Though it may seem logical to swipe some antiperspirant down there, most ob/gyns don't advise applying anything to your pubic area because you risk irritating the sensitive skin, both externally and internally, and disrupting the natural bacteria environment if anything gets inside you.
Luckily, when your groin feels like it's floating in a standing pool of water, it's much easier to fix. Surprisingly, though, while you can use regular antiperspirants in that region, they're not your best option. “I don't recommend putting commercial antiperspirant on your crotch,” says dermatologist Anthony Rossi.
Apply deodorant anywhere you tend to sweat: While some deodorant brands are meant only for armpits, most can be applied anywhere you sweat (like behind the knees or inner thighs). If you want to keep other areas of your body fresh and dry, check the label first to make sure your deodorant is safe to use anywhere.
Using Deodorant Correctly
Some antiperspirants work better if they're used at night, while others recommend application in the morning. They generally are for use under the arms, but some antiperspirants are OK to use on the hands or feet if those areas are especially sweaty. Read the label so you know how to use it.
Wearing deodorant while running can help avoid chafing rash — even in places besides your underarms. An effective antiperspirant avoids sweat-related irritation by keeping your skin dry. Deodorant also functions as a lubricant, soothing the skin and reducing friction.
The research shows that body hair by itself is not a cause of bad body odor. But everyone is unique. Some guys report smelling better after their shave their armpits, body hair, or pubes. They feel that it makes them sweat less and smell better.
Here are five reasons why men should groom their privates. Heat, sweat and bacteria form around the crotch and remain there for a long time if it gets entangled in the pubic hair. Trimming or shaving it off will help keep that area clean and free from any unwanted infections.
Contrary to popular myth, shaving or trimming doesn't stop you from sweating, rather, it helps reduce body odor by making your antiperspirant or deodorant work more effectively. Another reason why trimming or shaving body parts can help reduce body odor, is because long tufts of hair hold moisture more than your skin.
The sweat from apocrine glands contains protein. Bacteria break down this protein, which can produce a distinct odor. Excess sweat around the groin area may also cause itching and can sometimes lead to infections, such as bacterial vaginosis and vaginal yeast infections.
But its role can backfire on a steamy day. "Pubic hair will trap bacteria, which can then cause excessive sweat and potentially bad odors," Levine says. If you're rocking a bush and find crotch sweat is a major issue, try trimming and see if it helps.
The groin contains a large number of sweat glands. Usually, excessive sweating between the legs is a normal bodily response to heat or physical exertion. However, a person should see a doctor if they sweat excessively, especially if other symptoms are present.
If you sense a little body odor, it's because your pubic hair is doing its job of trapping sweat, oil, and bacteria. To care for your pubic area, all you need to do is regularly rinse with water. Long story short, there is nothing dirty or unclean about pubic hair. There is no medical reason to remove it.
Long pubic hair
Hair increases the surface area for bacteria and bodily fluids to linger and lead to odor. Think of it as a dance floor. The smaller the dance floor, the smaller the area the bacteria and bodily fluids have to hang out and interact with each other.
The research shows that body hair by itself is not a cause of bad body odor. But everyone is unique. Some guys report smelling better after their shave their armpits, body hair, or pubes. They feel that it makes them sweat less and smell better.
It's perfectly fine to carefully trim your pubic hair with small scissors along your swimsuit or underwear line. Many girls trim their pubic hair, or go to a salon to have a “bikini wax”; others prefer to shave just about every day, and many just leave it alone. Removing pubic hair is a personal preference.
Pubic Hair Trends
According to the researchers, when asked if they removed their pubic hair, 80% of women and 39% of men removed their pubic hair near the time of the survey. Also, 3% of women and 21% of men had never removed their pubic hair.
Feeling Clean & Fresh: A thick bush can trap heat and moisture, leading to discomfort and infection if you lead an active lifestyle or live in a hot climate. Shaving your pubic region helps men feel clean and fresh.
The bacteria on your skin breaks down the sweat, which creates the unpleasant smell. The bottom line is this: shaving armpits and body hair leads to fewer bacteria and less smell.
If you would prefer to remove your armpit hair, there are plenty of different options available. However, removing the hair only removes the 'house' for the bacteria. The bacteria themselves remain, so if you have no armpit hair but don't wash your armpits, you're still going to have odor.
You can apply deodorant on your inner thighs and behind the knees. It prevents chafing (especially if you go running or jogging) and as these areas radiate heat, you'd smell amazing all day.
Using a deodorant meant for the underarms can cause irritation, itching and dryness because many contain harsh ingredients that can irritate sensitive intimate skin. When selecting a deodorant for your private parts, look for one that is gentle and pH-balanced.
Clean and dry does the trick
Washing first will get rid of old sweat, while ensuring your skin is completely dry means you won't dilute your deo. So it figures that right after you dry off from showering is a great time to use your deodorant.
Does pubic hair cease growing once it's reached a certain length? All hair grows at a contstant rate, but eventually falls out. With body hair, which typically does not grow as long as head hair, the rate at which it falls out is greater. This results in hair that appears to reach a certain length then stops growing.
But medical advice advances with research. “Randomized control trials have shown no decrease in infections with hair removal and, in fact, have shown a slight increase with shaving compared to clipping or waxing before procedures. Hospital infection control doesn't recommend [shaving] at this time.”