Body Odor. 7 Best Techniques to Prevent Body Odor.

[dropcap]F[/dropcap]lowers create perfumes to attract pollinators and promote reproduction, while many species of insects, fish, and mammals release unique aromas to attract mates. Humans, too, emit various odors, which are chemicals that carry a scent. Many of these are essential for normal biological function, and not all of them are pleasant. Here in this article, we will discuss certain body odors their development as well as also what it tells about our general health.

What Causes Body Odor?

Most people associate body odor with sweat, and no doubt, it’s an important piece of the puzzle, but it is not a direct cause. The reason lies like there are many types of sweat glands on the body; the odor is produced when perspiration comes into interaction with bacteria on the skin, breaking down protein molecules in perspiration releasing odor. But bacteria aren’t the only culprits. Body odor is also related to sweat gland type. Humans have three distinct sweat glands: apocrine, eccrine, and sebaceous. While eccrine sweat glands are found on all skin types, apocrine and sebaceous sweat glands are found only in certain areas.

• Eccrine Glands. Eccrine glands use a duct to direct perspiration to the skin’s surface. Sweat evaporates, cooling the skin and regulating body temperature. This sweat contains mostly salt and electrolytes. Bacteria cannot detect eccrine gland sweat because it lacks lipids and other components. So, it won’t smell.
• Apocrine Glands. It’s not like eccrine glands help you cool down. Rather than a channel, these glands drain into a hair follicle. They are found in selective body areas, including the armpit, scalp, and pubic areas. These glands produce an oily fluid containing proteins, lipids, and steroids in the hairy areas. Contrary to common opinion, this thick material (sweat) is odorless. When skin bacteria metabolize these secretions, they generate foul-smelling metabolites that cause body odor. Armpits are a microbial hotspot because they are wet and warm.

The amount of sweat you produce does not always affect your body’s odor. That is why an individual might have an unpleasant body odor but not be perspiring. On the other hand, a person might sweat profusely without smelling. This is because body odor is caused by the bacteria that live on your skin and how they interact with perspiration, not by the sweat itself.

Odor is most likely to occur in the following areas of the body.

• Armpits.
• Feet.
• Groin & Genitals.
• Pubic and other hair.
• Belly button.

Body Odor Changes During Lifetime

Your body odor might alter over time. Consider a newborn infant – they have a fresh aroma. And then consider an adolescent female. She, too, has a particular aroma that is quite unlike that of a baby. This is because, until adolescence, the apocrine glands are dormant and inactive. They begin to generate sweat as they reach puberty as proven by research. It is only at this point that body odor becomes a concern.

Here is an overview of how body odor can change with age.

• Infancy and Childhood: Most babies and young children have a mild body odor, mostly with a fresh feeling, which is affected by how clean their parents are and the products they use to bathe and dress them.
• Puberty: This typically begins between the ages of 9 and 14, and is accompanied by significant hormonal changes. Increased production of androgens, such as testosterone, stimulates the apocrine perspiration glands, resulting in body odor. This is the time when body odor is most noticeable, especially in the armpits and groin.
• Adulthood: Unless affected by external factors, body odor levels tend to level out during adulthood. An adult’s body odor can be affected by their diet, their stress levels, and even their health. Regular showering and changing into fresh clothes are only two examples of how to maintain good hygiene and control body odor.
• Menopause and Andropause: Sweat’s chemical composition can be altered by hormonal shifts, leading to noticeable differences in body odor. Changes in estrogen levels during menopause have been linked to altered body odor in women. Similarly, males going through andropause, the natural reduction in testosterone levels, may notice a shift in their body odor. In adults, 2-nonenal was identified only by the experts as a compound that can change body odor with age.
• Elderly: There are a number of things that might influence how someone smells as they become older. The smell of an elderly person’s body may be affected by their metabolism, their hormone levels, or an underlying medical condition. Sweat production and body odor may also be affected by some drugs regularly used by the elderly.

