Why Do We Have Armpit Hair?

Armpit hair is a natural part of getting older; many people tend to see armpit hair as they go through puberty. However, you may left wondering if you should shave your armpit hair—whether you're comfortable with having it or not.

You can shave the hair in your armpit, which may play a role in decreased body odor, or you can keep it and not have to deal with skin injuries like cuts. Either way, read on to learn more about the benefits and risks of having armpit hair.

Why Do We Have Armpit Hair?

Part of the reason people have armpit hair is due to hormone changes—especially surrounding puberty. "One of the first signs of puberty is hair developing in the underarms and groin," American Academy of Dermatology board-certified dermatologist Shani Francis, MD, a clinical assistant professor at the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine and medical director at Ashira Dermatology, told Health.

Hair that grows in those areas will be lighter and less prominent. As puberty progresses, the hair will get thicker and darker. At the same time, people may start to lose armpit hair as they get older. Armpit hair often gets thin and sparse after menopause when an individual no longer ovulates.

Benefits of Armpit Hair

There's not a lot of research about the specific benefits of having armpit hair. However, there are a few benefits to having body hair in general, including:

• Body temperature regulation
• Sensory function improvements
  
• Skin protection, as removing armpit hair can lead to irritation and skin injuries like cuts or razor burns
  

Benefits of Removing Armpit Hair

One of the biggest benefits of removing armpit hair is decreased armpit odor. One study aimed to find out if armpit hair affects body odor, and if so, to what extent. Before the study began, researchers theorized that removing armpit hair would be the best way to minimize armpit odor.

The researchers put together four groups of men based on what they did with their armpit hair: trimming, shaving, waxing, or leaving it untouched. Researchers concluded that men who removed their armpit hair by waxing it off or shaving it with a razor had the least body odor. Those who simply trimmed their armpit hair had the next smelliest, with the strongest armpit odors coming from those who left their pit hair untamed.

Armpit Hair Removal Options

There's nothing wrong with wanting to get rid of your armpit hair. If that's something you're considering, there are plenty of different options available like:

• Getting treatments using lasers, or microwaves—which entails a method that "kills" the sweat glands and destroys hair follicles at the same time
• Shaving
• Sugaring, in which a sugar water mixture is applied to unwanted hair then all of it is peeled off together
• Threading, which entails removing hair with a piece of thread
• Using hair removal creams
• Waxing
  

What About Armpit Odor?

Armpit hair and sweat by themselves are not odorous. It's the bacteria in your armpits that cause odor—bacteria that thrive in warm, moist places and get especially "trapped" in the hair that grows there. Hormonal fluctuations largely influence how much you sweat and, therefore, how wet, moist, and optimal your armpits are for odor-causing bacteria to flourish.

"Cutting the hair only removes, let's say, the 'house' for the bacteria," explained Dr. Francis. The bacteria themselves remain, so "if you have no armpit hair but don't wash your armpits, you're still going to have odor," added Dr. Francis.

Whether you have armpit hair or not, the important thing is that you stay on top of your personal hygiene to minimize odor-causing bacteria. That means:

• Cleansing regularly
• Wearing deodorant if you choose to
• Letting a healthcare provider know if your body odor concerns you

A Quick Review

While it may be uncomfortable to have, armpit hair happens because of hormone changes. Armpit hair is a collecting site that helps bacteria grow and cause odors, but the hair itself does not cause odors.

You can remove the hair in your armpit using a variety of options, but you can risk skin irritation or injuries like cuts—though you may experience less odor. Overall, ensure you practice good personal hygiene if you decide to keep your armpit hair or not.