Armpit hair traps odor-causing bacteria, which makes our underarms smell. Those scents can help shape our perception of those around us. Leah Ansell, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist and assistant professor of dermatology at Columbia University.
Body hair exacerbates the unpleasant aroma in a couple ways. First, it provides extra surface area for bacteria to cling to, creating more opportunities for a nasty stench to develop. Second, it absorbs the foul odor, allowing the smell to stick around long after it should have packed it in and gone home.
However, the raters indicated only whether they were able to smell any odor; their judgments on odor intensity and change from baseline were not recorded. In another study, the axillary odor of shaved armpits was rated as significantly less intense and more pleasant than the odor of unshaved armpits.
By having less hair under your armpit (or none at all), there's less room for sweat-based bacteria to multiply. Crucially, this means a fresher post-gym grooming routine and less questionable smells once you're back at your desk. Likewise, sweat patches will be less pronounced with a smoother underarm.
Not shaving reduces skin-on-skin contact friction, which means when you do activities that involve arm movement, like running or walking, your skin is much less likely to get irritated by the friction. This might lead to fewer skin issues like rashes and ingrown hairs.
After multiple experiments over the course of several weeks, they determined that “axillary hair shaving has an impact on body odor quality and intensity. However, the effect is relatively weak and was not observed in all experiments and also not when the hair was relatively short.”
Pubic hair holds on to residual urine, vaginal discharge, blood and semen. Bacteria line up all along the hair shaft just lunching it up and creating odor. (Very appetizing, I know.) Trimming your pubic hair reduces that surface area for bacteria, thus reducing odor.
If sweating is excessive, it can cause smelly armpits even if a person washes regularly and uses deodorant or antiperspirant. The first thing that a doctor will recommend is usually a prescription strength antiperspirant. Sometimes, these might burn or irritate the skin.
ODOR AFTER A SHOWER IS DUE TO LINGERING BACTERIA
In addition to bacteria, oftentimes there is deodorant residue and other impurities that are trapped in the underarm pores and within the hair if you have armpit hair.
Technically, the answer is no — shaving your armpits doesn't directly make you sweat less. Here's why. Your armpit hair has nothing to do with the reason(s) you're sweating. Sweating occurs when your internal body temperature climbs too high, or when you're nervous, stressed or anxious.
Armpits. Armpit hair can be a friendly forest for odor-causing bacteria, so keep it as short as possible. Trim it every couple of weeks with scissors or a trimmer. If you want it gone, use a razor in the shower, just like your wife does.
Armpit hair reduces the time between when a person starts sweating and when the smell of that sweat can be detected.
Your genes can also play a big role in how good or bad you smell. In fact some people, no matter how much they shower, still smell bad. Callewaert has found these individuals have a larger amount of “bad” bacteria. His approach is to replace the “bad” bacteria that produce the smell with “good” bacteria.
If you're worried you're one of these people, one trick is to lick your wrist, wait ten seconds, then sniff the patch you licked: If it smells, chances are, so does your breath. An even more reliable method, of course, is simply to ask someone.
Most of the time body odor isn't a problem and a shower will quickly wash it away. But if you notice a change in body odor or you're sweating much more than usual, it could be a sign of a medical condition that needs treatment.
Thoroughly washing, using antiperspirants, and shaving may all assist a person in managing unwanted body odor. If symptoms persist, a doctor may recommend prescription treatments and, in some cases, surgery. Body odor and excessive sweating may also be indicators of an underlying health condition.
Armpit Hair Protects Your Skin
In the case of your underarms, it helps reduce skin-on-skin friction when you swing your arms as you walk or run. Armpit hair can save you from unnecessary chafing, irritation, or even heat rash, which can happen when sweat and abrasion mix.
As a general rule, you should aim to shave your armpits at least once a week. However, it's important to note that everyone's hair growth rate is different, and some men may find that they need to shave more frequently to maintain a clean and smooth appearance.
the MANLIER. It's not customary for a man to shave his armpits or any other part of their bodies except their facial hair and sometimes their pubic area. Hair is seen as masculine and being masculine is considered attractive.