Body odor, sweat, ingrown hairs, and shaving bumps are just a few of the many issues that can creep up in your underarms. Sweating, in particular, can be an embarrassing problem because it can be hard (if not impossible) to hide. And though you might know that laser hair removal can eliminate the threat of shaving bumps and ingrown hairs, can it help with sweating too?
Below, our specialists at Laser Bar and Spa highlight a lesser-known benefit of laser hair removal on your armpits: reduced sweating.
Can laser hair removal reduce underarm sweating?
Technically, no, laser hair removal doesn’t prevent sweating. Your hair doesn’t create or trigger sweat. Your sweat glands, which happen to be located in your armpits, produce sweat when your body temperature climbs or when you’re stressed or nervous.
Because your sweat glands open up to your hair follicles, you likely notice more sweat near areas of thicker body hair. Body hair traps sweat (and odor) under your armpits, and unfortunately, the longer your hair is, the faster you’ll develop those tell-tale sweat stains on your shirts.
Here’s what laser hair removal can do: Removing your underarm air makes sweating less problematic because the hairs can no longer trap the sweat. Body hair can trap sweat, making it harder for it to evaporate and thus creating more of a problem for you.
One caveat: Laser hair removal won’t cure hyperhidrosis, a medical condition in which your entire body sweats more than normal. However, although laser hair removal won’t cure excessive sweating, removing your hair can help in a number of ways. According to the International Hyperhidrosis Society, removing your underarm hair:
- Makes your underarms feel drier
- Makes it easier to apply antiperspirants
- Reduces the size of sweat glands and cuts down on sweating
To sum it up, removing your body hair doesn’t eliminate the physical process of sweating, but it can help you manage sweating by making your antiperspirant more effective and stopping hair from trapping the moisture.
Feel cooler with underarm hair removal
Your sweat glands serve an important function: They are designed to help cool your body. When you become too hot, your glands secrete sweat. As sweat evaporates, it takes some of the body heat with it, which helps cool you off.
Removing your underarm hair doesn’t stop this process, but when your hair is removed, your hair can’t trap the sweat. This means that your sweat can evaporate more effectively, and you’ll feel cooler without the hassles of trapped sweat and body heat.
Another perk of reduced sweating
With reduced sweating comes a reduction in body odor. Your body hair is made of protein 一 and is porous and permeable 一 so it naturally absorbs odor, and more sweat equates to more odor. Laser hair removal can help you address both of these concerns at once.
Say goodbye to stinky sweat stains
We know that body odors and sweat stains are two concerns of both men and women, but thankfully, laser hair removal can help both men and women achieve smooth underarms, reduced body odor, fewer pit stains, and a whole lot of confidence!
When you come to our boutique spa in Midtown Manhattan’s Herald Square in New York City, we customize your plan to help you reach your goals. We use the Cynosure® Elite+ laser to effectively destroy underarm hair at the roots.
To schedule your consultation, give us a call at 646-386-7562.