Common product could be making you sweaty in summer – dermatologist shares tips
There could be a simple cure for sweaty armpits (stock photo)
The cause of your sweaty armpits could be lurking in your bathroom cupboard.
With the UK basking in some much-needed warm weather, many are quickly recalling the downsides of the heat - namely, the inevitable increase in perspiration leading to unpleasant body odour and frequent showers.
But what if your daily routine is actually exacerbating your underarm sweat situation? A dermatologist has pointed out that a common product we use as part of our morning ritual might be contributing to our stench, despite its promises to do the opposite.
Dr Adel, a skin expert sharing advice on TikTok as @aamnaadel, suggests that to tackle sweaty and smelly pits, you should bin your deodorant. That's right, ditch the very item designed to keep you fresh.
She elaborated: "Your deodorant needs to go in the bin. Okay, I said it. Deodorants do absolutely nothing to stop you from sweating. They are literally just fragrance which covers up the smell of your sweat. Honestly, the thought of sweat mixing with fragrance is just so gross to me."
Instead, Dr Adel recommends switching to an antiperspirant, which actively works to reduce sweating. Moreover, she advises on the best time to apply it for maximum effectiveness.
She explained: "The key here is that you need to put your antiperspirant on at night. I know it seems weird and it feels weird, but honestly trust me when I tell you that is what's going to make your antiperspirant work the best. When you're asleep, your little sweat glands are also sleeping, so they are going to absorb the antiperspirant so much better and be way more effective."
In the footage, Dr Adel also suggested that those who have a hard time with underarm odour should try washing their armpits with a solution called PanOxyl. Similar products such as Acnecide, which contains the same active ingredients, can be purchased from UK stores like Boots.
"It doesn't matter what percentage you use," she clarified, "You can use 10%, you can use 4%. You're going to lather that up and you're going to wash your pits with it, but leave it on for two minutes so that it has the chance to work. Not only is that going to help kill the bacteria which make your sweat smell, but it can also help to reduce the number of ingrown hairs. So it's a two-in-one job."
On a side note, Dr Adel warned in the comments section that using PanOxyl could lead to discolouration of towels. Thus, she recommended "using a separate towel" if you're planning to try this product.
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