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How to Control Body Odor

Sweating is a natural process considered to cool the body and eliminate toxins. It is also responsible for body odor. Body odor is most commonly caused by an over occurrence of 'bad bacteria'. Similarly, pheromones that are released by apocrine sweat glands also have an odor.

Here, we discuss on how to control excess sweat and control body odor.

Skin care- how sweat produces odor?
The reason we sweat is to cool our bodies. The more stressed or warmer we are, the body temperature goes up and the more we sweat. Our bodies have two types of sweat glands: the eccrine and the apoeccrine.

• Eccrine glands : These glands are found all over the body and regulate sweating associated with temperature changes. This sweat that is mostly water with very small amount of salt, sugar, urea etc. is odorless. The sweat will create a smell when exposed to air and bacteria begins breaking the sweat down. As this sweat occurs on the skin surface, it softens the epidermal keratin producing smell as a result. Bacteria feed upon the keratin and sweat and produce odor.

• Apoeccrine Glands : These sweat glands are the glands that exist in the underarms; groin and breast area. The skin here is folded and moist. This is the perfect place for bacteria to feed upon sweat and produce odor. These glands produce fatty sweat with pheromones. Bacteria break down this sweat and result is bad odor. The surplus of sweat and /or bacteria can produce more body odor. The clear solution to body odor is therefore- reduction or drying of excess sweat as soon as possible and keeping the skin free of bacteria. Here, you should note whether you have any yeast infection that can worsen the odor.

Skin care and control of sweat and odor-
Control sweat with antiperspirants. If you are having the problem of excess sweating, kindly consult your doctor who will recommend other methods such as botox injections. Washing body regularly with antibacterial soap is a good idea. This helps to remove bacteria on the skins surface. Use proper deodorant. As far as possible, keep skin dry .Keep changing your clothes that may be been worn while you had sweat because clothes continue to carry sweat producing bacteria until they are washed. Clothes may have dried but they carry the disgusting odor of sweat with them. It is recommended to change clothes after any activity that produces sweat. Some foods such as garlic, onions may add to sweat smell or excess sweating. Avoid these foods and drink less alcohol. Wearing absorbent fibers can help to control sweat. Control sweat by controlling bacteria and keep body dry to keep yourself smelling fresh at all the times for better skin care.