Armpit allergy: what it can be, symptoms and treatment

Allergy to deodorant is an inflammatory reaction of the armpit skin, which can cause symptoms such as intense itching, blisters, red spots, redness or burning sensation.

Although some fabrics, especially synthetic ones, like lycra, polyester or nylon, can also cause armpit allergies, in most cases, this irritation arises due to the deodorant used. This allergy happens because some deodorants may contain more irritating substances, such as perfumes, which can cause the body to develop an inflammatory response. See other causes of skin allergy.

Thus, when the first symptoms of allergy appear, the most recommended is to wash the armpits with abundant water and neutral pH soap, to avoid aggravating the reaction, then passing a little calming cream, with aloe vera, for example, to moisturize and soothe the skin.

Possible allergy symptoms

In case of allergy to deodorant usually one of the first symptoms that appears is the burning sensation and irritated skin, however, other symptoms include:

Blisters or red spots on the skin; Lump in the armpit; Very intense itching; Redness.

In some cases, when the deodorant is not removed immediately, flaking, blisters or even burns in the armpits may even appear.

In people with greater sensitivity, other severe allergy symptoms may appear, such as swelling in the face, eyes or tongue, feeling of something stuck in the throat or difficulty breathing. In these cases, it is advisable to go immediately to the hospital to take an antihistamine and a corticoid directly into the vein, avoiding serious complications, such as respiratory arrest.

Also check that other problems can cause red spots on the skin.

What to do in case of allergy

When symptoms of allergy to deodorant appear, it is important to take action quickly, being necessary:

Wash the underarm area with plenty of water and soap with neutral pH, in order to remove all the applied deodorant; Apply hypoallergenic or soothing products on the skin, such as creams or lotions with aloe, chamomile or lavender for example, which soothe and hydrate the skin; Apply cold water compresses over the armpits, to reduce the symptoms of irritation and burning sensation.

After washing and moisturizing the skin, it is expected that after 2 hours the symptoms will disappear completely, if this does not occur or if the symptoms worsen, it is recommended that you consult a dermatologist as soon as possible.

In addition, if symptoms develop into difficulty breathing or a feeling of something stuck in the throat, it is recommended to go quickly to the hospital or emergency room, as these are signs of an anaphylactic reaction, an allergy situation that needs urgent treatment.

How the treatment is done

The treatment of allergy to deodorant depends on the symptoms, and may involve the use of antihistamine drugs such as Loratadine or Allegra, or corticosteroids, such as Betamethasone. These remedies alleviate and treat allergy symptoms and should be prescribed by a dermatologist.

In cases where there is a lot of redness or itching in the armpits, ointments with antihistamine properties may also be recommended, which help to relieve these symptoms.

How to confirm the diagnosis

The diagnosis of allergy to deodorant can be made by the dermatologist by observing the symptoms that appear in the armpits after applying the product. After this first analysis, the doctor may order an allergy test to confirm the diagnosis and identify the component causing the allergy. Find out how the allergy test is done.

Thus, in some cases it becomes possible to choose deodorants that do not contain allergy-causing compounds, thus avoiding the appearance of these types of reactions.

To avoid allergy to deodorant, it is important to always test the deodorant in a small region of the armpit, leaving it to act for a few hours, in order to check whether or not any unwanted reaction appears.