What happens to your body when you stop using deodorant? (2023)

How long does it take to detox from deodorant?

Expect to Detox

If you've been using conventional deodorant or antiperspirant for years, it can take 2-4 weeks to detox and release all of the aluminum in your pits that's been preventing you from sweating. During this time, you might notice that you're a little more stinky than usual.

Despite the popular belief that discontinuing antiperspirant use will detox your underarms, the only detoxifying organs in your body are your liver and kidneys. Without antiperspirant, perhaps your skin may better clear dirt, oil, and debris that accumulate on the skin and within the sweat glands."

With a little patience, I discovered it is possible to wean your body off of the chemical antiperspirants. I rarely notice issues with excess perspiration or stinky pits, even after my heavy workouts. It's time we really take notice of what we're putting on our bodies just as much as we care about what we put in them.

"If you do a detox on your armpits, then you'll have less sweat, and the sweat won't smell as bad because the bacteria won't grow," says Debbi Burnes, natural beauty expert and founder of Sumbody Skincare.

Answer: Yes, detox can make you stink. Body odor from alcohol detox is a side effect of the detox process, but one that should not typically cause alarm. Fortunately, this odor does not usually linger beyond the detox process.

The frequencies of the A and G alleles vary markedly across different ethnic groups. The A allele is very common in East Asians, and as expected, most people in this population don't need to use deodorant. And so they don't use it—it's estimated that only 7% of North East Asians regularly use deodorant.

For most people who report experiencing an adjustment period, it can be anywhere from 2-4 weeks.

Antiperspirant Causes MORE Odor-Causing Bacteria

Your body becomes reliant on antiperspirant. If you stop using it, you can experience major changes in the bacteria that grows under your arms, causing you to smell. There is a reason it is classified as an over-the-counter drug, your body becomes dependent on it.

As your body continues to become accustomed to living without aluminum, its sweat and odor levels will self-regulate and begin to function normally. That means you'll sweat slightly more than when you used antiperspirant, but considerably less than if you were to use nothing at all.

Why do some people's armpits don't stink?

According to a group of researchers from the University of Bristol in the UK, 2 percent of people (at least in their survey) carry a rare version of the gene ABCC11 that prevents their armpits from producing an offensive odor.

We are as surprised as you that Listerine worked to control odor so well. This old-fashioned mouthwash has no antiperspirant activity, but perhaps the alcohol and herbal oils (thymol, eucalyptol, menthol, methyl salicylate) kill germs and fungi well enough to prevent an unpleasant smell for hours.

Don't wipe unless you're drenched. Sweat releases heat by evaporative cooling. As each gram of sweat transitions from liquid to gas phase, it absorbs 2,427 joules of energy from the body and dissipates the heat into the environment.

Sweat is 99% water combined with a small amount of salt, proteins, carbohydrates and urea, says UAMS family medicine physician Dr. Charles Smith. Therefore, sweat is not made up of toxins from your body, and the belief that sweat can cleanse the body is a myth. “You cannot sweat toxins out of the body,” Dr.

“The liver and kidneys really take care of detoxing the body from any harmful chemicals. There's no way to get them out of the sweat glands or out of the skin.” There's no evidence that toxins can be physically pulled out of the skin or deeper layers of tissue.

Sweating and body odor are caused by sweat glands in your body. The two main types of sweat glands are eccrine glands and apocrine glands.

While some supporters of the process claim that irritation during the detox is normal, this is not true. It is important to immediately address any kind of rash, irritation, burning, or itching on the skin. This includes stopping the use of anything that may be causing it, such as a clay and vinegar armpit mask.

How long does it take to switch to natural deodorant?

The Transition Period

"It usually takes around three to four weeks for the body to regulate itself post-transition; however, for some people this may be shorter. I would give yourself about a month to experience the symptoms such as excess sweating and bodily moisture," he says.

When the bacteria break down the sweat they form products called thioalcohols, which have scents comparable to sulfur, onions or meat. "They're very very pungent," says Bawdon.

This is a particular problem on the Sabbath – Judaism's holiest day running from sundown on Friday to sundown on Saturday. Orthodox Jews are forbidden from doing anything that's considered work – even using a deodorant. And that makes Sabbath prayers in packed synagogues a very smelly affair.

As it turns out, a percentage of the population lack the gene that prevents stinky pits. According to researchers from the University of Bristol, that special gene is called ABCC11.

Self-grooming. Aside from being as clean (purified) as they are for prayer, male Muslims are expected to refrain from cutting their nails, and trimming their hair and beards. They must also not wear any scent, including deodorant.

To help the detox along, you may want to try a charcoal- or clay-based mask under your arms, or a mild acid-based facial toner, to draw impurities from your skin. You can also give your skin a little extra love with some extra virgin coconut oil or Manuka honey as an overnight treatment.

