Admit it—the skin under your arms is an afterthought. Suffice it to say, you’re not alone. For most of us, skin care means treating your face and neck with luxury ingredients, while body care translates to the same for the skin on your arms, legs and torso. But what about your underarms? While you’re patting in eye creams and slathering your décolletage with serums, it’s easy for the skin under your arms to go unnoticed. But the skin that lines your pits deserves to be treated with just as much care. Like your lips or under eyes, underarm skin is delicate and extremely sensitive. Plus, it takes a beating daily, from razors, friction and sun exposure during the summer. Regular deodorants are designed to keep odors at bay but aren’t usually formulated to target and treat other issues. That’s where skin care-infused deodorants come into play. Designed to work like a serum or nourishing cream, these sticks and sprays can be beneficial for improving the look and feel of your pits. Ahead, we chatted with three experts about the uptick in skin care deodorants, including their benefits and the issues they can address.
Featured experts
- Morayo Adisa MD, FAAD is a board-certified dermatologist and dermatopathologist in Chicago
- Alexandra Keating is the founder of Uni
- Sarah Moret is the CEO and founder of Curie
What to know about underarms
Your skin is the largest organ of your body. It covers every inch but differs in texture and tone depending on the area. Contrary to what you may think, the experts say that your underarms are one of the most delicate and sensitive areas. “Compared to other parts of the body, the skin under your arms is much thinner and has a higher number of sweat glands, which keep and produce sweat,” says Dr. Morayo Adisa. Having thinner skin here is ideal since it’s often moist, but it can pose a problem in terms of increasing sensitivity. According to Alexandra Keating, founder of Uni, underarms are more prone to friction and irritation due to moisture buildup and constant movement. With a higher concentration of sweat glands and hair follicles, she adds that underarm skin can be more reactive than other areas of the body.
Common underarm skin issues
Hair removal methods can cause a laundry list of issues for your underarms. “Razor bumps, irritation, ingrowns, redness and discoloration are very common with regular shaving and waxing, “ says Sarah Moret, CEO and founder of Curie. While these issues are most associated with hair removal techniques, others, such as dryness and irritation from synthetic ingredients, can also be a concern. With thinner skin, your underarms are more sensitive, making them vulnerable to irritation. Beneath the surface, Dr. Adisa adds that the underarm area is prone to fungal and bacterial infections.
The benefits of underarm skin care
Given that the skin covering your underarms is delicate, it only makes sense to treat it gently. Like an eye serum for the thin skin under your eyes, deodorants formulated with skin care ingredients work to target and improve major issues. “Skin care-infused deodorants do more than just neutralize odors. They actively care for your skin, whether helping calm irritation, improving texture or protecting the delicate area from dryness, inflammation and environmental stressors,” says Keating. She recommends looking for formulas containing soothing botanicals and hydrating and barrier-supporting ingredients. Dr. Adisa mentions that the right ingredients can also improve appearance issues, such as hyperpigmentation and uneven tone. If discoloration is a top concern, formulas with actives such as mandelic or glycolic acid can be more ideal.
Skin care deodorants to try
