You take care of pretty much every area of your body. From your pearly white teeth to your silky smooth legs to the Queen V herself (Brazilian, anyone?) But what about your underarms? Wait, is underarm care even a thing?

Yep, that’s right folks — your underarms need a little TLC too. Armpit care is a category of self-care that you may want to consider adding to your health and wellness arsenal. Here’s everything you need to know about underarm care.

Why you should care about underarm care

First of all, let’s acknowledge that underarms may not be the sexiest part of the human body, but they are pretty freaking cool.

If you’re familiar with the different types of sweat, then you may already know that the underarms contain eccrine glands. These glands secrete a clear, odorless fluid directly to the surface of the skin that helps the body control its temperature by promoting heat loss through evaporation. (How else do you think you stay cool during a workout?)

However, underarms also contain apocrine glands. These glands produce a type of fluid that, when it comes into contact with the bacteria naturally found on the skin’s surface, can produce a smell. All the more reason to practice some good old armpit care.

Armpit care tips

1. Bathe regularly and cleanse daily

Okay, so armpit care tip number one: bathe regularly. Why? Please see above. ​​Insufficient bathing and poor hygiene may lead to an unpleasant body odor and no one wants that. (Cue the pheromones.)

Practice proper hygiene and underarm care by bathing regularly. Wash your underarms once a day or more if you’re very active, athletic, or have a physically demanding career or hobby.

2. Choose a deodorant that works for you

Next up on the list of armpit care tips is deodorant. Choose a deodorant that suits your lifestyle, perspiration level, and underarm skin condition. Remember, sweat is intentional, but odor is preventable. (Good one, right?)

When choosing a deodorant, look for products that contain ingredients that are clean and simple. That means avoiding dyes, fragrances, parabens, phthalates, and sulfates. Basically, just look for products with the fewest chemicals.

You can also choose to skip deodorant entirely or opt for a natural option. There are some advantages to both. Whatever option you decide to use, Anna H. Chacon, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and author, reminds us to apply deodorant to dry skin to ensure it works optimally.

3. Exfoliate regularly

Wait, underarms and exfoliation? Do those two things even go together? It may sound crazy, but just as you would exfoliate during a facial or spa service, the same can be said about underarms.

The pros at Dove recommend exfoliating your underarms at least once a week with a natural scrub or body brush while taking a shower. However, they warn not to overdo it as scraping or scratching your armpit skin can lead to dark circles in the underarms region.

You’ll also want to avoid products with microbeads. Chacon explains that although microbeads are frequently used in skin care products to exfoliate the skin, they can actually cause more damage. “Because of its use and how sensitive your skin is, small tears in the skin may result,” so skip products that contain them.

4. Use proper hair removal techniques

Whether you prefer lasering, plucking, shaving, or waxing, pick a hair removal method that best suits you and your lifestyle. Hey, if none of the above works and you prefer to go all natural and let the underarm hair grow freely, by all means, you do you, boo. No judgment here. #freethearmpithair

If you do decide to shave, Chacon recommends shaving once or twice a week as part of your underarm care regimen because there are several advantages to shaving your underarm hair.

Sweat won’t get stuck in underarm hair, which means less chance of smelly pits. With weekly shaving, soaps can better eliminate bacteria because bacteria cannot hide in underarm hairs. Soaps can also better reach your entire underarm area because no hairs are in the way. The same can be said with antiperspirants and deodorants. They’re essentially more effective with no hair in the way.

Just make sure to moisten your armpits before shaving with a razor and use shaving cream or shaving gel for the greatest results. Chacon also mentions shaving in all directions — up, down, and side to side — because the hair in your armpits grows in all ways. (Who knew!)

Oh, and if you opt for a good old-fashioned razor, be sure to replace your razor blades or throw away disposable razors after five to seven shaves, if not sooner, notes Chacon.

The bottom line on underarm care

When it comes to the underarm, many of us don’t even think twice about taking care of it more than washing it and throwing on some DO for that BO — but armpit care is important. Use these easy tips and simple steps to show your underarms a little love. Remember, be kind to your underarms, and they’ll be kind to you.