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Body odour
Sweating is an essential physical process by which the body releases excessive heat and regulates our body temperature. It also maintains fluid and electrolyte balance in our body. Sweat when it evaporates, does not produce any smell, i.e. sweat by itself is odourless, since it is sterile in formation.
Smell/odour will exist only when there is difficulty in evaporation and there prevails favourable circumstances for bacterial action. The intensity of sweat and its smell varies from person to person and also varies from place to place in the same person. Bacteria or fungus thrive well in damp body places and break down fatty acids and proteins in the sweat to cause the characteristic musty odour.
Causes of body odour:-
Body odour is one of the biggest antisocial elements of our times.
- The smelly breakdown of sweat tends to be more conspicuous around the armpits, feet and genital area for a number of reasons:
i. The sweat in these areas does not evaporate as fast as on exposed surfaces, such as arms.
ii. Glands in these areas produce proteins and fats that encourage the growth of bacteria (sweat elsewhere is mostly salt water).
iii. These areas usually are warmer - thereby promoting bacterial growth.
- Hereditary
- Diet - Certain foods contain chemicals that may be excreted by the skin, such as curry, garlic and other strong spices.
- Habits of smoking, drinking, chewing tobacco
- Certain hormonal diseases such as thyroid, ovarian problems or skin disorders such as eczema contribute to the problem.
- Nervous disorders such as Parkinson's disease
- Poorly washed clothes and clothes that have not dried properly
How to manage this problem:-
Certain do's:
- Maintain personal hygiene, cleanliness
- Drink plenty of water and fluids to flush out toxins
- Have regular shower twice daily using anti-bacterial soap.
- Wear cotton under garments, socks so as to absorb the sweat
- Wear loose dresses which allows good ventilation
- Clean and dry your shoe every time before wear
- Trim hair in the sweaty areas
- Use anti-perspirants and deodorants.
- Double-check your medicine. Synthetic hormones, oral contraceptives, steroids stimulate sweat production. Consult your doctor about other options.
Don'ts
- Tight fitting clothes/synthetic clothes/shoes
- Spicy foods such as onion and garlic
- Using clothes, socks, undergarents for more than a day in hot,humid climates
- Coffee, alcohol, smoking and chewing tobacco.
- Preservative-added tinned foods or drinks
- Stress and strain
- Unnecessary medications
General treatment - Normally, no one goes for treatment regarding sweat, unless the sweat and its odour affects him or her severely.
- People use soaps, talcum powders, deodorants and perfumes that are temporary options.
- Doctors may advice anti-perspirants/topical applications after ruling out thyroid, heart, diabetic problems and hormonal imbalances. These topical applications also give only temporary relief.
- Rarely, if increased sweat disturbs the sufferer extremely, surgical re-sectioning of nerves should be performed as a last resort.
Some useful home remedies:-
- After your bath, add a tablespoon of honey to lukewarm water for the final rinse.
- Adding a teaspoon of alum to your bath water make you smell fresh.
- Add a cup full of vinegar or some lavender oil to your bath water.
- Boil neem leaves and add the water to your bath water. Keep some aside for a special rinse of armpits and between the thighs.
- Apply lemon juice to your underarms after bathing. It acts as an anti perspirant.
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