Body Odor
Body Odor
Despite the many fragrant locker rooms that give sweat a bad name, our basic cooling system doesn’t really deserve its malodorous reputation. “Actually, most of the sweat that we produce does not have any smell,” says Norman Levine, M.D, professor and chief of dermatology at the University of Arizona Health Sciences Center in Tucson. Eccrine glands, found in most of the exposed areas of the body, produce a watery sweat that usually evaporates quickly, leaving behind only dry skin, which does not attract much odor-producing bacteria.
Apocrine glands produce sweat that bacteria love, and the odor created from the combination of eccrine and apocrine sweat can be a humdinger. The apocrines are located in parts of the body where moisture can collect and thus attract bacteria.
So if your daily shower doesn’t seem to be enough to keep your body odor at bay, our experts offer these suggestions.
Try This First
Select an antibacterial soap. Since body odor is the result of apocrine secretions combining with bacteria, an antibacterial soap can temporarily eliminate the source of the most offensive odors, says Dr. Levine. Some antibacterial soaps, however, can dry out or irritate your skin. In that case, use a soap substitute like Dove or Cetaphil to help add moisture when washing the less odor-producing parts of your body.
Other Wise Ways
Take a powder. Odor-producing bacteria hate dry places. You can keep your body dry by applying talcum powder or methylcellulose powder such as Zeasorb to any odorous areas, says Dr. Levine. If you suffer from yeast infections, or candidiasis, avoid products that contain cornstarch, as they can exacerbate the problem. “Cornstarch contains sugars that may support the growth of candida,” Dr. Levine explains.
Wipe ’em out. Baby wipes are not just for babies. They’re especially handy when you’re under stress and your sweat glands are secreting more odor-producing moisture than usual. So if you find yourself sweating even the small stuff, use a premoistened towelette (a feminine-hygiene wipe or baby wipe) to wash away odor instantly, suggests Mary Ruth Buchness, M.D., chief of dermatology at St. Vincent’s Hospital and Medical Center in New York City and associate professor of dermatology and medicine at New York Medical College in Valhalla.
Watch what you eat. Certain foods, particularly spicy foods and those made with garlic, can increase body odor. If you suspect that a food or spice is causing your body odor problem, eliminate it from your diet to see if that helps, says Dr. Buchness.
Be smart about socks. Make sure your socks are absorbent so that they can soak up and draw moisture away from the foot. One of the best materials to look for in socks is a synthetic called polypropylene. And make sure you change your socks frequently, especially after any type of strenuous activity or if you are prone to foot odor.
| Managing Your Meds Just as some foods can cause body odor problems, so can certain medications. Ones to be wary of include bupropion (Wellbutrin) and venlafaxine (Effexor), which are prescribed for depression, and pilocarpine (Salagen), which is used to treat dry mouth, says W. Steven Pray, Ph.D., R.Ph., professor of nonprescription drug products at Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford. If you suspect that one of your medications is at the bottom of your body odor problem, check with your doctor to see if there is an alternative medication available that won’t cause you the same troublesome side effect. |
Air out the tootsies. For as many hours as possible, go barefoot. Let your shoes air out for at least 24 hours between wearings.
Step up the attack. Entrenched fungus that causes foot odor and chronic athlete’s foot may require stronger measures. Over-the-counter products containing miconazole nitrate (Desenex spray) or clotrimazole (Cruex or Mycelex cream) can kill the source of such irritation and may save you from further distress. Use as directed on the label.