These aging-related changes in body odor have nothing to do with personal hygiene. Experts believe it’s caused by odor molecules and microorganisms on the skin. The main odor component is 2-nonenal. 2-nonenal is a result of a chemical breakdown in the body of unsaturated fatty acids.

Factors Affecting Body Odor

Numerous variables, including gender, heredity, age, and food, can affect the sort of odor an individual produces. Some of the factors are discussed below,

• Genetics. Indeed, similar to a fingerprint, it has been suggested by research that each individual’s body odor is distinctive and may be somewhat dictated by genetics. Some people are also genetically more prone to develop body odor. 
• Being Overweight. Excessive sweating and microorganisms can accumulate in skin creases. This offers an excellent environment for body odor to thrive.
• Certain Foods.  It has been studied that the odor of our bodies can be affected by the food and beverages that we consume. The volatile molecules in food like garlic, onions, spices, and strong-smelling spices can be released in sweat and contribute to body odor.
• Stress. Stress activates the apocrine glands. It causes your underarms to sweat 30 times more than at rest due to activation of for parasympathetic system.
• Menstruation & Menopause. Excessive sweating can occur before menstruation, particularly at night making more odor. This is due to hormonal imbalances and a minor increase in body temperature. When estrogen levels decrease, as they do throughout menopause, the body frequently interprets this as a symptom of overheating. This hormonal shift results in increased perspiration, which contributes to body odor. To learn more about changes that occur inside the body during menopause, read our article here.
• Medical Conditions. Some medical issues may change your natural body odor. Diabetes, renal or hepatic issues, and an overactive thyroid are all relevant in this case. An unusual body odor might be a sign of a more serious medical problem. For example, an odor resembling bleach or urine may signal renal or liver problems. We will discuss more of it later in this article.
• Being On Medications. There are certain medications that have excessive sweating and eventually odors as their side effects. These include antidepressants, zinc, antipsychotics, beta-blockers like propranolol and calcium channel blockers, and iron supplements.

While all of these can have a role in how your body smells, the impact of different elements varies from person to person.

Connection of Body Odor and One’s Health.

What diseases might result in unpleasant body odor? Apart from cleanliness and hygiene, various illnesses or medical problems might affect a person’s odor as has been proven by research. The following are some of the most common medical diseases that contribute to body odor.

• Hyperhidrosis. Hyperhidrosis is a condition in which your body sweats more than normal. While hyperhidrosis does not create a stink, excessive perspiration combines with the bacteria in your body, resulting in an uncomfortable body odor. Two types of hyperhidrosis are being studied, primary hyperhidrosis is when individuals sweat too much in one place on their body, like their underarms, hands, feet, head, or groin It is typically inherited and affects 5% of the population. Secondary hyperhidrosis is excessive sweating as a result of a medical condition or treatment which can be reversed when the medical condition is cured.
• Thyroid Conditions. Thyroid glands control several biological processes, including sweating. With hyperthyroidism or Grave’s disease, your body might sweat excessively even when you aren’t exerting yourself.
• Metabolic Condition. According to recent research, one-third of people with unexplained body odor may really have a hereditary metabolic condition. Trimethylaminuria (TMAU) is a condition that inhibits your body’s capacity to break down a pungent-smelling molecule called trimethylamine (TMA) that is present in choline-rich foods such as organ meats, eggs, some legumes, and saltwater seafood.
• Kidney & Liver Diseases. Body odor can also be an indication of a more serious liver or kidney illness, in which the body is unable to process and eliminate certain poisons as a result of the malfunctioning organ. Kidney illness can cause urea to smell like ammonia in your perspiration.
• Diabetes. Diabetes-related urinary tract infections (UTIs) and elevated blood glucose levels might contribute to an increase in body odor. Diabetic ketoacidosis is a life-threatening illness in which your body does not produce enough insulin, starving cells of the sugar they require for energy. A unique, fruity breath odor is one of the symptoms.
• Pregnancy. Pregnant women typically experience waves of sweatiness as a result of the huge hormonal changes associated with conception. By examining the data of over 50 studies on how pregnancy affects the sense of smell, researchers determined that pregnancy plays a huge role in making women more sensitive to smells and odors.
• The Super Smellers. Also known as hypersomnia, in which individuals are more sensitive to smells and odor. Super smellers may be more sensitive to pleasant odors than others, while others may be more impacted by unpleasant smells. There are certain genetic conditions, such as duplication or overexpression of the KAL1 gene – which encodes a protein called anosmin-1 that appears to regulate the growth and movement of nerve cells involved in smell processing – and other genetic mutations have been associated with an enhanced sense of smell.

