Is lemon a ‘healthy alternative’ for deodorant? (2024)

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Is lemon a ‘healthy alternative’ for deodorant? ›

Lemon juice may be able to mask some body odor, but its lack of effectiveness and potential for skin irritation isn't worth it, cosmetic dermatologist Dr. Katherine Armour told Body and Soul. “The potential for lemon juice to cause irritation and inflammation is significant.

use it as deodorant? You may be surprised to know that applying lemon juice to your armpits is a simple way to eliminate odor. Lemon juice is full of citric acid, which naturally gets rid of odor-causing bacteria.

This can cause a sunburn-like rash, irritation and inflammation in severe cases. Since it is photosensitive it can also cause skin burns. Underarm skin is sensitive and can be more susceptible to damage than good. So, it is better to avoid applying lemon juice especially over the underarms,” she said.

Repeat two to three times per week. Lemon. Cut thick slices of lemon and rub the slices on your underarms. After 10 minutes, rinse your underarms with cool water, dry them, and apply a moisturizer.

“The potential for lemon juice to cause irritation and inflammation is significant. Irritation may lead to post-inflammatory hyper-pigmentation (PIH), which would leave to a worsening of the skin darkening in the armpits and is very difficult to treat,” Amour told Body and Soul.

Lemon juice is another natural deodourizer that can help to neutralize underarm odour. Cut a lemon in half and rub it directly onto your underarms. Let it sit for a few minutes before rinsing it off with water.

Armpit masks for detoxing often involve charcoals, clays, or apple cider vinegar. You mix up the ingredients, so say proponents, and slather them onto your pits, keeping your arms raised above your head as they dry.

If you have diabetes, a change in body odor could be a sign of diabetes-related ketoacidosis. High ketone levels cause your blood to become acidic and your body odor to be fruity.

How to get rid of underarm odor permanently? ›

"Apple cider vinegar is a great natural underarm deodorant," says Georgianna Donadio, PhD. She suggests applying it directly to your armpits to kill body odor.

“If you stop using aluminum, salt-based antiperspirants, your skin will naturally shed the aluminum from the sweat glands over time,” he says. When one writer went on an armpit detox, she experienced increased odor during the first few weeks. By week four, that odor had subsided.

“If you stop wearing deodorant or antiperspirant, you can develop a stronger odor over time,” Doyle said. “When you stop using (such products) and sweat more, this creates a breeding ground for bacterial and fungal overgrowth, which can cause odor to become stronger.”

The acid in lemon makes it a perfect candidate to naturally reduce excessive sweating. You can either rub half a lemon on your underarms (while lightly squeezing to extract the liquid) or mix a small amount of lemon juice with baking soda and apply it with a cotton pad.

people seem to have a hard time believing it without giving a try personally, but it's been my experience and that of friends i've managed to convert that fresh squeezed lemon or lime juice works without fail as an effective underarm deodorant in 100% of situations, and remains effective for 24 hrs or more.

The natural disinfectant and antibacterial abilities of lemons also help eliminate body odor and control bad breath caused by bacteria. The acidic property of lemon juice helps lower the skin's pH level, which makes it difficult for odor-producing bacteria to survive.