Get rid of body odour

If you feel that people hold their noses when you pass by them, do not ignore. Peep into yourself, for it might be your body odour, which turns them off.

The unpleasant body smell is embarrassing to the extent that it can ruin a person’s social life. But it can be prevented by simple means. Let’s understand the cause of it to fight it and save ourselves from the awkward situations it might put us in.

Where Does Body Odour Come From?

Our body has around 3 million sweat glands. We all sweat, some more some less. Factors that make us sweat more are exercise, hot weather, anxiety, thyroid disease, infections, obesity and certain foods like – onions, fish, garlic, spicy meals.

The more one sweats, the more likely he is to give out body odour. But sweat by itself is odorless. What causes foul smell is the bacteria growing on the surface of the body and getting multiplied rapidly in the presence of sweat.

Not washing and cleaning regularly, and repeating the same clothes day after day leads to sweat build up, and the body odour becomes intense and more pungent.

Few Healthy Tips to Smell Fresh and Feel Dry 24×7:

• Cleanse yourself regularly using an antibacterial soap or cleanser. Wash your feet, areas around anus and genitals properly as these places tend to accumulate sweat. Some people have more sweat and oil producing glands in their sysmet so those people need to take bath two times a day to keep odourless and fresh.
• While bathing, rub the body with a gentle loofa in a circular movement.
• Wear a good deodorant or antiperspirant or apply an anti-fungal powder once a day. Know the difference. For example, antiperspirants block the pores and prevent the secretion of sweat. It is only recommended for those who sweat a lot. Whereas deodorants destroy bacteria that cause bad smell.
• Wear fresh, clean and loose clothes, preferably pure cotton ones as they are absorbent, let the skin breathe and prevent fungal infections. Avoid synthetic clothes.
• Change your clothes daily.
• Wash and shave underarms frequently, as hair tend to accumulate sweat and bacteria, thus emitting foul smell.
• To get rid of stinky feet, wash and dry between the feet properly and wear soft and ventilating footwear to let feet breath.
• Certain medicines stimulate sweat production, like synthetic hormones, oral contraceptives, steroids and some asthma medicines. Apply medically formulated antibacterial creams to your underarms.
• Cut down your coffee and tea intake. Caffeine stimulates the autonomic nervous system, which regulates sweating. Limit yourself to two cups daily.
• Avoid alcohol since it increases perspiration potential by dilating blood vessels.
• If none of the above work and the scent of your perspiration becomes unbearable, see a dermatologist.

Try This-

• After bath, add a tablespoon of honey to tepid water for the final rinse. This will help keep body odour in check.
• In summer, add a cup full of vinegar to your bath water or add some camphor oil to your bath water. It works.
• Boil mint leaves and add this water to your bath water. It is highly effective in combating body odour.

Foods that Prevent Body Odour

• A good balanced diet comprising about 20% protein i.e., fish, poultry, or combinations of pulses and grains, 20% oils and fats and a balance diet containing vegetables, fruit, pulses and grains helps a lot to keep odour at bay.
• Incorporate red radish and turnip or its juice in your food as it helps counter odour.
• Drinking ample water and fruit juices help keep the body hydrated, flush out the toxins and reduce sweating.
• Eating a tablespoon of aniseed is other way of smelling fresh and sweet.

Foods to be Avoided

Pungent foods like hot peppers, garlic, onions and certain spices should be avoided as these emit unappealing smell.

Follow these tips and walk confidently in the crowd.

- Archana Darshan

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