Mitchum apologises after reports of painful armpit reactions affect men and women

Mitchum has apologised after users reported painful rashes, burning and hair loss following use of several of the brand’s roll-on deodorants, with men joining earlier reports from women that the products caused severe skin reactions.

The company said in an Instagram statement that "a change in the manufacturing process of one of our raw materials altered how the product interacts with the skin in some consumers," and apologised "to those who were impacted and for the time it took to complete the investigation." Hundreds of social media posts and videos this week showed red, sore underarms and described itching, stinging and, in some cases, treatment with medical creams and antibiotics.

Several men told the Daily Mail they experienced reactions after using Mitchum products. London-based actor Marc Antolin said he developed a burning rash an hour after applying a new batch of the brand’s "clean control" roll-on and required an emollient cream for about a week. Ricky Blair of Ipswich said he bought an affected roll-on in July and also suffered a reaction. A 73-year-old man from Surrey identified only as David said he used Mitchum’s "Ice Fresh Men’s Ultra Powerful Anti-Sweat" roll-on in 2022, which he said burned both armpits and removed underarm hair; he reported the hair has not regrown.

Mitchum did not provide a full list of affected batches or products in its statement, but the company and users have linked reactions to eight products after social media complaints spread. Users described immediate stinging or burning in some cases and red, itchy rashes in others. Some reported needing pharmacy or medical-grade creams to ease symptoms.

Experts consulted by news outlets said the reactions are consistent with contact dermatitis and pointed to recently added fragrance chemicals in the reformulated products. Penny Ward, a pharmaceutical expert at King’s College London, said the new format contains acetyl cedrene and vanillin, both of which can act as skin irritants in some people. "Generally the irritant chemicals are most likely to be those which are the added fragrances," she said. She added that while many dermatitis rashes are itchy, pain could indicate secondary infection and might require antibiotic or antifungal treatment.

Dermatologists distinguish between irritant contact dermatitis, which usually appears soon after exposure and causes stinging or discomfort, and allergic contact dermatitis, a delayed immune response that typically arises a day or two after exposure. Reactions described by users include symptoms consistent with both types. Professionals advise stopping use of the suspected product and seeking pharmacy or medical advice if a rash is severe or worsening.

Ward also expressed surprise that the reactions were not detected during the product validation process. "For a pharmaceutical product, any changes made to the manufacturing methods have to be qualified and the product has to be demonstrated to be safe and effective with appropriate pre-clinical and clinical tests," she said. "The rules for cosmetics are not so stringent, although they are being strengthened by regulators. Manufacturers may in future need to demonstrate that manufacturing changes do not impact the safety of the final product in a similar manner to a pharmaceutical product."

A Danish study referenced by clinicians has found deodorants are a leading cause of fragrance allergy, particularly among men. Public health guidance for contact dermatitis recommends discontinuing suspected products, using emollients to soothe skin, and obtaining topical corticosteroids or antihistamines through pharmacy advice if symptoms persist. Medical assessment is advised if there are signs of infection, extensive blistering, or if symptoms do not improve after stopping the product.

Mitchum’s apology follows a wave of complaints on TikTok, Instagram and online forums that attracted widespread attention this week. The company said it conducted an investigation before issuing the statement but gave no timetable for product recalls or for communicating which batches or markets were affected. Regulators and consumer safety bodies in relevant markets were not named in Mitchum’s public comment.

Consumers who believe they have been affected are being urged to stop using the product and to seek medical or pharmacy help for persistent or severe symptoms. Dermatologists recommend preserving the product packaging and batch code when reporting adverse reactions to manufacturers or national cosmetovigilance systems so investigations can include batch-level testing and traceability.