48 hours in the life of your underarms

The saying goes you should listen to your body – but what if it could actually talk? Take your underarms, for example, and think about what they go through on a daily basis, from friction against your clothes to perspiration, not to mention shaving! So, how would your underarms feel about these daily stresses? Let’s take a look at what 48 hours in the life of your underarms might look like…

7.30am Dry-shaving

It can seem like a good idea when you’re in a rush, but dry-shaving rarely has a happy ending – especially for poor, irritated armpits. Shaving in the shower is the best way to avoid irritation, says NIVEA Skin Expert Robyn Hutch. “The moisture and steam in the shower will mildly soften your skin and your hair and make it easier to shave,” she notes. Using an in-shower body moisturiser (like NIVEA In-Shower Body Lotion) will also “help to prevent irritated skin and leave your skin feeling silky smooth and moisturised after getting out of the shower.”

8am Getting dressed

Sure, that tight top might highlight your best assets, but when it twists and rubs against your armpits, it’s not doing them any favours. Ditto synthetic fabrics, which don’t allow your skin to breathe, trapping in sweat and bacteria. Swap them for natural, breathable fabrics, such as cotton and linen and look for looser shapes, rather than sleeves that are too tight around the shoulder.

1pm Lunchtime workout

You’d expect to work up a sweat during your workout, but did you know that the average person sheds between 800mL and 1.4 litres of perspiration during an hour of exercise? With a fair amount of this exiting the body via your armpits, they’re probably feeling slightly damp right now. Switching to an antiperspirant formula, such as NIVEA Protect & Care Anti-Perspirant Deodorant, can help to safely manage your sweat.

3.30pm Job interview

There’s a particular name for the type of sweat that’s linked to stressful situations. It’s called apocrine sweat and it typically has a stronger odour than the exercise-related kind. So make sure you’re covered in such situations with a reliable antiperspirant deodorant.

7pm Curry for dinner

Spicy food has a similar effect as exercise, notes Robyn. “Hot spices boost our metabolism and promote blood circulation. The body reacts to this by producing more sweat.” And just when your armpits thought they could take it easy for the night…

6.30am Cold shower

If you think that cooler temps will help keep your ’pits drier, you’re only partially on the money. “This is only true in the short term,” says Robyn. “A cold shower certainly does cool the body down, but the body balances out the temperature after a short time.” Nice try but next time, just use an antiperspirant instead.

7am Moisturise

Finally, a little bit of love and tenderness! We all know how important it is to moisturise our skin daily, so it’s vital to look for a deodorant formulated with moisturising ingredients as well as antiperspirant protection, to keep the skin under our arms soft and hydrated. NIVEA Protect & Care Anti-Perspirant Deodorant offers 48-hour protection against perspiration and contains ingredients from NIVEA Creme, which also moisturises the delicate skin under your arms. As Robyn says, “It offers the best of both worlds.” At least your armpits will be happy for the next couple of days…

2pm Getting rid of toxins?

Contrary to popular belief, sweating does not get rid of toxins from your body. Robyn explains, “You only lose water when you sweat! Toxins are removed from the body from your kidneys.” So there’s no need to steer clear of deodorants that offer antiperspirant protection.

8pm Shaving again

If you have really sensitive skin, Robyn suggests switching your shaving to night-time. “If you shave at night, right before bed, you’re unlikely to be running around sweating, and you can wait until the next morning to apply deodorant.” And when you’re ready to apply, Robyn recommends using a deodorant that contains fewer irritating chemical ingredients, like NIVEA Protect & Care Anti-Perspirant Aerosol or Roll-On. The formula is mild and alcohol-free, meaning it is super kind to your underarms and leaves them “feeling comfortable, soft and irritation-free”.