A few unspoken, yet telling elements about our persona mark us or influence our social interactions. One such embarrassment that can mar our social standing is body odour.
Here, experts unravel the factors contributing to body odour and ways to address it.
The scent glands
Dr Akshi Bansal, a consultant dermatologist at Manipal Hospitals, Bengaluru, says body odour is due to the secretion of scent glands in our body. Known as apocrine glands, they are found in the armpits, groin region, areas surrounding the lips and around the nipples. The distinct smell of their secretion is body odour.
Compounds in sweat
Sweating or perspiration is a natural bodily process to eliminate bodily waste through our skin and for maintaining the body temperature. However, when bacteria on the skin mix with sweat and produce odorous volatile compounds, the result is body odour.
In February 2012, a paper published in the International Journal of Cosmetic Science examined the relationship between skin bacteria, the components of sweat and production of body odour.
Dr Bansal says that apart from excessive sweating, odour could also be linked to underlying medical conditions like diabetes. “It could be a marker of an underlying dermatological problem like fungal infection, and it could also be related to obesity. Sometimes inherent disorders of metabolism can also lead to body odour,” she says. It is best to consult a doctor in such cases.
During puberty body odour increases due to hormonal changes happening in the body.
How to tackle body odour
In extreme cases, excessive body odour can also affect our confidence level. It can be tackled by making some changes in personal care and lifestyles.
Dr Bansal suggests the following simple solutions:
- Wear loose, comfortable cotton clothes.
- Bathe regularly.
- Wash, remove auxiliary hair.
- Use anti-perspirants: apart from providing a pleasant fragrance that masks body odour, they also have anti-bacterial properties.
- Those who are diabetic or obese should control blood sugar and body weight.
If the problem is mild, body hygiene and lifestyle modifications can keep it in check.
Dr Anika Goel, dermatologist and founder of Soul Derma Clinic in New Delhi, says body odour can be due to many factors ranging from genetics, diet, health and hygiene.
“Foods like garlic, onions, sugary foods can increase body odour. Some foods that can reduce body odour are green tea, citrus fruits and green leafy vegetables,” she says.
Facts about body odour
“The biggest myth about body odour is that sweat smells bad. Sweat is odourless. It is the bacteria in the skin that metabolise and create waste products that smell bad,” says Dr Goel.
“There is a belief that food is also related to body odour and that is partially true. If someone’s diet is rich in onion, garlic, cabbage, cauliflower, mushroom and even alcohol intake, it can worsen body odour. However, food is not the primary or only factor here,” she says.
Personal care tips
Dr Goel advises following these tips:
Dos:
- Bathe regularly with a good soap
- Bathe immediately after working out
- Wear clean clothes, preferably cotton and not synthetic clothes
- Use anti-perspirants
- Change your clothes if you sweat a lot
- Watch your diet
- Reduce your intake of alcohol
Don’ts:
- Eating foods with a high glycemic index
- Binge drinking
- Binge eating
- Wear wet clothes
