Does Shaving Armpits Reduce Sweat?
If you’re constantly dealing with underarm sweat and body odor, you might be wondering does shaving armpits reduce sweat? Sweating is a natural bodily function that cools your body and helps to regulate body temperature. Armpit hair serves two main functions: to ease friction and to distribute pheromones, which are released by the sweat glands.
Does shaving your armpits stop sweating? Read on to find out how armpit hair affects sweating and whether or not shaving your underarms can reduce sweat.
What Causes Armpit Sweat?
Armpit sweating is normal and usually nothing to be concerned about. However, if you’re experiencing excessive sweating from your underarms (axillary hyperhidrosis), it could be due to a medical condition. Underarm sweating is usually triggered by heat, hormones, physical activity, and certain foods and drinks such as caffeine or spicy foods.
Eccrine glands, located on the palms, forehead, armpits, and foot soles, secrete an odorless, clear fluid that regulates body temperature. Apocrine glands are concentrated in areas with a high density of hair follicles, such as the armpits and groin. Apocrine sweat is thicker and contains proteins and fatty substances. Unlike eccrine sweat, apocrine sweat is initially odorless, but it can develop an unpleasant odor when bacteria on the skin breaks down the proteins and fats in the sweat.
Does Shaving Armpits Reduce Sweat?
Shaving your armpits won’t stop sweating. However, underarm hair holds moisture so if you have a lot of hair and you’re prone to sweating, you may feel like you’re sweating more. You may also find that sweat stains become an issue.
Can shaving armpits reduce sweat? Technically, no. Shaving your armpits will not reduce sweat but it can make you feel more comfortable and reduce the appearance of sweat stains. Because long hair can block sweat pores, a regular trim or shave can certainly help. It’ll also allow your personal hygiene products to work harder because they’ll be able to absorb better into the skin.
Shaving your underarms can, however, reduce body odor. That’s because body hair traps odors. For that reason, shaving armpit hair on a regular basis can keep you smelling your best. Plus, it’ll make your antiperspirant or deodorant work more efficiently.
When you shave your armpits, it removes the hair that can trap and hold onto sweat and odor. Without the hair, there is less surface area for bacteria to thrive, and bacteria is a major contributor to body odor. So, while shaving itself doesn’t decrease sweat production, it can help manage the odor associated with sweating.
How to Shave Your Armpits
Shaving your armpits may not reduce sweating but it can reduce its appearance as well as combat body odor. Here’s a quick guide on how to shave your underarm hair.
Step 1: Exfoliate
To prep skin for shaving, use a body scrub or chemical exfoliant to exfoliate your underarms. Exfoliating will remove the buildup of dead skin cells that can clog your razor and increase your risk of nicks, razor burn, and ingrown hairs. What’s more, removing these dead cells will help prevent odors and allow other products to more effectively penetrate the skin (and ultimately, work harder).
Step 2: Apply Shaving Cream
Next up, lather up with shaving gel, cream, or butter to soften your skin and hairs for an easier razor glide. Shaving butters are best for hydrating and softening. Look for a formula enriched with ingredients like shea butter and cocoa butter.
Step 3: Shave Carefully
Starting with a clean, sharp razor, shave in the direction of hair growth to secure a smooth shave minus razor bumps and ingrowns. Take your time when shaving to avoid nicks. The skin on the underarms is extremely delicate so it’s important to be extra gentle when shaving this area.
Step 4: Use an Ingrown Treatment
Even if you’ve done everything right with the shaving process, it’s always a good idea to apply an ingrown treatment after hair removal to prevent ingrown hairs. Look for a product that contains antimicrobial ingredients such as tea tree oil and lavender oil like Truly's Cooka Concentrate Ingrown Serum.
Step 5: Moisturize
Finally, always finish your shaving routine with a nourishing moisturizer. Skin tends to be dry after shaving since it’s a form of exfoliation. For that reason, always apply a thin layer of body lotion or butter to the underarm area to hydrate, soften, and smooth the skin. Choose a product that contains emollients and humectants like shea butter, hyaluronic acid, and glycerin. Together, these help to attract and seal in moisture.
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How to Prevent Underarm Sweating
Reducing sweaty armpits, or axillary hyperhidrosis, can be achieved through various lifestyle changes and home remedies. Here are some tips to help you prevent sweaty armpits.
Good Hygiene: Keep your armpits clean by washing them regularly with an antibacterial soap or body cleanser. Shave or trim your underarm hair to reduce the surface area for bacteria to thrive.
Antiperspirants: If you’re dealing with excessive sweating, use an antiperspirant deodorant to manage sweat. Apply antiperspirant at night before bed, which can be more effective than applying it in the morning.
Wear Breathable Fabrics: Let your skin breathe by wearing light, breathable fabrics such as cotton to allow your skin to stay dry and prevent sweating. Choose loose-fitting clothes to improve air circulation.
Avoid Certain Foods: Limit your consumption of spicy foods, caffeine, and alcohol, as they can contribute to increased underarm sweating.
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Does Shaving Your Armpits Stop Sweating?
Shaving your armpits won’t stop sweating. However, there are still many benefits to shaving your underarms. For starters, it stops hair from trapping sweat and odors which can lead to unpleasant smells and sweat stains. What’s more, it allows your soaps, shower gels, moisturizers, and deodorants to absorb better into the skin, maximizing their effects.
Does shaving armpits reduce sweat? Shaving your underarms won’t have any impact on the production of sweat but keeping the hair trimmed can prevent odors and sweat patches.
Watch our armpit shaving tutorial to get bright, smooth underarms:
