What You NEED to Know About Your Armpits
Did you wake up one morning to start your normal routine, only to look in the mirror and see weird black hairs appear under your arms, seemingly out of nowhere? Have you noticed a funky smell coming from that area that you've never encountered before?
Welcome to the wonderful (haha, yeah right) world of armpits. Rest assured, what you're seeing and smelling is completely normal, and it's just one more sign that you're growing up. A few more "weird" things are bound to take place within your body in the near future, but today, we're here to tackle the stuff that's going on in your pits.
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While we think we're informed about this lesser-seen body part, we turned to dermatologist Dr. Audrey Kunin, to get her professional take on what you need to know. Dr. Kunin knows so much about armpits, she even created her own line of antiperspirant products called DERMAdoctor.
We tested out her $28 Total Nonscents Ultra Gentle Brightening Antiperspirant, and, while it may seem like a pretty penny for such a small product, it completely prevents us from sweating. It also fixes uneven skin tone over time, and goes on clear, so you don't need to worry about it getting all over your tees.
Keep reading for everything Dr. Kunin shared with us about armpits:
Sweety High: What are the pros and cons of using natural deodorant versus regular?
Dr. Audrey Kunin: I think it's important to understand the difference between the terms "deodorant" and "antiperspirant." The use of deodorant is often generalized to all products used under the arms. Deodorant simply refers to masking or reducing odor. An antiperspirant prevents the formation of sweat which, in turn, then prevents odor.
Natural deodorants are masking agents. They don't tend to prevent sweat. They often contain fragrance to accomplish this. Regular deodorant typically refers to an antiperspirant which actively stops sweating.
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SH: What causes armpits to smell, and how do we eliminate odor?
AK: Bacteria which naturally live on the skin and within the sweat glands break down apocrine sweat, which is high in protein which causes the odor. Stopping the sweat prevents the bacteria from having access to it which prevents the odor.
SH: What can we do to avoid redness and bumps when we shave?
· Use a gentle, roll-on antiperspirant.
· Make sure to use soap or shaving cream to improve glide and reduce friction and irritation caused by shaving.
· Wash with an antibacterial soap to reduce bacteria on the skin which can cause a secondary infection in those prone to shaving bumps.
Wondering if natural deodorant is your best bet? Click HERE to find out everything you need to know about it!