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Have you ever wondered if there are parts of your body that you are not completely cleansing?
If you’ve ever wanted to know exactly how you should clean behind your ears or the best way to ensure your armpits stay sweat-free, there are certain techniques that could benefit you.
While you might think you’re already squeaky clean, you may be missing these specific spots, such as your armpits, feet, ears, neck, and scalp.
FEMAIL spoke to a dermatologist and hygiene expert to find out exactly how to stay clean.
Hygiene expert Mary Futher, known as Madame Sweat to her fans, and dermatologist Dr. Margarita Lolis have revealed the parts of the body that are most commonly not washed properly.
Mary Futher, founder and product developer of Clean Beauty, who makes viral videos like Lady Sweat and founded the brand Kaia NaturalsShe is an expert when it comes to personal grooming.
Futher, who resides in Toronto, Canada, has even launched products like sweat powder and detoxifying charcoal deodorant to make sure her more than 780,000 TikTok followers stay clean.
She’s an etiquette expert in the world of personal care and gives advice on her blog, The House of Hygiene, where she breaks down everything from why one armpit smells worse than the other to how to reduce boob sweat.
Certified Dermatologist Dr. Margarita Lolisbased in New Jersey, also weighed in with her tips on how to keep your armpits, feet, and more free of sweat and dirt.
Feet: Fight sweat with a salty product
According to Futher, simply washing your feet in the shower is not enough.
The expert warned that ‘there are odoriferous sweat glands in the feet, groin and armpits that are called eccrine glands, and when you sweat, the sweat is deposited on the surface of the skin and becomes bacteria, causing a type of bacteria very smelly. ‘
“Some people have more of this bacteria than others because they sweat a lot,” she continued, suggesting people use her brand’s Underarm Foot Bar or another product that includes salt.
“The salt helps kill odor-causing bacteria because the salt leaves a little film behind, so it will help throughout the day and help combat that odor.”
Futher warned that “there are odorous sweat glands in the feet called eccrine glands, and when you sweat, the sweat deposits on the surface of the skin and turns into bacteria.”
‘The key is to wash very well with the bar included between your fingers.’
According to Futher, it also helps to use a sweat powder in your socks “to help absorb some of the sweat, as this will prevent the moisture from turning into bacteria.”
Dr. Lolis agreed, cautioning that “moisture and heat between the toes create an ideal environment for fungal infections, as well as erythrasma, a superficial bacterial infection.”
The dermatologist suggested “drying yourself well and applying foot powder” or using deodorant on your feet to avoid unseemly odors and sweat.
Armpits: Body wash just isn’t enough
Futher said that “most people do a quick ‘drive-through’ by washing for two seconds with what I like to call ‘tootie fruity’ body wash.”
He even developed a soap specifically for this purpose. “My thing is underarms and it happens to be a bestseller for us,” she said of the underarm bar.
Dr. Lolis suggested using “a benzoyl peroxide wash like Panoxyl to help reduce odor-causing bacteria,” as well as Miles plant-based deodorant to keep the area “dry and odor-free.”
Do you feel like no matter how hard you scrub, you still need to use several layers of deodorant? It could be due to the body wash you are using.
Futher said that “most people do a quick ‘drive-by’ by washing for two seconds with what I like to call ‘fruity tootie’ body wash.”
“This will not help when it comes to underarm odor, as it is an area of ​​the body that one should spend more time in given the amount of bacteria (and odor-causing bacteria) in the area,” Futher warned. .
Instead, she advised washing for 20 seconds with natural antibacterial soap, which she said “Give your deodorant a little help.
According to the cleaning expert, you should look for ingredients like salt and apple cider vinegar and “you will get more out of your deodorant, since the salt will leave a barrier in the armpit to help fight bacteria,” which is “something that a soap very perfumed body cannot do.’
Furthermore, they even developed a soap specifically for this purpose.
“My thing is underarms and it happens to be one of the best sellers for us,” he said of the underarm bar.
However, you should not use it on your entire body, just on your armpits.
Dr. Lolis agreed that ‘beyond simply applying deodorant, properly washing the armpits helps control the bacteria that cause bad odor.’
The dermatologist suggested using “a benzoyl peroxide wash like Panoxyl to help reduce odor-causing bacteria.”
Dr. Lolis also recommended Miles deodorant and said that “natural plant-based ingredients can help keep the area dry and odor-free.”
Neck: an area long forgotten by many
Futher explained that the back of the neck was another area to focus on, as “most people assume that soap from shampoo can do the job.”
Instead, “it is necessary to rub that area, as some people develop pigmentation due to poor hygiene, as sweat and dirt accumulate there due to the collars of clothing, which creates friction and folds in the skin” .
If the back of the neck is dirty, it can be seen in the dirty collar of a white shirt.
Scalp: Be sure to massage to remove buildup.
Washing your hair regularly does not ensure that it is clean, which is why your scalp feels dry and irritated.
“While washing your hair, your scalp may not be properly cleansed, leading to product and oil buildup,” Dr. Lolis warned.
According to the dermatologist, “massaging the scalp during shampooing can improve scalp health and hair growth,” so be sure to take the time to wash your hair.
If you still feel a buildup, it may be time to change shampoos.
“You can also use a scalp scrub or Nizoral if you are prone to thick, waxy flakes,” Dr. Lolis advised.
Nizoral is an anti-dandruff and anti-fungal shampoo that controls flaking and itching.
Ears: It’s more than just using a Q-tip
Futher suggested “a good soapy massage on the back to help prevent the wax buildup that often forms.”
When it comes to your ears, you shouldn’t just use Q-tips and call it a day.
Futher suggested “a good soapy massage on the back to help prevent the wax buildup that often forms.”
She recommended using a face cloth for the exfoliant.
‘Behind the ears is a big one!’ Dr. Lolis agrees, as “these areas can accumulate sweat, oil, and dirt.”
“I see patients with buildup of dead skin, oil, and peeling behind the ears,” he said.
The dermatologist suggested using Nizoral or cleaning your ears thoroughly in the shower and making sure to wash off any excess shampoo or conditioner and dry them.
You may not think about your belly button as often, but it’s actually imperative to keep it clean, or you could get an infection.
Dr. Lolis warned that “the belly button can accumulate lint, sweat and bacteria, causing odor and infections if not cleaned regularly with soap and water.”
That’s not the only warning.
“I have had many patients come in to evaluate a growth in their belly button that turned out to be a buildup of keratin that can harden and be difficult to remove,” Dr. Lolis said.
Keratin is a A type of protein that helps form the tissues of hair, nails, and the outer layer of the skin, but too much can block skin pores and cause serious problems.