How to fight body odor?

Each of us has a unique body odor, which may be more or less pleasant but when we usually talk about it we think of its unpleasant side, the stench. Some people smell very bad when they sweat, smelling like mold, rot or rotten fish. This is extremely annoying and that is why it is called “bromidrosia”.

We know that sweat makes us smell and that this is due to the germs that are on us. Germs are everywhere in our body and they especially like wet and dark places, such as the armpits, the genital area and the soles of the feet. In these areas they can be found in high concentration and breaking down some substances present in sweat to produce foul-smelling products.

Sweat and bacteria

Our body has two main types of sweat glands, the secretory glands in the skin and the responsive glands in the subcutaneous tissue. The secretions are all over the body and bring out the sweat directly on the surface of the skin regulating our temperature. This sweat is usually odorless because it contains minimal organic matter that can be broken down by bacteria and therefore is not considered to cause bad breath.

The responsive glands are activated after puberty and are located in specific parts of the body, such as the armpits, pubic area and genitals. They are the ones who are considered responsible for the stench. Their fluid is poured into the hair follicles and leaves the body through the hair. The sweat they produce contains substances used by bacteria to produce chemical compounds with sulfur which smells bad even in small quantities.

In the feet, the problem of bad breath starts with the fungi that grow. The feet have the most sweat glands in the body and this creates the right conditions for the growth of fungi that produce odorous substances.

Remedial measures

You can do a few simple things to get rid of body odor.

1. Keep yourself clean

Take a shower at least once a day and rinse your sweat. When bacteria that live on your skin mix with sweat, they multiply quickly and create a bad odor. A good wash, especially in areas where you tend to sweat, will help reduce the odor. In particular, washing with antibacterial soap will help you get rid of more bacteria.

2. Dry your body well

After showering, dry yourself completely, paying attention to all areas where you sweat a lot. Even after a shower, if the skin does not dry well and remains moist, the growth of bacteria and fungi that interact with the sweat of the responsive glands and produce odors is encouraged.

3. Use antiperspirants

Once you are clean and dry, you can use an antiperspirant on your armpits. Some antiperspirants are very strong with aluminum chloride, a chemical that helps prevent sweating. The tiny granules of such a product clog the pores of the sweat glands, however this blockage can irritate their skin in some people.

4. Change socks often

You change clothes often when you sweat a lot and especially your underwear and socks. The stench can spread to socks and shoes through sweat. Do not wear the same socks and the same shoes for consecutive days. Microorganisms continue to multiply in the shoes even when you stop wearing them, especially if you keep them in a dark place. Let your shoes dry in a bright place for 24 hours before putting them in the shoe rack. Use deodorant powder on shoes and replace the soles often. Wear leather shoes that allow the foot to breathe.

5. Cut or cut down on certain foods or drinks

What you eat affects the smell of your body. Foods that tend to make you sweat more, such as hot peppers, onions, garlic and other spicy foods can give your body a sense of smell as their aroma can be transferred to your sweat. Stinky foods can vary from person to person, and one study blamed tomatoes [2]. Also, caffeinated beverages or alcohol can make you sweat more.

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References

1. The molecular basis of thioalcohol production in human body odour.
2. Tomatoes cause under-arm odour.