical advice and we recommend that you talk with your doctor.
Your turn. Ready to try an armpit detox? Think it’s too weird? Share below!
Coconut Flour Waffles (Gluten Free & Dairy Optional)
can I do this while breastfeeding??
I’d check with a doctor, but I would think it would be good to detox the armpit tissue (which connects to breast tissue) while nursing so baby doesn’t get those toxins.
Not weird at all! I do this now about once a week until I don’t need it anymore (started about 2 months ago). Only tried it with clay and water, so thanks for the tip on vinegar!
By the way, I do this in the mornings and apply magnesium oil to my armpits in the evening on the same day. I find that the lymphs absorb magnesium oil better than the tough skin of my feet, especially after detox. Only downside is that it tingles the first few times because of the magnesium.
Thanks Katie!
speaking of feet, I wonder how to make a foot deoderant… the regular deoderants are kind of gloppy for my feet and I find I need super moisture on my feet- but not dry oily… if you know what I mean. (sorry I’m tired) I’ve tried just some carrier oil and lavender or tea tree EO but that doesn’t feel right it’s annoying!
Try the magnesium body butter on this website. It’s amazing!
Thank you for this tip. I tried natural deodorant several times (used your 2 recipes with and without baking soda) and always end up with red, itchy lumps. After your article about the magnesium spray, I even tried that, but again the lumps returned. I tried adding aloe Vera and witch hazel to the spray, but again lumps. (The spray works awesome for my daughter though!)
I reluctantly returned to commercial deodorant, will definitely try detoxing. Fingers crossed!
When I first switched from commercial deodorant (Secret) to a natural deodorant (Crystal – the rock you just wet and apply), I started getting horribly itchy underarms (no problem with odor though). I tried every natural deodorant I could buy, and couldn’t find a product that both kept me from stinking and wasn’t itchy until I ordered one from the same company where I get my essential oils, Young Living. I have tried both of the deodorants they produce, and they both work really well. After a couple of weeks, no more itching.
I ran out of regular deodorant about a month ago and decided to make your recipe. I used the cornstarch, coconut oil and baking soda recipe. I didn’t use essential oils because I don’t have any. I must say it really works for me. The first few days I felt really sweaty. After that I feel normal. I keep asking my husband if I am smelly. Lol! He says I’m not and promises to tell me if he notices any odor. Would you think I would be “detoxed” since I’ve been off of the commercial deodorant for a while? I am not sure. Thanks!
Hi!!
Awesome article as always 🙂
I’ve tries many natural deos and the one that works best for me has bentonite instead of baking soda and arrowroot. Alzó, when madre with rose water it smells amazing 🙂
Thanks for this great Blog!
Al the best from Spain
Hi Miriam, could you please tell me how much of each ingredient you use? I’d love to make this ????
THANK YOU!!!!! I recently switched from conventional deodorant to Crystal roll-on and was wondering why I now had acne looking bumps. Guess it’s a good thing I decided to make the switch in sweater weather than tank top weather, lol! Will start my pit-tox tonight!!
Awesome topic Katie! You are so innovative and that keeps me always coming back to read your blog.
I was thinking about using the Benny Clay face mask on my armpits, but was too scared about the possible mess. I am still new to the whole natural beauty idea and have been experimenting with some bad results. Do you have to keep your arms up to let it dry? That was another thing that was keeping me from trying it, but now I am going to!
I just did the Armpit Detox and kept my arms up for a few minutes then just put them down. I didn’t get any reactions and left on for 15 minutes. I have been using Katie’s deodorant for about 8 months.
This post interested me. I have an armpit problem that I’d love to see resolved. I don’t believe it is from antiperspirant, but it could be? When I shave my arm pits, 12 hours later they itch like crazy! And for the next 2 days. It will even wake me up at night. I have tried using a natural deodorant but that made no difference. What could this be? What I do now is shave very infrequently. Anyone else have this issue? I will try the detox and see if it makes a difference. Thanks for the post. Love the blog!
Stop shaving 🙂 that’s what I did and it’s a great feeling.
The only time I had a problem with sever itching was when I had a fungal infection in my armpits. I think it was from some sort of contamination on a store-bought stick of conventional deodorant. Have you tried any lavender oil after shaving?
I will try the lavender oil. A fungal infection in my arm pits? Hmmmm, but why would it only itch right after shaving? Thanks for your info!
You may actually be allergic to the nickel in the razors. I have the same issue, and you cannot find nickel-free razors, unfortunately. However, I have switched to the dollar shave club razors (the middle one at $6/ month), and I have noticed a huge difference in the way my armpits feel after shaving.
It could definitely be a fungal infection. Google Candida symptoms and see if any of those apply to you? But it could also be just a fungal infection, I have it so I have to use natural deodorant. If I were you I’d switch to a natural deodorant, with antifungal oil in it. I am currently using Royal and Rogue from primalpitpaste and it is amazing. I tried other scents like Lavender and cinnamon and a few others and it didn’t work for me. The smell and itch only stops when I use a deo with antifungal oils… like lemongrass and thyme, the one im using now (Royal and Rogue from PPP) has a bunch of different oils and it works so well. You should fully detox if your still using regular deo’s.. might take a month or so and do this detox use the bentonite clay.
After we shave we are cutting our selves essentially and allowing whatever deo we are using to travel into our blood more and it causes a bunch of problems…
Why don’t you wax instead of shaving? Hurts like hell the first time then after if you do it every 3 weeks you’ll be just fine and have thinner underarm hair. I find i have less odor when armpits hair is removed.
Yes I used to have the same problem! It got so bad I itched them until they even bled a little and then I went to a health food store and asked the lady in there if she knew what it was from and she said most likely just deodorant so I started using just a salt stick that she recommended and it’s completely gone now! It took about a month for it to go completely away once I switched deodorants but it worked.
I use an Remington electric razor. Works better than a blade razor, can’t cut you, also gets a cleaner shave believe it or not! With no skin reactions, ingrown hairs, or anything.
I have a similar issue, only it’s not my armpits that will itch like crazy, it’s my legs! About 12 hours after shaving, like you mentioned, and then for the next 2-3 days. It’s always worse at night. It’s SO hard not to dig them, the itch is very intense! It couldn’t be the deodorant issue for me, because I don’t put deodorant on my legs. 😉 I have tried all of the razors I can think of, on the market, tried all of the creams, lotions, etc… nothing seems to bring relief! Did you ever figure out a cause and cure for your intense itching? I’d love to know! 🙂
Hi Jessica, I recall having the same issue many years ago. I attributed to allergies. My legs could not handle detergents with scent that was one. Then I would take an antihistamine to see if that would calm the itch which it did. Like you I would bleed from scratching because the itch was bad. I also switched to waxing rather than shaving, thinking that I was maybe allergic to the razors, and that also seemed to help get rid of the itch but not until I found that my sheets needed to be scent free. I hope this helps you a little. You need to find the culprit so you can find relief.
Thanks so much for your response, Patra!! 🙂 I will definitely try to work on figuring out what it is that’s plaguing my skin! Thanks so very much for your suggestions and kind help!! <3
I made a batch of your natural deodorant recipe and it works better than any natural store bought brand I have tried. I have had a terrible armpit oder for about 2 years and I refused to use antiperspirant. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you for sharing your recipe and your wisdom. I can’t wait to do the armpit detox.
I squeeze lime or lemon under my arms everyday for years it works really well . Does Anybody have any idea If it’s ok to do it everyday?
I am sure I will try to detox my armpit any day. Thank you wellness mama