Does Shaving Armpits Reduce Sweat? 

When you sweat a lot and feel irritation in your armpits. The problem becomes even bigger when you start feeling body odor and see your clothes staining from this excessive sweating. To combat this, the first thing that comes to mind is shaving the underarms.

But does shaving armpits stop sweating for real? There is no proof that armpit hairs are responsible for excess sweat production, but there is a connection between sweat collection and bacterial growth in armpit hair. Let’s discuss this in detail and get you an answer to the question, “Does shaving armpits reduce sweat?” 

Table of Contents:

• Part 1: Why Do Armpit Hair Sweat?
• Part 2: Will Shaving Armpits Reduce Sweat?
• Part 3: How to Get Rid of Sweating in Shaved Armpits?

Part 1: Why Do Armpit Hair Sweat? 

The two main glands responsible for sweat production are the apocrine and eccrine glands. When the body temperature is high, these glands produce sweat. The sweat comes out of the tiny pores in our body and cools down the body temperature by evaporation. You must have heard of “evaporation causes cooling”. Sweat also releases waste materials from our bodies. 

What’s the role of armpit hair in this? Armpits are the areas where sweat glands are most commonly found. This means there will be lots of sweating in the armpits and the armpit hair contributes to this sweat management. 

Hair As A Wick

One theory says that the armpit hair acts as a wick in drawing away the sweat from your skin, allowing proper ventilation and evaporation. This leads to the regulation of body temperature and a cooling sensation. 

This hair also reduces the friction between your armpits and the torso so that you can move without any sensation of discomfort. 

Hair As A Barrier

Opposite the first theory, there is another belief. According to this, armpit hair traps sweat and creates a moist environment. This environment acts as a perfect breeding ground for bacteria. As bacterial growth increases, there will be more odor and a higher risk of infections. 

Part 2: Will Shaving Armpits Reduce Sweat?

The armpit hair causes the accumulation of sweat and body odor, so what is the solution? Does shaving underarms reduce sweat? Shaving them can help you stay fresh and smell good. Let’s see how it helps. 

Role of Shaving Armpits in Sweat Production

Armpit hairs themselves cannot affect the production of sweat, but they do play a role in causing discomfort in your pits. Therefore, shaving can be your solution to drive away that uncomfortable feeling. Moreover, as the hair responsible for sweat collection and bacterial growth will be gone, there will be less body odor and risk of infection.

Clean armpits also allow better ventilation and let the antiperspirants absorb well. As a result, you will feel fresh throughout your day. 

Are you wondering if thick hair that grows after shaving might worsen the problem?  Shaving does not have any effect on the thickness of your hair. To learn more, read: Does shaving make hair thicker and grow faster? 

Factors Causing Individual Variations 

Shaving can be helpful in most cases; however, you can expect variations from individual to individual. This is because sweat production is influenced by some factors, and these factors indirectly determine the usefulness of shaving your armpit hair. 

• Genetics: There are people who naturally sweat more than others, even in a cold environment. In such cases, shaving the armpit hair will not give you any significant benefits against increased armpit sweating. People with these genetics will have to use antiperspirants more often and keep a check on their hygiene more carefully 

• Hormonal influences: Hormonal changes can also affect the sweat production. For instance, increased levels of adrenaline cause the apocrine glands to produce more sweat. You also sweat more during menopause. Those suffering from hyperthyroidism face excessive sweating as well

• Stress and anxiety: During stressful situations, your stress hormones become active. These hormones, adrenaline and cortisol, activate the fight or flight mode of your body. As the mode becomes active, the body temperature increases, and you start sweating more than usual

• Body temperature: Changes in your body temperature also affect sweat production. Reduced temperature minimizes sweating to retain heat within your body while high temperature causes excessive sweating 

• Exercise or physical activity: Exercise or extreme physical activities increase the rate of your metabolism, which results in more heat production. Consequently, there will be excessive sweating, moisture in your armpits, and high bacterial growth 

Part 3: How to Get Rid of Sweating in Shaved Armpits? 

Shaving armpits does not reduce sweat production but doing so will allow you to look groomed and reduce the underarm odor associated with your pit sweating. So, is there any way that can help you fight the sweating? Yes, there are! Let’s discuss. 

Antiperspirants

Deodorant can help reduce body odor, but if you are looking for a product to reduce sweat, try using antiperspirants. Over-the-counter antiperspirants have aluminum salts as their active ingredients. These salts absorb moisture, turn into a gel, and block your sweat glands from producing sweat. 

These antiperspirants work for most individuals. If they do not, you can use stronger antiperspirants with 13% aluminum salts. You can use them after bathing or at night when your body is cool. 

Absorbent Products

You can also try using absorbent products like sweat-absorbing cotton pads. These pads are mostly reusable and can absorb all the moisture from your underarms. 

They can be a temporary solution to excessive sweating and cannot be used for sensitive skin. So, you can also wear sweat-resistant fabrics like cotton, linen, merino wool, and bamboo. These fabrics are lightweight and highly absorbent. They allow proper ventilation and reduce the unnecessary moisture collected in your armpits. 

Maintain Hygiene 

Maintaining your hygiene does not have a direct effect on reducing sweat, but it is necessary to keep your body odor away. 

The steps you can take to maintain your hygiene include regular showers, wearing clean clothes, and washing your armpits properly during the shower. After you are done showering, dry your armpits and then wear clothes. Other than this, remove your underarm hair regularly and take a shower after your exercise or strenuous physical activity. 

Lifestyle Changes 

Lifestyle modifications can also help you sweat less. For instance, eating spicy foods causes more sweat production so you can avoid such foods. Moreover, caffeine and alcohol also increase the body temperature and cause excessive sweating. 

Instead of these, you can drink more water throughout the day and replace caffeine with healthy fresh juices. Furthermore, eat foods that can be easily digested. These foods contain those rich in fiber, Vitamin B, and magnesium like beans, lentils, spinach, and other leafy green vegetables. 

Try IPL Hair Removal

Lastly, you can replace your temporary hair removal methods with a long-term solution to the unwanted armpit hair. As the hair will be gone for a long time, there will be less chance of sweat accumulation under your arms thus less body odor.

Fortunately, with Ulike Sapphire Air 3 IPL hair removal device, you can achieve 6 months of smoothness at your home. It has 3 modes and you can use the gentle mode for your armpits. Moreover, the cooling technology will make the process nearly painless for you. 

To learn about Ulike Sapphire Air 3, read IPL Hair Removal: The Ultimate Guide. 

Conclusion 

Your armpits are like a close-pitted area where sweat accumulates, and armpit hair facilitates this accumulation. Shaving can help improve air ventilation, moisture evaporation, and bacterial growth. In this way, you can fight sweat production to a great extent just by shaving. 

However, there are genetic, hormonal, stress-related, and exercise-related factors that can cause variations from individual to individual. So, you can combine shaving with some other sweat-reducing techniques according to your body’s conditions. 

Moreover, if excessive sweating still persists, you can seek help from a professional.