Body odor is the unpleasant smell that is given out by our bodies. Many people perceive that excretion of sweat from our bodies produces the odor. Unfortunately, this is not true. Although sweat takes part in the production of odor, sweat itself is odorless.
What Causes of Body Odor
Our skin contains millions of bacteria on its surface. Therefore, when the body excretes sweat, the bacteria on the skin break down the sweat into acids. Body odor is that unpleasant smell produced when bacteria break down sweat into acids. Body odor affects everyone who has reached puberty.
Body odor mostly occurs in our armpits, groin, feet, genitals, anus and most of hairy parts. These parts contain apocrine glands that produce a particular type of a fluid which is rich in proteins and when exposed to bacteria on the skin they are broken down to acids producing body odor.
Body odor results from breakdown of sweat into acids by bacteria on the skin. Obesity, medical conditions such as diabetes, and eating of spicy foods are mostly associated with body odor.
Sexual excitement and feelings such as anger, anxiety and stress trigger sweat glands in the pubic parts and armpits thus producing odor.
How to get rid of body odor
Here are the popular and most effective home remedies for body odor you can easily apply.
#1. Baking Soda
Baking soda helps to absorb sweat from the surface of the skin. It also kills bacteria and acts as a natural deodorant thus reducing body odor. For a long time protection, mix baking soda with corn-scratch and apply them onto your dry skin to prevent sweating and odor for some hours.
#2. Apple Cider Vinegar
It helps to balance the PH of the skin thus making it difficult for bacteria to break down sweat into acids thus preventing body odor. Add a cup of apple cider vinegar into your lukewarm bath water and soak in the water for 10 minutes daily.
Repeat this at least once per day. Alternatively, apply apple cider vinegar onto a cotton and rub it onto your armpits or other affected are and take a shower after around five minutes.
#3. Lemon Juice
The acidic property of the lemon Juice helps to lower the level of PH on the skin making it very difficult for bacteria to survive in breaking down of sweat.
Use half of a fresh Lemon to rub your affected parts and wait for the lemon juice to dry before taking a shower. Repeat this process daily for effectiveness.
#4. Taking Regular Bath
Taking a shower helps to reduce and eliminate bacteria on the skin. Use antibacterial detergent or antibacterial soap to kill the bacteria. A warm shower also kills the bacteria on your skin. On hot weather consider taking shower more than once per day. This measure ensures that there are no bacteria on the skin to produce odor.
#5. Clothing
When you go out on shopping or your wardrobe, remember to choose clothes that will help you manage perspiration. For daily wear choose light wear, loose-fitting and breathable fabrics such as natural cotton wool and silk which allow your skin to breath and therefore reducing body odor.
For exercises and on cold days, you should wear clothes that wick the moisture away from your skin to prevent bacteria from breaking down sweat into acids and causing odor.
#6. Changing Your Diet
Spicy foods such as garlic, curry and others as well as caffeine beverages, makes your body produce more sweat that has a strong pungent, causing a strong body odor.
#7. Use an Antiperspirant
Antiperspirant contains Aluminum chloride among other things, which reduces the sweat produced by the body. It is advisable to use antiperspirant overnight while going to sleep to eliminate body odor.
#8. Wear Clean Clothes
Avoid putting on the same clothes that you wore some other tome as the contain bacteria that causes odor. Eat a lot of vegetables. Spinach, kales, chard and other leafy vegetables, contains a lot of chlorophyll which has a powerful deodorizing characteristic for the body.
See also How To Get Rid Of A Stuffy Nose
Tips for Armpits Body Odor
Always keep your armpits clean and dry. Wash the armpits regularly with an antibacterial soap thoroughly. Shaving the armpits. Armpits hair reduces the rate at which evaporation of sweat from the armpits takes place giving more time for the bacteria to breakdown.
Applying a deodorant produces an acidic property on the skin which makes it very hard for the bacteria to survive.
Tips for Feet Odor (Bromodosis)-BONUS
According To WWW.NHS.UK
“Your feet sweat into your shoes all day so they get damp and bacteria start to grow. The bacteria continue to breed once you’ve taken your shoes off, especially if you put them in a dark cupboard. Then, when you put your shoes back on the next day, even if you’ve just had a shower, putting your feet into still damp shoes creates the perfect conditions for the bacteria to thrive – warm, dark and moist.”
And here are the best way to get rid of Feet Odor
Use warm water to wash your feet at least once per day. This helps to kill most of the bacteria on the feet to eliminate foot odor. Choose the best footwear. Socks and shoes should allow sweat to evaporate easily from the foot. Always wear a clean pair of socks and regularly wash your shoes.
Remember to wear open shoes when applicable to enable your feet to breathe. Use the correct antiperspirants for your feet. However, if you have Athletes foot or ingrown toenails, you should not use antiperspirants or deodorants until they heal.
Warning :
Body odor and excessive sweating is an unpleasant condition that might lead to low self-esteem and lack of confidence. If not taken care of it leads to low productivity and self-rejection.
If you think that you are sweating too much than normal, it is advisable to see a doctor to have a look on your problem.Frequent excessive sweating might result from blood and nerve problems that may require the attention of the doctor. If you notice a change in your odor, or you think that your odor results from a disease you should see the doctor.
It is important to note that body odor is unique and can be used to identify a person by animals like dogs.