Gender Differences in Body Odors

Do men and women have different odors? When the differences between the men’s and women’s body odors were studied, it was reported that men’s body scents are often more pungent than women’s due to more hair, and genetic differences in the skin of both genders. It was also studied that men often have a higher concentration of ‘corynebacterial’ – the odorous bacteria – in their armpits than women. Both genders have the same type of compounds and bacteria in the sweat that produces odor but the former is the cheesy scent found in male armpits, whereas the latter is oniony.

Another research carried out stated that men’s body odor is more difficult to mask than women’s. Though the vials of male and female body odor were comparable in strength, nine of the fragrance chemicals masked the smell of male underarm perspiration, whereas 25 of the fragrance chemicals blocked the scent of female underarm odor.

But who is more sensitive to smell? Apparently, women have more cells in the olfactory bulb, which is the portion of the brain that is dedicated to the sense of smell, than males, according to new research. Female brains contained an average of 43% more cells and almost 50% more neurons in their olfactory centers making them better sniffers than men.

What about Pheromones? Pheromones are the chemicals that are emitted by living beings outside the body that elicit behavior in other people, such as sexual desire. They are found in biological fluids such as urine, sperm or vaginal secretions, breast milk, and maybe even saliva and breath in humans, however, the majority of attention has been focused on axillary sweat. They can elicit arousal, desire, lust, and even fertility when released. The primary distinction between male and female pheromones is that men create Androstenol which is found only in 10% of men, while females produce Copulin and Estratetraenol which are more abundant than males. In this case, too, women are reported to be more sensitive to pheromones than men.

How To Reduce Body Odor

Although there is no universal cure for it, the following actions may assist in controlling body odor:

1. Shower

The first step in personal hygiene is taking a bath and cleaning up the body. By taking regular baths or showers, one can wash away sweat and microorganisms that cause odor. Make ensure you use antibacterial soap, since they are specifically formulated and proven to eliminate odor-causing bacteria. Take the time to properly wash sweat-prone parts of the body, such as the underarms and feet. Finish by completely drying your skin to prevent bacteria from growing. Shower daily if you live in an extremely hot or humid location. Additionally, one may use a washcloth to cleanse your armpits, groin, and skin folds. Shower soon following exercise or sweating.

2. Shaving/ Hair removing

Hair in regions such as the armpits can impede the outflow of perspiration, allowing bacteria more time to break down proteins and produce odorants. Shaving can aid in the regulation of body odor in that region. Reusable razors, laser treatments, epilators, waxing, and hair-removing creams and lotions are available in the market to ease out this process.

3. Use Antiperspirants

Underarm products are classified into two categories: deodorants and antiperspirants. Deodorants make your underarms less bacteria-friendly. Additionally, they aid in masking body odor through the use of scent. Antiperspirants work by inhibiting sweat glands, hence reducing perspiration. If you do not perspire much but still have body odor, deodorants are an excellent alternative. If you perspire excessively, search for an antiperspirant that doubles as a deodorant. Both of these products can help lower the severity of a person’s body odor by adjusting the volume of sweat produced and the quantity and activity of odor-causing bacteria.