Recent research published by the National Center for Biotechnology Information suggests that frequent use of antiperspirants can cause aluminum to accumulate in breast tissue, but this doesn't prove that aluminum salts can cause breast cancer.

So, when you switch to an aluminum-free deodorant, your body has to readjust and get used to perspiration again. This is where the armpit detox phase comes in. This process can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks.

How Often Should You Detox Your Armpits? To help with the smell and excess sweat from eliminating conventional deodorants and antiperspirants, you can do an armpit detox two to three times a week up to daily if your skin can tolerate it. It is ok to do it every day if it is helping and you get no irritation.

But if you're one of the lucky few who possess a gene called ABCC11, you don't even have to worry about deodorant. According to the website LiveScience, the presence of the gene means that your armpits lack a chemical that, when combined with sweat, bacteria feeds on to produce smelly body odor.

What really happens when you switch to natural deodorant?

Bacteria levels may begin to subside. The culture of bacteria is able to re-balance and stop over-producing odour-causing bacteria. What this means is that you will likely notice any odour issues starting to decrease. Underarm moisture levels will also normalise.

Try this: sniff coffee or charcoal for a full minute. Then go back and take a whiff of your underarm or other potentially offending area. In a pinch, you could even smell the crook of your elbow, which contains few sweat glands.

Earwax in early human history Dry earwax is found in 80-95% of people of East Asian descent, but in less than 3% of people of European or African descent. This distinct geographic distribution of earwax type provides clues about early human migration patterns.

ODOR AFTER A SHOWER IS DUE TO LINGERING BACTERIA

So the key to eliminating body odor is to tackle the bacteria growth that exists in our armpits with a proper armpit washing routine, using an antibacterial soap.

Changes to body odor may be due to puberty, excessive sweating, or poor hygiene. Sudden changes are typically caused by the environment, medications, or foods that you eat. However, body odor, especially sudden and persistent changes to your normal odor, can sometimes be a sign of an underlying condition.

It would be amazing if you could sniff yourself and immediately pick up on any emanating odors, but alas, life isn't so simple. According to Lifehacker, it can be quite difficult to detect your own body odors because the receptors in your nose shut down after smelling the same scent for too long.

While in the shower fill your hand with hydrogen peroxide and splash and rub it into each of your underarms. At the end of the shower you may rinse it off with water only (This will kill some of the bacteria and is effective) Shave or remove your underarm hair (this decreases sweat production)

Yes it does! Toothpaste has bleaching properties that whiten dark underarms. However, make sure to use only white toothpaste since coloured variants have chemicals that can irritate sensitive underarm skin. Matcha green tea is antioxidant that will scrub away the dead skin cells and unclog the pores.

Put some rock salt in a bucket full of lukewarm water. Mix well till it dissolves and then take shower. It has cleansing properties and also eliminates extra sweat. Take 1 cup of apple cider vinegar and mix it with 1/2 a half of cup of water.

How long is armpit detox?

What is it? An armpit detox is a mask that can be applied to your underarms for around 15 minutes. The mask can be made at home with common household items like baking soda and cornstarch, or some beauty brands offer their own masks or scrubs.

The truth is, your natural deodorant isn't making you smell worse — the bacterial communities under your arms are changing and it doesn't happen overnight! It can take up to 30 days for your body to fully detox from aluminium. A two to four week transition period can be expected.

Why do an armpit detox? Many people who switch from traditional to natural deodorants have noted going through a period of time when they say they sweat and stink more. Armpit detoxes are believed to speed this phase up by unclogging pores and releasing impurities.

When the bacteria break down the sweat they form products called thioalcohols, which have scents comparable to sulfur, onions or meat. "They're very very pungent," says Bawdon.

Using warm water and anti-bacterial soap will help kill off bacteria that lives off your sweat. It may mean taking more than one shower a day, or just a quick clean at the sink with soap, a wash cloth, and warm water.

These glands release a milky fluid when you are stressed and are odorless until they come into contact with bacteria. Hair is particularly prone to trapping bacteria, which is why men are more likely to smell even after showering. In other words, lingering underarm odor is caused by enduring bacteria.

During this 'detox' or transition period - which typically lasts about 2 weeks - you may find yourself sweating more and notice a different, pungent odor from your sweat.

You'll sweat, but you won't stink.

So yes, you might be a little sweaty after making the switch to natural deodorant—pro tip: Try formulas with cornstarch or arrowroot powder to soak up moisture)—but after masking, toning, spritzing, or just waiting it out for a few weeks…at least you won't stink.

Does your body get used to deodorant after a while?

Our bodies adapt to antiperspirant after a few months of use. For the best results, apply antiperspirant at night before bed. Your skin has more time to absorb the compounds and work effectively. If you do experience additional underarm odor, try switching your deodorant or antiperspirant.

Apple cider vinegar works to draw out toxins, too. It has anti-fungal properties that kill the odor-causing bacteria and other pathogens that reside in your pits.