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Should Men Shave Armpits to Avoid B.O.?

Q. I enjoyed reading your article about using old-fashioned Listerine for smelly armpits. Another approach is for men to shave their armpits.

Q. I am a very active male and, especially in the summer, my armpits smell bad even after bathing. I get much better results after shaving the hair off. Armpit hair seems to be an odor sponge.

A. Body odor (BO) is often caused by a combination of bacteria and perspiration. The more you sweat, the easier it is for bacteria to flourish in your armpits.

Anything that reduces perspiration or bacteria can help control BO. Shaving might help a bit, but most men probably won’t want to shave their pits.

Readers tell us that milk of magnesia (MoM) can also help:

“I have suffered with STRONG underarm odor since I was 12 years old, and believe me, as a woman, it is embarrassing. Nothing I tried worked until I put milk of magnesia on my underarms. What a blessing!”

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About the Author
Terry Graedon, PhD, is a medical anthropologist and co-host of The People’s Pharmacy radio show, co-author of The People’s Pharmacy syndicated newspaper columns and numerous books, and co-founder of The People’s Pharmacy website. Terry taught in the Duke University School of Nursing and was an adjunct assistant professor in the Department of Anthropology. She is a Fellow of the Society of Applied Anthropology. Terry is one of the country's leading authorities on the science behind folk remedies..
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