Yes, shaved armpits can smell, but the odor often changes because hair traps sweat and bacteria, so removing it can reduce odor by giving bacteria fewer places to live, though some find they smell worse initially due to skin irritation or increased product effectiveness on bare skin. Ultimately, odor depends on hygiene, skin bacteria, and individual factors, but shaving generally helps by allowing antiperspirants to work better and reducing odor-causing buildup, even if it takes time for skin to adjust.
So why do armpits smell? The real issue starts when sweat meets the bacteria that live on your skin. Most of the odor comes from apocrine sweat glands, found in areas like your underarms. These glands release a thicker type of sweat that, when broken down by bacteria, produces that all-too-familiar body odor.
Armpits: Shaving or trimming reduces trapped secretions and bacterial load, typically producing a noticeable and immediate reduction in perceived odor. Studies and clinical reports show fewer bacteria and less odor after hair removal plus routine washing.
Cons. Potential irritation: The underarm area is sensitive; improper shaving can lead to razor burn or bumps. Frequent upkeep: Hair grows back quickly, so maintenance can feel more demanding.
Julia Roberts
"I think I just hadn't really calculated my sleeve length and the waving, and how those two things would go together and reveal personal things about me. So it wasn't so much a statement as it's just part of the statement I make as a human on the planet, for myself."
Personal hygiene and lifestyle
If you do decide to shave your pits, you can find comfort in knowing that you'll sweat less. Simply put, less hair means more air flow. If you have thick armpit hair that holds onto sweat, it may even cause you to sweat more because it's holding on to that moisture.
No — shaving hair doesn't change its thickness, color or rate of growth. Shaving facial or body hair gives the hair a blunt tip. The tip might feel coarse or "stubbly" for a time as it grows out.
A different short-term solution to shaving that you could consider is depilatory creams, such as the Veet BodyCurv Hair Removal Cream. This hair removal cream is suitable for sensitive skin and has a curved applicator, perfect for your pits. However, ensure you do a patch test in case of sensitivity.
You'll be glad to hear that hairy armpits don't make you smell worse. It's actually the bacteria that leads to unpleasant body odour.
Everyone has sweat glands, but some people have overactive ones. This means you might sweat more than usual, even after a shower. More sweat equals more food for bacteria, which equals more odor.
Hair removal by shaving with a razor blade followed by soap washing resulted in an immediate reduction of 57.3% from baseline in axillary odor and this reduction was significantly greater than soap washing alone (P < 0.0001).
Shaving your armpits can help reduce odor by minimizing the surface area where bacteria can hang out. The same goes for other body zones, like your groin area. Hair down there can trap sweat and bacteria too, especially during workouts or hot days. Shaving or trimming can help keep things fresher by reducing buildup.
Sour-smelling armpits result from sweat mixing with bacteria on the skin. This condition often affects individuals with hyperhidrosis, mainly in areas such as the hands, feet, and armpits.
Yes, you can get rid of the underarm smell by bathing regularly. Using antibacterial soaps to scrub the underarms might help with the underarm smell by reducing the number of bacteria on the skin.
Is it bad to shave your arms? Anyone shaving arms should know this is not a particularly sensitive area. Whether you want to groom this area or not is entirely down to aesthetic preference.
Peach fuzz (vellus hair) doesn't grow back thicker or darker, but it can feel stubbly for a short time because shaving cuts the naturally fine hair into a blunt end, which feels rough pushing through the skin before it softens again, a sensation often mistaken for thicker growth. The hair follicle isn't changed, so it returns to its original fine texture, but the initial regrowth phase feels coarse due to the blunt tip.
The only places where hair doesn't grow are:
Armpit hair does not directly cause body odor, but it can trap bacteria and moisture. If you're looking to grow armpit hair, remember that it will grow back, and maintaining hygiene practices is crucial in minimizing odor.
No, shaving your armpits doesn't reduce the amount of sweat produced. Your body's sweat production is governed by sweat glands, which operate independently of hair follicles. These little glands are responsible for churning out sweat, regardless of whether there's a jungle or a barren land on the surface.
Bacteria Buildup
If showering doesn't get rid of your underarm odor, you might be dealing with stubborn bacteria. We all have a mix of “good” and “bad” bacteria living on the surface of our skin, including the skin in our armpits.
Lemon is a natural deodorizer and cucumber helps flush out sulfur compounds that contribute to your body odor. Drink this juice first thing in the morning to start neutralizing odor causing bacteria from the start. Juice 2, if a man drinks pineapple and orange juice, he's going to make his sweat taste sweet.
It's not actually uncommon for younger kids to have armpit smells. This smell is due to bacteria, sweat, and hormone changes. And as long as your child doesn't have any other signs of puberty, and they're under the age of eight, it's not a concern.