Everything You Wanted to Know About Body Odor and How to Stop It

If you’ve ever tried to sniff yourself discreetly after a crowded Summer bus ride to discover that you might have forgotten to apply deodorant on the hottest day of the year, we feel for you. While some people seem never to seem to sweat a drop, the rest of us are sopping wet and smelly after a leisurely stroll in the park.

What is Body Odor

Surprisingly, your sweat by itself doesn’t smell like anything. “Odor is the result of bacteria and yeast mixing with sweat. While some bacteria and yeast on the skin is normal, we can try to prevent elevated amounts and avoid conditions that promote bacterial growth, which leads to body odor,” Dr. Cook-Bolden explains.

Use an antibacterial soap

Dr. Cook-Bolden suggests using an antibacterial soap or cleanser to eliminate the odor-causing bacteria and make sure to dry off well. “Dry the skin thoroughly, especially in areas where you sweat heavily and in the folds and private areas. It’s harder for bacteria to survive and breed on dry skin.”

Wear cotton

Wearing cotton is important, especially in warm weather. If you need to, change your clothes often, and make sure you stay dry. “Moisture can promote bacterial and fungal growth, and look for materials that wick moisture from the skin,” Dr. Cook-Boden explains.

Relax

woman leaning on white concrete surface beside swimming pool during daytime

If you sweat when you’re anxious or stressed, it’s time to find ways to cope. “Try listening to relaxing music with a positive, affirming, hopeful message, take up yoga, deep breathing, meditation, or biofeedback therapy,” suggests Dr. Cook-Bolden.

Use an antiperspirant

Dr. Cook-Bolden suggests using antiperspirant liberally and often. “Use heavy duty antiperspirants that also contain deodorants if possible. These can even be used twice a day (but start out once daily and make sure it is not irritating to your skin).”

Our current favorite pick is Secret Fresh Antiperspirant and Deodorant Invisible Solid in Cool Waterlily ($5), which smells like a fresh bouquet of flowers.

Use apple cider vinegar

If you’re more of a holistic-remedy seeker, Dr. Hamdan suggests using a natural deodorant like Schmidt’s Charcoal + Magnesium Deodorant ($22 for two). “I also wipe my underarm area with diluted apple cider vinegar ($22) to help control the body odor,” Dr. Hamdan suggests, because it has antimicrobial properties.

See a doctor

If you’ve tried everything and you’re still experiencing excessive odor, it might be time to see the doctor. “Botox injections, a low level electrical impulse therapy, and an oral medication can all help,” Dr. Cook-Bolden explains. If this is the first time you’ve experienced a lot of body odor, let your doctor know right away. “Certain medical conditions can be associated with sudden or heavy sweating. They include but are not limited to heart disease, thyroid conditions, infections, hormone-related diseases, and tumors.”

Whether it’s strong or offensive, body odor is a sensitive issue that is commonly addressed by health and fragrance companies to temporarily quench the stench. Dousing in these chemicals and artificial-scent sprays only shield body odor for a short duration, but they fail to treat the underlying cause of these nose-pinching smells. Luckily, there are natural, fresher, and cleaner approaches to tackle undesirable body odor to treat this embarrassing problem.

In order to practice good hygiene, it’s important to know how body odor often occurs. Insufficient bathing or poor hygiene can lead to an unpleasant odor secreted by the apocrine glands, located in the underarms, genitals, and around the nipples, and the eccrine glands, found in the underarms, hands, and feet, when they interact with skin bacteria. The sebaceous glands, located in the scalp, face, and chest, produce oil, which has a light odor with or without bacteria. “If people have poor hygiene bacteria can build up on the skin and create more than just bad body odor.

1. Shave Underarms

A lot of hair under your arms can create a swampy environment for bacteria. Hair is porous, meaning it easily absorbs odors and can even slow the evaporation of sweat. Hair traps odorants, especially when it’s located in your armpits. Burns recommends shaving your underarms to stop body odor so the “bacteria doesn’t get trapped in the hair thus decreasing odor.”

2.  Change Shoes

A common misconception is body odor comes from the armpits, but one of the foulest odors actually come from your feet. Changing your shoes will allow them to air and prevent the odors from staying concentrated in one area. This cuts down the bacteria that is in the shoe. Burns’ rule of thumb: “Everyone should be switching up their shoes every 500 miles anyway.”

3. Apply Vinegar

Vinegar, whether it’s apple cider or white, can help lower the pH level of the skin for an anti-bacteria environment. Dr. Mehmet Oz of The Dr. Oz Show recommends this home remedy because the bacteria cannot thrive in acidity, and the smell will dissipate. It’s best to splash the vinegar under the arms when you get out of the shower, but not immediately after you have shaved your underarms. This is safe for the skin as long as it’s unbroken. It’s best to do a test on a small patch of skin to make sure you do not react badly.

4. Apply Witch Hazel

Witch hazel and tea tree oil are natural sterilizers that can be applied on your armpits, since they are natural antiseptics. They lower the skin’s pH, which makes it impossible for bacteria to survive. Directly applying witch hazel on your skin can serve as a regular deodorant. For those who are prone to sweating, Burns suggests “wiping [underarms] down at least 4 times a day.”

These four home remedies for body odor will help eliminate foul smells and leave you feeling healthy, clean, and fresh.

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