Underarm hair has specific functions. They even enhance the action of human pheromones. Especially in hot weather, however, they seem superfluous, not only for aesthetic reasons. Do they really interfere with proper hygiene and make us sweat more on these hot days? We asked an aesthetic medicine specialist about it. He pointed out one reason why nature made them grow there and we need them especially in summer.
- Underarm hair on hot days does not lead to worse hygiene, admits Dr. Marek Wasiluk
- Laser hair removal is indeed a bonus when it comes to sweating, but not because of hair removal, she says
- In an interview, he explains the role of armpit hair
- He also emphasizes not to fight sweating too much, because it is a physiological phenomenon that allows the body to cool down
- The unpleasant smell of sweat, especially in hot weather, can be reduced by a proper diet and drinking water
- More information can be found on the Onet homepage
Aesthetic medicine specialist. As the first and only Pole, he graduated from MSC in Aesthetic Medicine (MA studies, Aesthetic Medicine) at the Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry at the prestigious Queen Mary University of London. Owner of the L’experta clinic in Warsaw (www.lexperta.pl). Author of the expert blog www.marekwasiluk.pl and the book “Aesthetic medicine without secrets”.
Is there a link between underarm hair and hygiene?
Dr. Marek Wasiluk, specialist in aesthetic medicine: The mere presence of armpit hair does not reduce hygiene. Hair is a separate structure from the secretion glands, that is, the sweat glands. Yes, when we sweat, sweat runs on the surrounding hair, but when there is none, it just builds up on the skin. In both cases, in order to maintain good hygiene, you simply need to wash yourself, and if you want to reduce perspiration, apply a suitable preparation beforehand.
The rest of the interview is available in the video.
The only situation when hair, and more precisely the lack of hair, can indirectly affect the secretion of sweat and smell, is when we perform laser hair removal. The laser beam heats up and damages the hair root. By the way, it can also have a slight thermal effect on the surrounding structures, including the sweat glands. By affecting them, it also weakens their work, thus a person after laser hair removal may feel that they sweat less and do not emit unpleasant odors. This, however, is a small bonus to the laser hair removal treatment, a kind of side effect.
So it’s not that the mere lack of hair reduced sweating, it only weakened the activity of the glands. On this principle, one of the best treatments for hyperhidrosis, i.e. microneedle radiofrequency, works by very strongly heating and damaging the sweat glands.
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Does the presence of hair make us sweat more?
The hair itself does not make you sweat more. The degree of sweating is influenced by an increase in body temperature, caused e.g. by the temperature outside or exercise. In addition, obesity, various infections and diseases, stress, hormonal disorders and menopause or metabolic disorders such as diabetes.
Armpit hair alone does not represent any particular thermal barrier that would increase body temperature. There aren’t enough of them to keep us warm or to keep the temperature in this area. Clothing made of artificial fabrics will work faster in this way.
The armpit itself is also shaped and constrained (on one side by the arm and on the other by the torso) that the airflow underneath it stops, and the sweat evaporates more slowly. By staying there, it leads to stains on clothing and, over time, to the growth of odor-causing bacteria.
Should we remove armpit hair particularly hard in summer?
From a health or hygiene point of view, it doesn’t matter that much. It is more a matter of aesthetics. Of course, washing and drying your armpits without hairs or applying an antiperspirant may seem easier than when they are there. But hardly anyone has so much thick hair that would make it very difficult. On the other hand, in summer, when it is hot, the skin burns more easily, especially in places on the body where it breaks down and sticks to another part of the skin. Therefore, hair can provide some insulation, protecting against skin-to-skin contact and against chafing.
What are some other good practices regarding the skin of the armpits that will allow us to sweat less in summer?
Sweating is a physiological phenomenon that allows us to cool our body and protect it from overheating. It is good and desired. Therefore, we should not fight particularly hard against the natural sweating.
At the same time, it is advisable to maintain proper hygiene, i.e. regular washing and thus preventing the growth of bacteria. We should also wear breathable clothes made of natural fabrics and change them to clean ones every day. Pay attention to your diet, which can affect the smell of sweat itself. Let’s drink a lot of water, which makes the secretion not so intense in its smell. Antiperspirants and deodorants should be applied to washed, dry skin.
The problem that we can fight is hyperhidrosis, i.e. increased work of the sweat glands. There are different degrees of severity of this ailment. The best indicator may be how much discomfort sweating causes in our daily activities. Of course, there are indisputable situations when someone has, for example, wet armpits all the time, regardless of the weather or activity. Hyperhidrosis is very troublesome, mainly for aesthetic reasons. It also hinders interpersonal contacts.
To get rid of the problem, you need to get the sweat glands to stop the secretion of sweat. Usually, we use various types of antiperspirants for this purpose, which clog the glands. So they do not eliminate the problem and can only work with a little sweating. There are also specialized topical rubbing agents available in pharmacies, which work stronger than cosmetics available in drugstores, but are also only a temporary solution. By acting superficially, they do not damage the sweat glands, which is the source of the problem. Oral medications are another solution, which inhibit the secretion of sweat evenly throughout the body, but you should be careful with these types of methods. Drugs for hyperhidrosis strain the body and can cause side effects. Besides, you have to take them constantly, otherwise the problem comes back after you stop taking them.
The offices also offer more durable and less harmful methods of reducing excessive sweating. The most popular method of aesthetic medicine so far has been botulinum toxin. By administering it to the sweat glands, we paralyze their action, thus blocking them. The toxin is injected into the skin in small doses, every 1-1,5 cm. Unfortunately, the method, although very effective because it gives a practically immediate effect, is not durable because it works for about four or five months. The treatment must therefore be repeated regularly.
To effectively cure hyperhidrosis, it is not enough to temporarily inhibit the activity of the sweat glands. The sweat glands need to be damaged. This is how fractional microneedle radiofrequency works, the effect of which is optimal. The method not only permanently removes hyperhidrosis, but also brings the amount of sweat produced to a normal level. Such “normality” is a good thing, as opposed to complete damage to the glands. The body works unpredictably, and after the glands are completely damaged in one place on the body, hyperhidrosis often spreads to another. On the other hand, if the glands can continue to function, only less, sweat secretion becomes even and calms down. The procedure involves puncturing the skin with a needle head, which is then strongly heated, which burns out the glands. The method works deeply and punctually, so that there are untouched places between the fragments of the burned tissue. Some of the glands are removed completely and the rest are only weakened. Immediately after the treatment, the effect is the complete elimination of hyperhidrosis, and after a few months, sweating returns in a stabilized form.
We encourage you to listen to the latest episode of the RESET podcast. This time Kamila Wykrota, the resilience trainer, will tell us about what resilience is. How does the ability to adapt to changing circumstances and react to adversities affect our quality of life? You will find out by listening to the latest episode of our podcast.