Healthy Yo u The Nation’s Health May 2021 Got body odor? Don’t sweat it. Follow these tips

By Aaron Warnick more frequent or more potent body odor. For example, it will come as no surprise eople don’t naturally smell like to parents that teenagers generally produce lavender or pine or whatever your stronger body odors. Their sweat usually deodorant scent is. It’s normal to stink P will be chemically more potent than an adult’s a little after a workout or long day. But for because they are being flooded with new some, body odor is an everyday problem. In hormones through the puberty process. some cases, your body might be trying to tell Growing older can also change the way we you something is wrong. smell, as our skin changes as we age. A lot of body odor is caused by natural Men, in general, are more likely to produce human functions. >> For more information on body odor stronger body odors and hyperhidrosis, visit www.aad.org Your body releases from sweat. They don’t sweat to cool you down, necessarily sweat more, which is why you’re but they may stink more through your nose that it’s time to check sweatier on hot summer when they do. in on your mental health. days or when you Your diet can also A change in body odor can also occur exercise. But it’s not worsen your body odor. with diabetes. Due to changes in how the sweat that makes you “Foods like onions and body interacts with chemicals, people with work up a stink. garlic may find their way diabetes may give off a slightly sweet or fruity “Sweat itself is into sweat, making body smell. While that may not sound as undesirable odorless,” says Patricia K. Farris, MD, a odor worse,” Farris says. “I suggest avoiding as pungent onion-like odors, it’s an example board-certified dermatologist and clinical these foods if you are prone to body odor.” of how you need to keep track of changes in associate professor at Tulane University your body and communicate them to your School of Medicine. “Body odor occurs What to smell out for health care team. because bacteria that lives on the skin breaks While body odor itself is harmless, it can Body odors can sometimes be worsened down sweat, causing an unpleasant odor.” be caused by underlying conditions that by skin diseases or infections. You can get While armpits are the most common site need to be addressed. infections in places such as of odor, your body can build up smells in Sweating disorders, called hyperhidrosis, your ears, belly button your feet, groin, belly button and anywhere impact roughly 1 in 20 people in the U.S. and feet, causing else moisture can get trapped. It goes unrecognized among about half strong smells. The That said, not everyone sweats the same. of people who have it. If you’re sweating same is true for There are certain factors that might result in more than usual, your nether sweat a lot at night regions, which Control ling your basic body odor or notice other are especially changes, talk to your prone to infection. There are things you can do to cut down on your everyday doctor. They can In extreme natural body order. You may be able to resolve smells if you: provide a diagnosis cases, a really bad u Clean yourself regularly, washing with antibacterial soap and help treat any smell could be the result to cut down on bacteria on your skin. possible problems. of severe conditions such as u Wear antiperspirant daily, which In some cases, gangrene, which is rare but possibly fatal. reduces sweat in the biggest culprit something else in your One of the stinkiest places people have area for body odor: the armpit. body can cause your body odors is their feet. Anyone can have Deodorant can also mask smells. sweat production to go smelly feet. And once again, sweat is the main u Shave under your armpits, into overdrive. For cause. To cut back on feet smells, let your which makes it easier to keep them example, anxiety can shoes dry out between wearings, and don’t clean — for both women and men. lead to excessive wear the same shoes two days in a row. Socks u Avoid wearing soiled clothes sweating. While many can also help, as long as they are kept clean. and wash your laundry regularly. people find bathing to be People are often too embarrassed by body u Brush your teeth after meals. soothing or relaxing, a odor to seek help. But if you’re having “Cleansing is essential to keep shower isn’t going to fix problems controlling odors, check in with body odor at bay,” Farris says. an anxiety disorder. Your your health care team. They may be able to body might be telling you easily solve your problem.

Photos courtesy iStockphoto: Foot washing woman, ValuaVitaly; sock woman, Grinvalds; armpit man, Ake Ngiamsanguan; toweling off man, LanaStock Download free copies of Healthy You at www.thenationshealth.org