Treatments for Smelly Armpits
Body odor is a common issue, especially when dealing with disorders such as hyperhidrosis, hormonal changes like the ones occurring in puberty or a lack of hygiene. One of the most common places for body odor to develop is in the armpits, where bacteria interacts with proteins in your sweat to produce byproducts that provides the distinct scent of bad body odor. Many approaches can help mask or prevent foul-smelling armpits from developing.
Deodorant
Deodorant is one of the simplest ways to help curb body odor in your armpits. Most deodorants include a scent which can help mask the smell of body odor. Deodorants also work by making the skin more acidic, which creates an environment that is less hospitable to the bacteria that react with your sweat to cause body odor.
OTC Antiperspirant
Many over-the-counter, or OTC, antiperspirants are available to help manage problems with body odor. Antiperspirants use active ingredients like aluminum chlorohydrate or aluminum zirconium tetrachlorohydrex GLY to block sweat glands from producing sweat, reducing the amount of material available for bacteria to consume and create odor.
Prescription Antiperspirant
When over-the-counter products are not enough, your doctor can prescribe prescription antiperspirants containing aluminum chloride. Like OTC versions of the product, prescription antiperspirants temporarily block sweat glands, reducing the amount of sweat on the surface for bacteria. University of Maryland Medical Center notes that prescription antiperspirants are usually applied at night before bed to help the product be more effective.
Hygiene
Proper hygiene can go a long way to help treat problems with smelly armpits. Showering everyday using soap in the armpits helps remove the proteins bacteria feast on in your sweat, as well as reduce the amount of bacteria on the skin. If you regularly sweat, you can periodically wash just your armpits during the day with a damp washcloth.
Diet
Certain foods in your diet can make the sweat in your armpits stink more than other foods. Avoiding these foods may help manage the body odor problem. Examples of foods that may affect body odor include onions and garlic. Still other foods and drinks may increase your sweating, including spicy foods, alcohol and hot drinks.
Clothing
Wearing clothing that breathes, such as those made from cotton and natural fibers instead of synthetic materials, may also help you keep odor under control. Natural materials are more likely to allow the skin to breathe, reducing the amount of sweat produced due to overheating. To reduce problems with sweat while exercising, choose high-tech materials that wick sweat and moisture away from the body.
Foods to Eliminate Body Odor
An intense body odor is a problem that isn't often discussed, but is one that should be. You may unknowingly offend others; if you're aware of your own body odor, you may feel self-conscious. Take measures to combat body odor with diet and lifestyle habits. What you eat and don't eat may contribute to the intensity of your body's natural scent.
Protein Picks
Certain foods may make your body odor worse, so eating less of them can help reduce your odor. An amino acid known as carnitine, found primarily in beef and pork, requires your intestines to put forth extra effort to break down the amino acid. Enzymes in your gut, called flavin monooxygenases, break down the residue of this amino acid so you can excrete it -- but if you don't have enough of these enzymes, you may emit a "fishy" odor. A study published in Chemical Senses in 2006 confirmed this negative effect of over-consuming red meat. Choose protein alternatives to beef and pork, such as poultry, soy and beans. Fish is another alternative, but it can make some people smell fishy if they eat too much of it.
Fiber Up
Over relying on processed foods and not eating enough plant-based foods, such as fresh vegetables, legumes and fruit, can contribute to body odor, as you're missing out on the natural detoxifying effects these foods have. Plant foods contain fiber, which helps clean you out by maintaining regular digestion. A green salad with baby kale and spinach that includes lots of other raw vegetables -- including carrots, peppers and cucumber -- at most meals helps increase your intake of plant foods. Order vegetarian tacos instead of beef fajitas, have stir-fry chicken and peppers for dinner, and add vegetables to your morning eggs. Avoid eating too much broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage, though, as the sulfur in this brassica genus can cause body odor.
Citrus fruits are another way to add fiber to your diet, and the acid in them readily flushes through your body, dismissing compounds that could cause lingering odor. Have grapefruit for breakfast or have an orange as a snack.
Herbs as Antidotes
A handful of fresh green herbs smells good, so imagine what this can do for your insides. If you primarily season foods with garlic and onion, your body may start to smell like these foods. Herbs that contain large amounts of chlorophyll, the compound that makes leaves green, can counteract body odor. Wheatgrass juice and herbs such as parsley, cilantro and mint, are examples of these foods. Drink wheatgrass straight and mix the herbs into steamed vegetables, salad dressings and pesto.
