Body Odor: Know The Cause And Suitable Treatment

Body odor can be a sensitive topic. It can either make you run towards people or run away from them. This unpleasant odor can be found anywhere you go, be it a mall, pub, theatre, bus, or train it is everywhere. It can be one of the most disgusting things and most of the time people who have it may not know what to do about it.

What is body odor?

Body odor ( also known as B.O., bromhidrosis, osmidrosis, or ozochrotia.) is an unpleasant and disgusting smell as perceived by another person. Body odor usually occurs when sweat from the body comes in contact with bacteria that live on the skin.

In other words, when a skin that has bacteria sweats, and the bacteria breaks down protein in the body into certain acids, this smell becomes obvious and unpleasant to anyone close.

Although many may not know this, perspiration or sweat by itself is odorless to humans. It is the quick increase of bacteria while a person is sweating and their breaking down of sweat into acids that eventually causes the unpleasant smell.

Moreover, People who sweat a lot, are more likely to have body odor. This is because the salt level of their sweat is too high for the bacteria to break down. Also, It depends on where the excess sweating is occurring and which type of sweat glands are involved.

Excessive perspiration or sweating is known as “hyperhidrosis” and no perspiration is known as “anhidrosis”

Common areas of the body where body odor is most likely to occur include:

  • Hair
  • Feet
  • Crotch
  • Anus
  • Skin
  • Belly button
  • Breasts
  • Armpits
  • Genital
  • Behind the ears
  • Pubic hair

Body odor can either be pleasant or foul to an individual. Most times body odor is used to identify people, especially by dogs and other animals. Everyone has a unique body odor and oftentimes can be influenced by food, lifestyle changes, and health conditions.

Things that can cause body odor

Common things that can influence or cause body odor include:

  • Diet
  • Mood
  • Race
  • Gender
  • Genetics
  • Smoking
  • kind of job
  • Medication
  • Alcoholism
  • Medical conditions
  • Dirty environment
  • Unclean shoes or clothes
  • Not bathing properly and regularly

Natural treatments for body odor

Treating body odor all boils down to making some changes. Even though these changes are limited one may not be able to change the race, gene, and gender. However, the following natural steps may help control body odor:

1. Have a daily bath with warm water – Having a bath or shower under runny warm water helps you clean your body much easily. Remember that warm water helps kill off bacteria that are present on your skin. Have your bath at least once a day and wash those problematic ( groin and armpit) areas properly. If the weather is exceptionally hot, consider bathing more often than once a day.

2. Be deliberate with your clothing – Natural fibers allow your skin to breathe, resulting in better evaporation of sweat. Natural-made fibers include wool, silk, or cotton. Wear clean and loose clothes every day as it keeps you fresh and dry.

3. Consume less spicy foods – Have a balanced diet that is less spicy and involves a good amount of protein plus lots of vegetables. Curry, garlic, and other spicy foods have the potential to make some people sweat more pungent. Some experts believe a diet high in red meat may also raise the risk of developing more rapid body odor.

4. Taking much liquid – Drinking lots of fluids and juices would also help in treating the condition.

5. Add honey to bathwater – Adding a tablespoon of honey at the final rinse would keep you fresh all day.

6. Use Vinegar while bathing – A cup of vinegar in your bath water would help as well.

7. Add alum in your bath water – People who use this method usually allow the alum to dissolve before bathing. using alum would keep the odor in check.

Things you should avoid

  • Smoking
  • Being overweight
  • Tight-fitting clothes
  • Spicy and oily food
  • Excessive alcohol as it increases perspiration
  • Excessive Coffee and tea intake
  • Excessive consumption of chocolate, peanuts,

Medical treatments for body odor

Aluminum chloride

This substance is usually the main active ingredient in antiperspirants. If your body does not respond to the home remedies mentioned above, go to a pharmacy store and opt for a suitable medical product containing Aluminum Chloride. Follow the instructions given to you carefully.

Botulinum toxin

Botulinum toxin, derived from the bacterium Clostridium botulinum, is recognized as the most toxic biological substance known. Despite its potency, medical professionals utilize very small and carefully controlled doses of this toxin in various treatments.
One innovative application is for individuals who experience excessive sweating, particularly under the arms.

During this procedure, patients receive about 12 injections of botulinum toxin into the armpits, which typically takes no longer than 45 minutes. The toxin works by blocking the signals from the brain that trigger sweat production in the glands, effectively reducing sweating in the treated area. Results from this treatment can last anywhere from two to eight months, providing significant relief for those affected by hyperhidrosis, the medical term for excessive sweating.

Surgery

When self-care and medications fail to manage severe body odor, a doctor may recommend a surgical option known as endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy (ETS). This procedure targets and destroys the nerves responsible for controlling sweating in the armpits.

It’s important to note that ETS is considered a last resort due to potential risks, such as damage to surrounding nerves and arteries. Additionally, some patients may experience increased sweating in other areas of the body, a phenomenon referred to as compensatory sweating.

When to visit a doctor

Consider seeking medical treatment if:

  • You have cold sweats.
  • You start sweating at night.
  • Sweating disrupts your daily routine.
  • Your body smells different than usual.
  • You suspect the smell could be due to toxin exposure.
  • You noticed a change in odor especially when accompanied by signs of infection.
  • You have been diagnosed with a health condition and it’s poorly managed.
  • You’re sweating significantly more than usual for no clear reason.
  • The unpleasant odor is paired with pain, bleeding, or other serious symptoms.
  • The odor persists despite trying natural remedies.

Bottomline

Proper hygiene eliminates body odor except in extreme cases where medical treatment will have to be sought. See your doctor immediately if you notice any unusual smell within your body. This is because a fruity smell could mean you have diabetes and this is, as a result, of high levels of ketones in the bloodstream. A person suffering from Liver or kidney disease can often have a bleach-like smell due to a build-up of toxins in the body. So, it is important you visit a health specialist or your doctor as soon as you notice any foul smell.

References 

1. K. C. (2008). Environmental Effects on Human Body Odour. ResearchGate. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/226926637_Environmental_Effects_on_Human_Body_Odour

2. K. K. (1992). Body Odor: A Comprehensive Overview. Springer. https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-4-431-66908-1

3. Cleveland Clinic. (2022). Body Odor. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/17865-body-odor

4.  Di Cicco, F., Evans, R. L., Gordon, J. A., Weddell, I., Chopra, A., & Smeets, M. A. M. (2023). Intrinsic and extrinsic factors affecting axillary odor variation: A comprehensive review. Behavioural Neuroscience; Experimental and Cognitive Psychology. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0031938423002329

5. New York State Department of Health. (2021). Understanding Body Odor: Causes and Management. https://www.health.ny.gov/publications/6500/

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