By Debra Maslowski
Detox underarms because toxins like aluminum and parabens can disrupt hormone production. Learn how to detox armpits for better health.
When a friend came to me and asked how to detox her underarms, I asked why. It hadn’t occurred to me that there could be a buildup of toxins and other things. She looked at me and gasped. Apparently, it was something I should know! And since I do most all of my skincare routine naturally, she automatically thought of me.
Why Bother to Detox Your Underarms?
There are many good reasons why you might want to detox your armpits. Here are a few:
- There could be a buildup of toxins
- Pores could get blocked
- The underarm area could stay damp, inviting bacteria to grow
- Opposite of that, the underarm area could dry out, causing itching and rash formation
- Aluminum could stay in your system
- Parabens could interfere with hormone production
These are just a few reasons you should not only clean your underarms well, instead of just reapplying deodorant, but also detox them at least once a month. A few times a month is even better. It’s a simple process that only takes a little bit of time.
How to Detox Armpits (Underarms)
Step 1: Preparing the Detox “Mask”
You can compare this paste to a facial mask, and actually, you can use it as such. You’ll want to prepare it fresh each time, although you can mix the dry ingredients ahead of time and store them in a sealed container, like a mason jar.
Ingredients
- 2 Tablespoons bentonite clay
- 1 Tablespoon activated charcoal
- 1 Tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 2-3 drops of lavender essential oil (if desired)
Instructions
- Mix the dry ingredients together well.
- Next, add the apple cider vinegar and essential oil to the dry ingredients and mix well so there are no lumps. You’ll want a smooth paste. Add a bit more vinegar if it seems too thick.
Applying Your Armpit Detox
Apply half of the mixture to each underarm area. Leave on for 15-20 minutes to allow the toxins to be absorbed into the paste as it dries. You’ll know it’s done when it feels very dried out. If you put it on thick, it could take 30 minutes or so.
Detox Clean Up!
The next part is best done in the shower. Dampen the underarm area so the paste can be cleaned off. You may need to keep dampening it to get it all off. Don’t scrub at it, you could irritate the tender skin there. Keep dampening it and turning your underarm towards the running water. It will come off easily once it is dampened. When you get out of the shower, dry the underarm area and apply a bit more lavender essential oil or witch hazel to reduce any inflammation. Apply a deodorant if you wish after the area has dried.
Armpit Detox Benefits of the Ingredients
Bentonite Clay
Bentonite clay is great at absorbing toxins and other harmful ingredients. It naturally pulls things out of the skin like sweat, oil, and toxins. You can also try kaolin clay or sea mud, but bentonite clay is the most effective.
Apple Cide Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar is acidic and helps to kill bacteria, another great way to detox armpits. It also helps to cleanse the area. Acid, rather than alkali such as baking soda, is more effective at keeping bacteria from growing. Lume`™ is one natural deodorant that follows this line of thought, using mandelic acid rather than baking soda to combat bacteria.
Activated Charcoal
Activated charcoal absorbs toxins as clay does. Charcoal has many tiny pores that fill with toxins and bacteria, trapping it there until water washes it away.
Lavender Essential Oil
Use lavender essential oil to detox armpits because it has a long history of healing skin and reducing inflammation. In most cases, you can use it”neat” on the skin, or undiluted. If you have sensitive skin, you can dilute the essential oil in a bit of carrier oil, such as sweet almond oil or safflower oil.
Other Uses for This Detox
You can also use this recipe as a facial mask, which can help to pull things from deep in your pores like makeup or sweat. Use the mask the same way that you would for your underarms. I would only use this mask once or twice a week on your face as facial skin is more sensitive than your underarms.
Now you know how to detox armpits and why you should do it!
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