Gut Health
A strong body odor can sometimes be a sign of poor gut health. Consume probiotic-rich foods to help restore good intestinal bacteria and to aid your digestion so that it processes foods more smoothly, and with less odor. Fermented tea, known as kombucha, yogurt, fresh sauerkraut and pickles, Korean kimchi and kefir are good choices for this.
How to Get Rid of Belly Roll Odor
It's a common misconception that all overweight people have offending body odor. Odor can occur on anyone, in any place where skin folds together to make a pocket, like the underarms, under the breasts and in between belly rolls. This odor isn't usually caused by poor hygiene, although it can be. Usually it's the result of odor-causing bacteria that naturally live on our skin and mix with sweat. If you find your belly rolls are the source of displeasing odor, you can make a few changes to keep smelling fresh.
Step 1
Clean skin with a mild soap and water at the start of your day to wash away any sweat and bacteria that accumulated overnight.
Step 2
Apply an antiperspirant on areas where you typically have the most sweating. Antiperspirants block pores and reduce or stop sweat. This will give the odor-causing bacteria less sweat to accumulate in.
Step 3
Apply deodorants instead of antiperspirants if you'd like to prevent odor-causing bacteria without blocking sweat.
Step 4
Wear natural fibers that allow air flow to your skin. Choose cottons and other lightweight fibers to allow air to evaporate some of your sweat and keep you drier.
Step 5
Use cotton swabs to clean sweat and bacteria from your belly button and to add a small amount of antiperspirant or deodorant. The belly button is an often neglected area that creates an ideal home for sweat and bacteria.
Step 6
Use cotton swabs to clean sweat and bacteria from your belly button and to add a small amount of antiperspirant or deodorant. The belly button is an often neglected area that creates an ideal home for sweat and bacteria.
Avoid alcohol, caffeinated beverages and spicy foods, as they increase perspiration, notes MedlinePlus.
Step 7
Freshen up throughout the day if you feel your body odor efforts wearing off. Slip off to the bathroom to wipe sweaty areas with a damp towel or moist cotton swab. Reapply deodorants or antiperspirants.
Things You'll Need
Mild soap
Deodorant or antiperspirant
Natural fiber clothing
Cotton swabs
Towel
Warnings
Avoid excessive use of cologne and perfume to hide body odor, as this just masks scent and can be offensive to those around you.
Allergy to Men's Underarm Deodorants
Sweating plays an essential role in maintaining your body's homeostasis, or balance. Sweating helps keep your body temperature at around a healthy 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit. However, sweat is also linked to body odor. This is because sweat from your aporcrine glands contains fat, which the natural bacteria on your body consume, producing odor as a byproduct. Deodorant is one of the most common ways you can deal with body odor. However, some men can have an allergic reaction to the ingredients in deodorant.
How Deodorant Works
Deodorants work in two main ways. They contain ingredients which make the skin more acidic in your armpit. The acidity creates an unfriendly environment to the bacteria responsible for creating body odor. Deodorants also use perfumes and fragrances to mask the scent of body odor with a stronger and more pleasant scent.
Causes of an Allergy
Your skin can react to either the alcohol used to make the skin more acidic or the perfumes or fragrances used in the deodorant. If you are using an antiperspirant, your body might also react to the active ingredients which block the sweat glands, such as the aluminum-based aluminum chloride or aluminum zirconium tricholorohydrex glycine. If you are allergic to one or more of these ingredients, your body reacts to the deodorant as it would a harmful intruder to the body. This means the body activates your immune system to produce substances to fight off the allergen, resulting in varying levels of symptoms.
Signs and Symptoms
There are several signs and symptoms you can watch for when it comes to a deodorant allergy. First is any unexplained change in your underarm or any other area of skin that has come into contact with the deodorant. This may include red, irritated skin, itching, swelling or the development of a rash on the skin, such as with contact dermatitis. More severe signs of an allergy to your deodorant include severe swelling, swelling of the tongue or throat, difficulty breathing, racing heart rate, abdominal pain, diarrhea, wheezing or dizziness, which can all be warning signs of potentially deadly anaphylaxis.
