A 2 to 4 week transition period can be expected when transitioning from antiperspirant to natural deodorant. Studies show that antiperspirant users experience a transient increase in odorous bacteria in the underarm area when they stop using antiperspirant. This is also referred to as detoxing armpits.
Then, to help you transition, deodorant detox advocates recommend using a mask daily for a week or two. The theory goes like this: after about a month of “detoxing” your armpits, your natural deodorant will work better, thereby making you smell less.
Antiperspirants may prevent sweating, but they do so by clogging pores and blocking sweat glands with aluminum salts in the process2. A little exercise to break a sweat, and maybe a some time in a sauna, will help speed up the detoxification process as your body re-learns how to control bacteria on its own.
``There have not been any studies demonstrating that an armpit detox is beneficial,'' Dr. Jessica Weiser, MD of New York Dermatology Group says. ``An armpit detox should not impact the efficacy of natural deodorant, nor should it decrease or change the potential for skin irritation in someone immunologically prone.''
During the first week of your adjustment period, your armpits will still have some residual aluminum in them. After all, the aluminum salts in an antiperspirant are designed to clog your pores and keep you from sweating. So don't be surprised if you don't sweat or smell at all during this first week.
Although most of the absorbed aluminum is excreted in the first week after exposure, it is estimated that the excretion process may last between a few hours, a few days, and even a few years [22, 23].
Neurological and musculoskeletal complications are common and include osteoporosis, bone fractures, dementia, seizures, tremors, dysarthria, impaired coordination, motor weakness, ataxia, myoclonus, agitation, and confusion.
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.
What about our underarms? The acidic nature of apple cider vinegar or fresh lemon helps to neutralize bacteria causing the odor. After a shower, simply apply either one with a cotton ball and allow to air dry. You can follow up with an application of your natural deodorant if you'd like.
Lemon Juice: Lemon juice contains natural bleaching agents like citric acid that can help lighten underarm skin. Apply it for 10-15 minutes and rinse thoroughly. Potato: Potato slices or potato juice applied to the underarms can help reduce pigmentation due to its natural bleaching properties.
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.
Simply dip a piece of kitchen towel or a washcloth in the vinegar and rub it under your armpits. The smell of vinegar will dissipate quickly, but if you prefer, you could dab the apple cider vinegar under your armpits in the evening and leave it on overnight.
Another physical sign of detoxification can be a stronger body odor. This symptom results from the evacuation of accumulated waste and toxins. The process of toxin expulsion can lead to heavy perspiration, which in turn may cause a strong body odor.
For the most part, an individual can detox from substances within a week (though cravings may persist for months afterward). Some of withdrawal most serious symptoms seem nonfatal, such as vomiting and diarrhea. However, rapid dehydration caused by these symptoms can be life-threatening.
“If you stop wearing deodorant or antiperspirant, you can develop a stronger odor over time,” Doyle said. “When you stop using (such products) and sweat more, this creates a breeding ground for bacterial and fungal overgrowth, which can cause odor to become stronger.”
As good and simple as this sounds, there is no medical or scientific evidence behind armpit detoxing. In fact, doing this can actually create problems for delicate armpit skin, such as a rash and irritation.
Even if you're using deodorant, you might still experience smelly armpits. This could be due to various factors such as diet, stress, hormonal changes, or even the type of bacteria present in your underarms.
At low levels, some people will notice the odor while others won't notice any. At higher levels, most people will notice the odor. Examples of factors that can affect a person's sense of smell include age, sex and whether or not they smoke. People also may react to odors in different ways.
Yes, your urine may be pale yellow or even darker if you are detoxing. In addition, they can even have a strong smell indicating an overload of molecules that need to be treated during detox.
Physiologically, no; humans sweat to cool ourselves, not to clear toxins. Sweat is made up of 99% water, mixed with a bit of salt, carbohydrates, protein, and some urea (a nontoxic compound made by the liver).
Deferoxamine binds with aluminum in plasma to form aluminoxane, which is excreted by the kidneys; in patients with chronic kidney disease or end-stage kidney disease who are on renal repacement therapy, hemodialysis using a high-flux membrane can remove the aluminoxane.
In 1991, treatment with low dose intramuscular desferrioxamine (DFO), a trivalent chelator that can remove excessive iron and/or aluminum from the body, was reported to slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD) by a factor of two.
Acute exposures are dangerous and can quickly cause serious health effects or death. Some signs of acute poisoning can be confusion, numbness, nausea and vomiting, and coma. If you are concerned about acute heavy metal poisoning, call the Oregon Poison Center at 1-800-222-1222 and contact your health care provider.