Numerous deodorants and antiperspirants also contain antimicrobials such as propylene glycol, triclosan, and benzalkonium chloride, which reduce bacterial abundance and modify the skin microbiome in the armpits. After washing or bathing and before sleeping, apply antiperspirant. On achieve the optimum effects, apply antiperspirants to dry skin. If you are unable to select a product that is a good fit for you, see your physician.

4. Wear Breathable Fabrics

The type of clothes you wear can also have an impact on how much sweat you produce while going about your everyday activities. Choosing materials that are more breathable than other types of fabric (such as cotton) will allow more air to enter your garments and prevent sweat from accumulating.

When it comes to training apparel, synthetic materials that wick away moisture are the ideal choice since they may be able to keep perspiration off your skin. Recent research proves that expensive gym clothing and other man-made textiles such as polyester and spandex are breeding ground for germs. When you sweat less, microorganisms on your skin have a harder time growing and multiplying, which contributes to body odor. Additionally, remember to change your socks, preferably antibacterial socks, and wear breathable training shoes to avoid foot odor!

5. Watch Your Diet

Some food items might contribute to the development of body odor. Minimize items that are very pungent from your diet or keep an eye out for meals that exacerbate your body odor. Garlic, onions, and alcohol are just a few foods that might contribute to an unpleasant odor in your sweating. If you consume these items on a regular basis, consider eating fewer of them.

6. Wash The Laundry

Bacteria may readily gather and thrive on used clothing, and a foul odor might adhere if the garments are not thoroughly laundered. Regularly wash your clothes to prevent the dreadful stench caused by odor-causing microorganisms from sticking. Don’t use a dryer to dry clothes, to achieve the best results, try air-drying or line-drying your garments.

Medical Treatments for Body Odor

If a person’s body odor impairs their quality of life and home remedies are ineffective, a doctor may suggest further treatment. These may include the following:

Prescription Antiperspirants. Prescription antiperspirants/deodorants are more potent than over-the-counter products. These are often the initial steps in treating body odor. An antiperspirant containing aluminum chloride that is prescribed by a doctor or dermatologist. Aluminum chloride is absorbed via the skin, resulting in a reduction in the quantity of perspiration a person produces. Prescription antiperspirants may include between 10% and 30% aluminum chloride.

Topical Antibiotics. Both topical and oral antibiotics can help get rid of bacteria on the surface of the skin. Topical antibiotics, like clindamycin, erythromycin, and benzoyl peroxide, as well as antiseptic soaps, may help people by cutting down on the growth of bacteria that break down apocrine secretions, releasing fatty acids that smell bad. Any kind of antibiotics can adversely affect the microbiome – check out this article to learn more about the microbiome and its latest discovered importance.

Botulinum Toxin (Botox). Botox therapy may be recommended by a medical expert for those who sweat excessively. They may inject Botox directly into the skin, which inhibits the production of chemicals associated with sweating. According to some studies, Botox injections in the armpits can significantly reduce perspiration by 82–87 %. Though it’s not a permanent solution, several sittings are required to get optimum results.

Laser Treatment. It is probable that laser hair removal will not only eliminate the hair itself, but it may also assist to avoid the development of undesirable body odor.

Surgery. An endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy (ETS) is a surgical treatment used to treat excessive body odor when non-pharmacological and self-care approaches fail to alleviate the condition. The sweat-controlling nerves beneath the skin of the armpits are destroyed as a result of this procedure. If you choose this method as a last resort, be aware that you run the danger of harming other nerves and arteries in the surrounding area. However, according to a 2019 assessment, more than 90% of persons who received ETS reported an improvement in their overall quality of life following the surgery.

Everybody perspires. Sweating is totally natural whether engaging in physical activity, strolling in the sun, or being in a warm place. Sweating is the body’s natural method of temperature regulation. However, the foul odor accompanying perspiration can be quite unpleasant, especially when surrounded by friends and loved ones. Follow the above-given proven methods to reduce the amount of body odor and stay fresh all day! If you feel any unusual changes in their body dour or the amount of perspiration produced, they should seek medical attention as soon as possible.