Is Glycolic Acid Good for Armpits?
Is glycolic acid good for armpits? According to TikTokers, glycolic acid can replace your deodorant. But can it? Using glycolic acid for armpits does have its share of benefits. After all, glycolic acid is the gold standard of chemical exfoliants thanks to its ability to unclog pores, prevent excess sebum production, and fade hyperpigmentation.
Should you use glycolic acid as a deodorant or as part of your regular underarm care routine? Here’s what you should know about glycolic acid for underarms.
What is Glycolic Acid?
Glycolic acid is a type of alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) that is derived from sugar cane. It works as an exfoliant, dissolving the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. Because of its small molecular size, glycolic acid penetrates the skin’s surface easily to remove impurities, dead cells, and excess oil for clearer, smoother skin.
Glycolic acid both exfoliates and accelerates the skin’s natural cell turnover. Using it on the skin helps to remove the dull outer layer of skin and reveal fresh, healthy skin beneath. It also aids in reducing dark spots and discoloration by breaking down melanin in the skin. So, what about glycolic acid for armpits?
Is Glycolic Acid Good for Armpits?
Antiperspirants and deodorants are specifically designed to address body odor and sweating. Glycolic acid, on the other hand, is used primarily for exfoliation and improving skin tone and texture.
According to dermatologists, glycolic acid can help reduce body odor but it won’t do anything for sweating. By preventing the buildup of dead skin, glycolic acid can both prevent and neutralize body odor. Plus, it can lower the pH of the underarm and ultimately ward off odor-causing bacteria in the armpit area.
Alongside its odor-quelling abilities, glycolic acid can also treat dark underarms. By exfoliating the top layer of cells where the darker pigment lies, glycolic acid can help to fade discoloration and promote brighter armpits.
Glycolic acid, or any AHA for that matter, can also be effective for preventing ingrown hairs. Because of its exfoliation properties, it unclogs hair follicles and improves skin texture, creating an inhospitable environment for ingrowns.
Is glycolic acid for armpits worth it? As you can see, it does have a number of benefits. However, dermatologists warn that you should be careful when applying glycolic acid directly to your armpits, especially if you have sensitive skin. The potency of this active ingredient can cause redness, burning, and irritation. So it’s super important to use it with care and start slowly.
Benefits of Glycolic Acid for Armpits
Glycolic acid as a skincare ingredient works wonders for all kinds of skin concerns, ranging from hyperpigmentation to premature signs of aging and dullness. You can transfer some of the benefits by using glycolic acid on armpits. Here are some of the benefits of glycolic acid for underarms.
1. Buffs Away Body Odor
Glycolic acid’s exfoliating action blocks odor-causing bacteria to keep your underarms smelling fresh. It can even lower the pH of the underarm area to ward off bacteria that causes bad smells.
2. Fades Hyperpigmentation
When glycolic acid exfoliates the skin, it increases cell turnover and reduces the thickening of the skin that leads to armpit discoloration. According to the experts, it can be an effective treatment for hyperpigmentation.
3. Combats Ingrown Hairs
Interestingly, glycolic acid can both treat and prevent painful ingrowns. It helps resolve current bumps by shedding the cells surrounding a trapped hair. And it helps prevent ingrowns from forming by reducing the buildup of dead and damaged cells.
How to Use Glycolic Acid on Armpits
Your underarms are a delicate, sensitive area of your body. For that reason, it’s crucial to use glycolic acid on your underarms properly to avoid irritation. Instead of using a high concentration serum on your skin, choose products that contain glycolic acid.
If you’re looking to brighten and banish bad smells, try Truly’s Moon Rocks Whipped Body Scrub. It contains a blend of sugar, glycolic acid, and jojoba oil to eliminate odors and gently buff away discoloration.
If you’re worried about sensitivity, try a cream or lotion instead like Truly’s Dragon Milk Body Lotion. It’s formulated with glycolic acid, lactic acid, and shea butter to gently exfoliate and hydrate for brighter, clearer, and fresher underarms.
Alternatively, treat your underarms to the ultimate pampering experience with Truly’s Pit Perfecting Set. This 5-step underarm brightening routine blends cell regenerating pomegranate extract with exfoliating papaya enzymes to brighten dark armpits, combat odors, and leave you fresh for hours.
Is Using Glycolic Acid as Deodorant Safe?
Glycolic acid is a potent active ingredient that can cause irritation on the facial skin. Since the underarm area is especially delicate and a high-friction area, applying glycolic acid directly to the area may lead to irritation. For that reason, it’s best to use products that contain small amounts of glycolic acid to prevent any potential redness, stinging, or flaking.
While glycolic acid is great for combating odors, it has no effect on sweat. Instead of using glycolic acid as a deodorant, try using products on your underarms that contain this AHA. Look for creams, lotions, and serums formulated with glycolic acid and other hydrating, soothing ingredients like shea butter, hyaluronic acid, vitamin E, or aloe vera to combat any irritation effects.
What’s the Better Alternative?
The best alternative to glycolic acid for a deodorant is a clean, aluminum-free deodorant that’s formulated with some kind of exfoliant along with other nourishing ingredients. Like Truly’s Coco Cloud Deodorant.
It’s made with mandelic acid to fight odors and ingrowns, along with coconut oil and mango butter to soften and hydrate the delicate underarm skin. Plus, it smells delicious—sweet and tropical with a splash of creamy coconut and warm vanilla.
Conclusion: Is Glycolic Acid Good for Underarms?
Glycolic acid is one of the best chemical exfoliators for treating dullness, hyperpigmentation, and acne, and some of these benefits transfer to the underarms. By removing dead skin cells, balancing pH levels, and breaking down melanin, glycolic acid can help treat underarm discoloration, dullness, and odors.
Is glycolic acid good for armpits? It certainly can be provided that you use it properly. However, you may not want to replace your deodorant with it just yet.
