The Ultimate Guide to Detoxing your Armpits
What does it mean to detox?
The concept of detoxing originates in medical science: we are exposed to dozens, if not hundreds, of different environmental toxins on any given day, thanks to things like industrial pollution, the tragic state of our food system, the cleaning products we use in our homes, and, yes, the beauty products we apply to our bodies.
These toxins are stored in the tissues and cells of our body, sometimes for years, and can have a devastating effect on our metabolism, behaviour, and immune system.
The act of “detoxing”, then - when done properly - can help us flush toxins from our bodies, and can improve our health and overall wellbeing.
The best detox deodorants
Why detox your armpits?
Traditional deodorants and antiperspirants contain a whole smorgasbord of chemicals (including aluminum, phthalates, propylene glycol, formaldehyde, and parabens) in order to halt our natural sweating function.
This is worrisome for two reasons:
- Our skin is our body’s largest organ, and what touches the skin can easily enter our bloodstream - and send these endocrine-disrupting chemicals on an all-expenses-paid tour of our body. Our armpits house our lymph nodes, an essential part of our immune system. Layering harmful chemicals directly on top of them suppresses the immune function, leaving us more vulnerable to illness and disease.
- Switching to a free-from deodorant is a great way to limit the introduction of toxic chemicals into your body.
However, there’s still the matter of those toxins lodged in the tissues of your underarm. Nala's Peppermint & Charcoal Detox Deodorant is baking-soda free and uses ingredients such as charcoal to naturally draw toxins out of the skin.
The stages of a natural deodorant detox and what to expect
There's no one way to use a Detox deodorant. It can ease the transition to a free-from deodorant, it can help you regulate your sweat cycle if you've been a heavy user of antiperspirants, and it can also be a gentle, everyday deodorant.
Consider the use of detox deodorant a short-term process, with the following stages.
Stage 1: Detoxification
What’s happening:
Your pores are opening up and pulling out toxins that have accumulated in your armpit.
What to expect:
Your body may sweat more than usual, and it’s even normal to smell a bit during this stage.
How long it lasts:
1-2 weeks
How to ride it out:
- Drink lots of water, to assist with flushing out the toxins.
- Use the detox deodorant as you would a regular deodorant, reapplying as necessary.
- You can also use the detox deodorant at night to help remove toxins while you sleep, or right before you work out (when you’ll be sweating a lot anyway).
Important to remember:
The sweat and the smell mean that it's working, so keeping using it! Your body is flushing out toxic particles that have embedded themselves, and the heavier sweats and odour won’t last forever.
Stage 2: Adjustment
What’s happening:
Your armpit has shed ~50% of the toxic particles stored there, and is starting to function more naturally again.
What to expect:
Sweating and odour will start to subside (yay!).
How long it lasts:
1-2 weeks
It’s important to remember:
This is just the beginning of the regulation process, so as best as you can, stick with it! If you're looking for more protection try using a stronger free-from deodorant during the day while continuing to use the Detox deodorant at night.
Stage 3: Acclimatization
What’s happening:
Your armpits are well on their way to being toxin-free, and your body is acclimating to a new pattern of self-regulating sweat.
What to expect:
Odour will subside because the worst offenders (the conglomerated toxins that have been accumulating in your lymph nodes) will have been flushed out. You will sweat less - but you will still sweat. Sweat is a daily detoxification process that our body naturally regulates.
How long it lasts:
Forever, as long as you don’t introduce the top offenders back into your pits.
It’s important to remember:
At this point you can stop using the detox deodorant, and simply use your free-from deodorant during the day.
NOTE: if you need to use an antiperspirant or traditional deodorant for any reason, see the "Detox When you Retox" section below.
How to make the best of a sweaty situation
Detox fundamentally means that toxins are leaving your body, which can have some uncomfortable side effects. You will sweat more than usual, and some people may notice more or a different body odour during the process.
Things you can do to support the detoxification and mitigate the side-effects include:
- Drink lots of water - get your 8 cups, minimum, per day to help flush out toxins
- Cut out refined foods & alcohol - the fewer toxins you introduce during the detox process, the less work the detox deodorant has to do.
- Choose your sweatiest times - We recommend using the detox deodorant before bed and before a workout, because these are times when it may feel more comfortable e to sweat a little more than usual. Extra sweat is a-okay during the stages of detox, so embrace it!
- Let your body sweat! Even post-detox, a little sweat is important: one of most dangerous things you can do is clog your pores when they are trying to keep you cool and regulate your body's temperature and natural pH balance.
Detox when you Retox
Listen, we get it: there are days when circumstances may leave you reaching for an antiperspirant. If you need to use a chemically-laden underarm solution for a special occasion, apply the detox deodorant at night for 3-5 days after the event (even if you've already transitioned to free-from deodorants) then go back to using your free-from deodorant during the day. You’ll unclog your pores and flush your system of the harmful chemicals in traditional deodorants.
Remember, there's a light at the end of the tunnel - you got this. As always, if any questions about the process feel free to reach out to us at customersupport@nalacare.com or shoot us a message on instagram.