Alternatives
If you have a mild allergic reaction to your deodorant, first try switching brands. You may just be allergic to a specific individual ingredient or fragrance only found in that particular deodorant product. If you still have a reaction, consider alternatives to traditional deodorants such as crystal deodorants, hypoallergenic deodorants, fragrance-free deodorants or deodorants made from all-natural products. Bathing more regularly, wearing clothes that breathe better to prevent sweating and changing your diet to remove foods that can lead to more odorous sweat -- such as garlic and onions -- may also help you control body odor without using deodorants that cause you to have an allergic reaction.
Body Odor in Children
If your child is developing body odor, it's not necessarily cause for concern. As a child matures, her hormones begin to change, and she naturally begins to develop the bacteria that cause body odor. When she sweats and the sweat dries on her skin, the combination of bacteria, dirt and sweat can result in body odor.
Time Frame
Many young grade schoolers require deodorant, notes pediatrician Jennifer Shu. Although a 5-year-old is unlikely to develop body odor, a child older than the age of 8 is a candidate. Shu further notes that it is entirely normal for children between 8 and 12 years of age to develop a need for deodorant.
Effects
Body odor is one of the earliest stages of puberty. It isn't a sign that menses is starting or that your son's voice will change. It is, however, a sign that physical changes are coming, although they may still be months to years away. For most parents, this provides a window of opportunity to discuss puberty in more detail with your maturing child to help prepare your child for changes to come.
Considerations
Children might be caught unaware by this change, which can lead to playground embarrassment. If your child sweats heavily or is involved in a sport, make sure she bathes daily and wears clean clothes to school. Although she may have a favorite sweater, check it discreetly before she wears it a second time to avoid any potential problems. Wash her towels and sheets regularly, too, to minimize any potential odor.
Misconceptions
Dr. Shu notes that for most children, regular bathing and even avoiding certain foods, such as those laden with spices, onions or garlic, can help. But for some children, it's time to apply deodorant on a regular basis. It should be a mild deodorant and not an antiperspirant; children still need to sweat to be healthy. In addition, antiperspirants may cause skin irritation, making it difficult for children to adopt the habit of using it daily.
Warning
Although body odor is generally a sign that puberty is starting, it can also be a sign of a medical condition. Metabolic disorders, in which the body cannot metabolize certain enzymes, can cause body odor. So can some parasites, such as ringworm. Also, hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating) can cause body odor in some children. If your child isn't near puberty and is experiencing body odor, take her in for a check-up with her pediatrician to rule out a medical condition.
Body odor is a common issue, especially when dealing with disorders such as hyperhidrosis, hormonal changes like the ones occurring in puberty or a lack of hygiene. One of the most common places for body odor to develop is in the armpits, where bacteria interacts with proteins in your sweat to produce byproducts that provides the distinct scent of bad body odor. Many approaches can help mask or prevent foul-smelling armpits from developing.
Deodorant
Deodorant is one of the simplest ways to help curb body odor in your armpits. Most deodorants include a scent which can help mask the smell of body odor. Deodorants also work by making the skin more acidic, which creates an environment that is less hospitable to the bacteria that react with your sweat to cause body odor.
OTC Antiperspirant
Many over-the-counter, or OTC, antiperspirants are available to help manage problems with body odor. Antiperspirants use active ingredients like aluminum chlorohydrate or aluminum zirconium tetrachlorohydrex GLY to block sweat glands from producing sweat, reducing the amount of material available for bacteria to consume and create odor.
Prescription Antiperspirant
When over-the-counter products are not enough, your doctor can prescribe prescription antiperspirants containing aluminum chloride. Like OTC versions of the product, prescription antiperspirants temporarily block sweat glands, reducing the amount of sweat on the surface for bacteria. University of Maryland Medical Center notes that prescription antiperspirants are usually applied at night before bed to help the product be more effective.
Hygiene
Proper hygiene can go a long way to help treat problems with smelly armpits. Showering everyday using soap in the armpits helps remove the proteins bacteria feast on in your sweat, as well as reduce the amount of bacteria on the skin. If you regularly sweat, you can periodically wash just your armpits during the day with a damp washcloth.
Diet
Certain foods in your diet can make the sweat in your armpits stink more than other foods. Avoiding these foods may help manage the body odor problem. Examples of foods that may affect body odor include onions and garlic. Still other foods and drinks may increase your sweating, including spicy foods, alcohol and hot drinks.
Clothing
Wearing clothing that breathes, such as those made from cotton and natural fibers instead of synthetic materials, may also help you keep odor under control. Natural materials are more likely to allow the skin to breathe, reducing the amount of sweat produced due to overheating. To reduce problems with sweat while exercising, choose high-tech materials that wick sweat and moisture away from the body.
