“It Burnt Off My Armpit Hair”: Men Sound Alarm Over Popular Deodorant

It’s not just women.

Men are now sharing painful experiences with popular deodorants, claiming severe rashes, burns and even hair loss.

Experts say the reformulated products may contain irritating ingredients.

Painful Reactions Aren’t Limited to Women

Earlier this week, Mitchum deodorants came under fire after hundreds of women reported “agonising” rashes and burns from the brand’s roll-on products.

Social media was soon flooded with photos showing raw, red armpits.

Now, men are adding their voices.

Several have told the Daily Mail they experienced similar painful reactions, with some requiring medical treatment and even losing underarm hair.

“I Had to Use Medical Cream”

Ricky Blair, a 35-year-old from Ipswich, said he’d been a loyal Mitchum customer for years. But after buying a new roll-on deodorant in July, things changed.

“Just an hour after applying it, I developed a rash and an agonising burning sensation,” he told the Daily Mail.

He needed an emollient cream for a week to ease the pain.

“I’ve seen the videos from women online, but I want people to know it can happen to men too.”

Blair said he’s now stopped using Mitchum entirely.

‘It Took All the Hair Off My Armpits’

David, a 73-year-old solicitor from Surrey, says his reaction occurred back in 2022, using Mitchum’s Ice Fresh Men’s Ultra Powerful Anti-Sweat roll-on.

“It burnt both armpits, it took all the hair off, and it never grew back,” he claimed. “I thought it was something wrong with me, because I hadn’t heard of anyone else experiencing this.”

“I have a lot of hair on my body and under my arms—so to lose it completely and feel burning every time I applied it was frightening.”

Mitchum Issues Apology

Mitchum has since apologised, blaming the reactions on a change in manufacturing that affected how certain ingredients interact with skin.

“We are sorry to those who were impacted and for the time it took to complete the investigation,” the company wrote on Instagram.

They explained that a modification in one of their raw materials may have caused irritation in some consumers.

Experts Blame Fragrance Additives

According to King’s College London pharmaceutical expert Professor Penny Ward, the cause of the painful skin reactions could lie in specific ingredients added during the reformulation process.

She pointed to acetyl cedrene, a known skin irritant, and vanillin, which can trigger allergic reactions.

“Generally, the irritant chemicals are most likely to be those which are the added fragrances,” she explained.

She added that painful reactions may signal not just irritation but possible infection—cases that may require antibiotic or antifungal treatment.

Why Wasn’t This Caught Earlier?

Professor Ward said she was surprised the issue wasn’t caught earlier during testing.

“For pharmaceutical products, any change in manufacturing must be validated to ensure safety and efficacy. While cosmetics are subject to less strict rules, regulators are now pushing for stricter standards,” she said.

“This should have been picked up in the validation process.”

Understanding the Skin Reactions

According to dermatologists, the reactions reported with Mitchum’s deodorants are most likely due to contact dermatitis, which comes in two forms:

• Irritant contact dermatitis causes an immediate response. The skin reacts with burning, stinging or inflammation right after exposure.
• Allergic contact dermatitis appears one to two days later. It’s caused by the immune system identifying a substance as harmful, triggering an itchy rash.

A recent Danish study found that deodorants are the leading cause of fragrance allergies, particularly among men.

“I Don’t Know What to Use Now”

London-based actor Marc Antolin took to TikTok to share his experience.

“I’ve used Mitchum for years,” he said, holding up a Clean Control roll-on. “This new batch gave me a painful reaction.”

“I sweat a lot—especially during shows—and I don’t know what the alternative is now.”

What Should You Do If You React?

If you’ve experienced redness, burning, or itching after using Mitchum’s deodorants, experts advise:

• Stop using the product immediately.
• Use a gentle emollient to soothe the skin.
• If pain or a rash continues, seek advice from a pharmacist or doctor.
• You may need a topical antihistamine or corticosteroid.
• In case of infection, antibiotic or antifungal creams may be necessary.