How to Treat Underarm Rash from Deodorant in 5 Easy Steps

Different things can be behind an underarm rash, and deodorant is one of them. Regardless of the cause, underarm rashes can be an uncomfortable problem for anyone. When your armpits are itchy, it can be hard to concentrate on anything else than that. But, what do you do when you have a bothersome and permanent underarm rash?

Luckily, there are some tips on how to treat an underarm rash from deodorant. Many of the tips below focus on a specific cause, and we will show you five steps to getting rid of the cause. When it comes to underarm rashes, most experts agree that the most effective courses of action include hygiene revamping, deodorant swapping, drugstore treatments, and ultimately a visit to your doctor.

Step 1 – Research the Potential Causes of Underarm Rash

A good place to start is to research what might be causing your underarm rash. Search for credible sources that list the different factors that might create the problem.

The most common cause of the underarm rash is a bad reaction to a chemical deodorant, but there are other causes. Once you realize how diet and hygiene may trigger the underarm rash, you will be better equipped to tackle the problem.

You can take the following four steps, and if you find none of them has solved your problem, consult with your doctor. Many of the biological causes of underarm rash require a medical analysis, followed by a prescribed treatment from a dermatologist.

Step 2 – Revamp Your Underarm Hygiene

While hygiene or cleanliness may be a sensitive topic, it can be the direct cause of underarm rash. One of the common causes of underarm rashes is excessive sweat. What you wear can even cause a rash, too. Tight clothing that doesn’t rub your armpits can be a simple solution.

Dead skin cells are another source of nasty body odor, especially under your arms. Even if you feel that you are squeaky clean every time you take a shower, try adding a quick wipe down of your underarms in the middle of the day. Sometimes this fast cleanup and a re-application of deodorant will solve your rash issue.

If none of these simple hygiene changes is helping, try using an exfoliating scrub on the pit area when taking a shower. Pure cornstarch is an effective natural body scrub that can help remove the dead skin and odor-causing bacteria from your underarms.

Often a quick swipe of a washcloth may not be enough to remove the dead skin cells that may cause an underarm rash. Follow this extra step after shower every other day and see if it does fix the problem. Ift doesn’t, the second easiest way to prevent underarm rash is trying a different brand of deodorant.

 

Step 3 – Change the Deodorant

Another simple solution to your underarm rash changing the brand of deodorant you use. Some brands are harsher than others. Many times, a powder deodorant will cause one person to break out, while others may have issues with roll-ons or gels.

An easy way to see if one brand of deodorant is the source of your underarm rash is to use more than one brand.  If you notice a rash from a particular deodorant, try a totally different type of deodorant (or antiperspirant) for a period of one week. Of course, allow the rash a couple days to heal between the changes. The best advice is to purchase different types – roll-on, gel, powder deodorant, or a cream.

As you spot the brands that may be behind the rash, you can stop using them. The minimal price for a couple of deodorant sticks will be well worth it to in the long run.

Step 4 – Use a Tried-and-Tested Drugstore Remedy

There are some products sold over-the-counter that are an excellent solution to the underarm rashes caused by deodorant. One immediate suggestion would be a basic calamine lotion. Calamine lotion is a tried-and-tested anti-itch solution that will help relieve the itch and help clear up a mild underarm rash caused by heat or an abrasion in no time.

There are also the so-called anti-chafing powders which can be of a real help when it comes to underarm rash prevention. These powders, just like Calamine lotion, will relieve the irritation and potentially help cure the underarm rash altogether.

If neither of these drugstore remedies works, you should still be able to find a less popular over-the-counter solution to your underarm rash. For instance, various anti-fungal creams such as nystatin and ketoconazole contain ingredients that will help cure an underarm rash caused by a fungus. Just ask your local pharmacist what they recommend.

Step 4 is a great follow-up step along improving hygiene. Be careful with hydrocortisone, though. If a fungus causes your rash, this ingredient can actually make the problem worse. Start off with a light application.

Step 5 – Switch to a Homemade or Natural Deodorant

When a medical issue doesn’t cause your rash, you’ve improved your hygiene, plus tried an assortment of deodorant brands, you can always resort to homemade or natural deodorants. Conventional deodorants have one major flaw: the harsh chemicals that make them work. Natural deodorants contain no harsh chemicals that may irritate the skin and are a much healthier alternative to their chemical counterparts.

By removing these often toxic additives from your underarms, you can also help heal your rash. Fortunately, some name brand deodorants offer all-natural products that, unlike drugstore remedies, can be a permanent solution to your underarm rash. There are also homemade deodorants and zillions of recipes you can try.

One that has been proven to be a wonderful DIY natural deodorant is a mix of coconut oil, shea butter, arrowroot and baking soda (see full recipe here). There are also natural products that prevent underarm odor such as lavender or patchouli oil.

However, bear in mind that switching from a conventional deodorant to a chemical-free one will be accompanied by some nasty but fortunately temporary withdrawal symptoms, like increased body odor and (more) itching in the armpits. To make the transition smoother, we recommend undergoing a home-made detox treatment first. Don’t say we didn’t warn you!

Conclusion

These insights on how to treat underarm rash from deodorant will not fix the symptoms caused by something more serious. If you’ve tried all these steps, and they did not work, speak to your physician. For those of you who have tried any of these techniques, let us know how they worked for you. Let our readers hear about any other suggestions we may have missed, as well.

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