Foods to Eliminate Body Odor
An intense body odor is a problem that isn't often discussed, but is one that should be. You may unknowingly offend others; if you're aware of your own body odor, you may feel self-conscious. Take measures to combat body odor with diet and lifestyle habits. What you eat and don't eat may contribute to the intensity of your body's natural scent.
Protein Picks
Certain foods may make your body odor worse, so eating less of them can help reduce your odor. An amino acid known as carnitine, found primarily in beef and pork, requires your intestines to put forth extra effort to break down the amino acid. Enzymes in your gut, called flavin monooxygenases, break down the residue of this amino acid so you can excrete it -- but if you don't have enough of these enzymes, you may emit a "fishy" odor. A study published in Chemical Senses in 2006 confirmed this negative effect of over-consuming red meat. Choose protein alternatives to beef and pork, such as poultry, soy and beans. Fish is another alternative, but it can make some people smell fishy if they eat too much of it.
Fiber Up
Over relying on processed foods and not eating enough plant-based foods, such as fresh vegetables, legumes and fruit, can contribute to body odor, as you're missing out on the natural detoxifying effects these foods have. Plant foods contain fiber, which helps clean you out by maintaining regular digestion. A green salad with baby kale and spinach that includes lots of other raw vegetables -- including carrots, peppers and cucumber -- at most meals helps increase your intake of plant foods. Order vegetarian tacos instead of beef fajitas, have stir-fry chicken and peppers for dinner, and add vegetables to your morning eggs. Avoid eating too much broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage, though, as the sulfur in this brassica genus can cause body odor.
Citrus fruits are another way to add fiber to your diet, and the acid in them readily flushes through your body, dismissing compounds that could cause lingering odor. Have grapefruit for breakfast or have an orange as a snack.
Herbs as Antidotes
A handful of fresh green herbs smells good, so imagine what this can do for your insides. If you primarily season foods with garlic and onion, your body may start to smell like these foods. Herbs that contain large amounts of chlorophyll, the compound that makes leaves green, can counteract body odor. Wheatgrass juice and herbs such as parsley, cilantro and mint, are examples of these foods. Drink wheatgrass straight and mix the herbs into steamed vegetables, salad dressings and pesto.
Gut Health
A strong body odor can sometimes be a sign of poor gut health. Consume probiotic-rich foods to help restore good intestinal bacteria and to aid your digestion so that it processes foods more smoothly, and with less odor. Fermented tea, known as kombucha, yogurt, fresh sauerkraut and pickles, Korean kimchi and kefir are good choices for this.
How to Get Rid of Belly Roll Odor
It's a common misconception that all overweight people have offending body odor. Odor can occur on anyone, in any place where skin folds together to make a pocket, like the underarms, under the breasts and in between belly rolls. This odor isn't usually caused by poor hygiene, although it can be. Usually it's the result of odor-causing bacteria that naturally live on our skin and mix with sweat. If you find your belly rolls are the source of displeasing odor, you can make a few changes to keep smelling fresh.
Step 1
Clean skin with a mild soap and water at the start of your day to wash away any sweat and bacteria that accumulated overnight.
Step 2
Apply an antiperspirant on areas where you typically have the most sweating. Antiperspirants block pores and reduce or stop sweat. This will give the odor-causing bacteria less sweat to accumulate in.
Step 3
Apply deodorants instead of antiperspirants if you'd like to prevent odor-causing bacteria without blocking sweat.
Step 4
Wear natural fibers that allow air flow to your skin. Choose cottons and other lightweight fibers to allow air to evaporate some of your sweat and keep you drier.
Step 5
Use cotton swabs to clean sweat and bacteria from your belly button and to add a small amount of antiperspirant or deodorant. The belly button is an often neglected area that creates an ideal home for sweat and bacteria.
Step 6
Use cotton swabs to clean sweat and bacteria from your belly button and to add a small amount of antiperspirant or deodorant. The belly button is an often neglected area that creates an ideal home for sweat and bacteria.
Step 7
Freshen up throughout the day if you feel your body odor efforts wearing off. Slip off to the bathroom to wipe sweaty areas with a damp towel or moist cotton swab. Reapply deodorants or antiperspirants.
Things You'll Need
Mild soap
Deodorant or antiperspirant
Natural fiber clothing
Cotton swabs
Towel
Warnings
Avoid excessive use of cologne and perfume to hide body odor, as this just masks scent and can be offensive to those around you.
