Q: My underarm skin is raw and itchy. How can I protect against odor without making things worse?
A: Women come into my office all the time complaining about redness, itching, and burning under their arms. Sometimes the cause is as simple as a dull razor nicking the skin, but more commonly a product is to blame. Most deodorants, antiperspirants, and shaving creams contain fragrance, a big-time allergen. Plus, salts and acids in antiperspirants can upset skin, as can your own sweat and the bacteria it breeds.
The solution? Treat the irritation for three to five days with an over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream. Once it subsides, keep skin in the clear by replacing your razor blade every two weeks; switching to alcohol- and fragrance-free products with soothing ingredients, like aloe; waiting 20 minutes after shaving before applying deodorants and antiperspirants; and wearing breathable cotton tops as much as possible. If the problem persists, see your dermatologist: It could be a bacterial or fungal infection.
Doris Day, MD, is a dermatologist and professor at NYU Medical School.
Comments (5)
please help me to find what meaning (angioneurotic-ocdema?
thank you
what about wearing a tea tree patch to bed, to help relieve the itching.. a friend o mine does this to help her scalp- no she didnt shave her head, she places a naturopatch of vt aromatherapy patch on her hairline, and it helps keep her head from itching in the middle of the night…
Naturopatch of vermont carries an essential oil tea tree patch- lasts up to 24 hours!!
At least two times aday my lower part of my stomach itches like crazy .I scratch my self in a frenzy.I then go upstairs and take a hot shower using my hand held shower head and work the water back and forth. the hot water seems to soothe the area. Is there a cream to to use? What causes this sudden itch? Should i see a dermatologist?
I have a question to ask Michele S. Olson, PhD. for ask Health. Where can I ask this question?
I sent in an email several weeks ago asking this same question, but I have no heard a response.
Thank you for anticipated cooperation with this matter.
Kindest regards