I’m a dermatologist – you’re probably washing your armpits the wrong way, why it makes you STINK all summer
SUMMER sunshine is all fun and games until you’re on your third shower of the day.
If frequent bathing doesn’t seem to cut through your body odor, some dermatologists warn you may be washing your armpits incorrectly.
To figure out why you can’t shake a bad smell in the summer months, take a look at the contents of your shower, skin experts told Well and Good.
If you have bar soap or scented body wash next to your loofah or body wash, that might not be sufficient for stopping body odor.
Ranella Hirsch, MD, a board-certified dermatologist, told the outlet that bacteria may be to blame for your persistent stink.
“Things start to stink when sweat interacts with the bacteria on your skin,” the experts at the outlet wrote. “Getting rid of that bacteria could be the key to keeping BO at bay.”
What you need, the experts wrote, is an anti-bacterial soap – because it’s not just sweat that’s making you small.
Bacteria thrives in body hair, and it may even be lingering in residue from your deodorant. If you aren’t working to kill those bacteria, you might not kill the smell.
Mary Futher, the founder of Kaia Naturals, is also known as Madame Sweat on TikTok, where she espouses sweat-stopping techniques to her 166k followers.
She told Well and Good that adding anti-bacterials to your underarm cleaning routine is one way to stop body odor in its tracks.
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Your favorite brand might already make an antibacterial body wash. Dove, Suave, and Dial all offer antibacterial options for less than $7 at most supermarkets and drug stores.
You can also buy a body wash that’s formulated specifically for underarm use, like the ones deodorant company Native makes.
The moisturizing blend is great for your whole body, but it is designed to stop body odor before it starts.
And of course, you can implement household staples into a DIY anti-odor solution, too.
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Experts suggest applying a diluted dose of apple cider vinegar or tea tree oil to your underarms and leaving it for 30 seconds.
Shave beforehand, or if you’d rather keep your underarm hair, work the solution into your hair and skin before rinsing to make sure it does its job.