Allergy to Men's Underarm Deodorants
Sweating plays an essential role in maintaining your body's homeostasis, or balance. Sweating helps keep your body temperature at around a healthy 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit. However, sweat is also linked to body odor. This is because sweat from your aporcrine glands contains fat, which the natural bacteria on your body consume, producing odor as a byproduct. Deodorant is one of the most common ways you can deal with body odor. However, some men can have an allergic reaction to the ingredients in deodorant.
How Deodorant Works
Deodorants work in two main ways. They contain ingredients which make the skin more acidic in your armpit. The acidity creates an unfriendly environment to the bacteria responsible for creating body odor. Deodorants also use perfumes and fragrances to mask the scent of body odor with a stronger and more pleasant scent.
Causes of an Allergy
Your skin can react to either the alcohol used to make the skin more acidic or the perfumes or fragrances used in the deodorant. If you are using an antiperspirant, your body might also react to the active ingredients which block the sweat glands, such as the aluminum-based aluminum chloride or aluminum zirconium tricholorohydrex glycine. If you are allergic to one or more of these ingredients, your body reacts to the deodorant as it would a harmful intruder to the body. This means the body activates your immune system to produce substances to fight off the allergen, resulting in varying levels of symptoms.
Signs and Symptoms
There are several signs and symptoms you can watch for when it comes to a deodorant allergy. First is any unexplained change in your underarm or any other area of skin that has come into contact with the deodorant. This may include red, irritated skin, itching, swelling or the development of a rash on the skin, such as with contact dermatitis. More severe signs of an allergy to your deodorant include severe swelling, swelling of the tongue or throat, difficulty breathing, racing heart rate, abdominal pain, diarrhea, wheezing or dizziness, which can all be warning signs of potentially deadly anaphylaxis.
Alternatives
If you have a mild allergic reaction to your deodorant, first try switching brands. You may just be allergic to a specific individual ingredient or fragrance only found in that particular deodorant product. If you still have a reaction, consider alternatives to traditional deodorants such as crystal deodorants, hypoallergenic deodorants, fragrance-free deodorants or deodorants made from all-natural products. Bathing more regularly, wearing clothes that breathe better to prevent sweating and changing your diet to remove foods that can lead to more odorous sweat -- such as garlic and onions -- may also help you control body odor without using deodorants that cause you to have an allergic reaction.
Body Odor in Children
If your child is developing body odor, it's not necessarily cause for concern. As a child matures, her hormones begin to change, and she naturally begins to develop the bacteria that cause body odor. When she sweats and the sweat dries on her skin, the combination of bacteria, dirt and sweat can result in body odor.
Time Frame
Many young grade schoolers require deodorant, notes pediatrician Jennifer Shu. Although a 5-year-old is unlikely to develop body odor, a child older than the age of 8 is a candidate. Shu further notes that it is entirely normal for children between 8 and 12 years of age to develop a need for deodorant.
Effects
Body odor is one of the earliest stages of puberty. It isn't a sign that menses is starting or that your son's voice will change. It is, however, a sign that physical changes are coming, although they may still be months to years away. For most parents, this provides a window of opportunity to discuss puberty in more detail with your maturing child to help prepare your child for changes to come.
Considerations
Children might be caught unaware by this change, which can lead to playground embarrassment. If your child sweats heavily or is involved in a sport, make sure she bathes daily and wears clean clothes to school. Although she may have a favorite sweater, check it discreetly before she wears it a second time to avoid any potential problems. Wash her towels and sheets regularly, too, to minimize any potential odor.
Misconceptions
Dr. Shu notes that for most children, regular bathing and even avoiding certain foods, such as those laden with spices, onions or garlic, can help. But for some children, it's time to apply deodorant on a regular basis. It should be a mild deodorant and not an antiperspirant; children still need to sweat to be healthy. In addition, antiperspirants may cause skin irritation, making it difficult for children to adopt the habit of using it daily.
Warning
Although body odor is generally a sign that puberty is starting, it can also be a sign of a medical condition. Metabolic disorders, in which the body cannot metabolize certain enzymes, can cause body odor. So can some parasites, such as ringworm. Also, hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating) can cause body odor in some children. If your child isn't near puberty and is experiencing body odor, take her in for a check-up with her pediatrician to rule out a medical condition.
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