First of all body odor is a normal phenomenon, and
it isn’t really much of a problem under most normal circumstances. Excessive
and unpleasant body odor can also be extremely common, however and this can be
a source of great discomfort to the individual and to others and also a source
of extreme embarrassment to the concerned individual. While all of us have had
the unpleasant experience of being subjected to someone’s foul body odor, you
very often don’t realize it when the source of that foul smell is yourself.
Body odor that is extremely strong can prove to be a source of great
embarrassment to an individual and severely damage self confidence. Although
the problem of body odor may be non-threatening and seem trivial enough, the
implications of the condition are therefore a lot more far reaching.
If you are plagued with a strong body odor or
underarm body odor you need not panic and throw your hands up in despair
though. There are plenty of body odor remedies for everyone that can help save
you and those around you from unnecessary discomfort. While the use of
deodorants and body sprays can help minimize or camouflage the presence of body
odor smell, these methods are not always very effective, and may not really
solve the problem. They can simply help mask it to some sort of extent. It is
important to understand what caused the body odor as this will help to prevent
body odor from becoming a problem.
The human body actually
secretes two types of sweat, with eccrine sweat being secreted to regulate and
control body temperature such as when the weather is hot or if you exert a lot.
This type of sweat is rarely responsible for any body odor. Apocrine sweat
however, which is type of exudation is secreted in certain areas like the
armpits, groin, hands, and feet is actually the source of the trouble. This
type of sweat doesn’t smell either but it has a high fat and protein
content and the bacteria react with this type of sweat to release the foul
odor.
There are a lot of misconceptions that people have
when it comes to body odor. A common belief is that perspiration is the cause
and also a source of the foul smell. Sweat in reality however is odorless. Body
odor is actually caused by the activity of bacteria in the sweat. Perspiration
is a normal biological process and even a response to certain conditions. We
all perspire, but sweat does become a problem when you find yourself suffering
from excessive body odor. The source of the foul or fishy body odor is
therefore not from the sweat itself, but from the action of bacteria. This is
why areas that are more prone to sweating and that remain moist are more likely
to emanate such a foul odor. The feet, armpits, breasts and groins are
therefore a lot more susceptible to the problem because of the higher
perspiration in these areas. Keeping these areas clean and dry is therefore the
most promising approach to help get rid of body odor.
Nutritional deficiencies
are however a very likely cause of body odor. Zinc deficiency is not uncommon
and is very often a possible cause of body odor, as zinc is necessary for
detoxification in the body and the waste management process. Blood sugar
imbalances can also have an effect on body odor. Body odor may be due to
serious illness. Body odor may be due to kidney disease, fungal infections
liver disease and so on If you take some strong medicines then the smell of
those medicines may be present in your body odor. Diabetic patients may smell
of acetone because of insulin that they take. If you drink alcohol, smoke
cigarette or cigar you will have an unpleasant body odor. Body odor may also be
due to zinc deficiency, cavities, toxins and so on. It is often related with
sweating of the body, but the unpleasant odor is mainly due to bacteria present
in the sweat. The major non-food reason for body odor due to sweating is the
sweat glands under the arms and in the groin area. Poor hygiene is the most
common reason for body odor
The most important step you need to take to
eliminate body odor would be to maintain high levels of personal hygiene. Make
sure you have a bath regularly and use a scrubber and anti-bacterial soap to help
cleanse your skin. Make sure you pay particular attention to areas on your body
that are most prone to sweating. Levels of bacterial fauna and activity on the
skin differ from each person and high
levels of bacterial fauna can make the problem of body odor seem a lot more
severe, and it would be necessary to bathe a lot more frequently. Dry yourself
well after baths and also make it a point to use and antibacterial and
antifungal powder or even baby powder. Wearing clean clothes and making sure
that you wash clothes well to get rid of body odor in clothes is just as
important. Sweating isn’t just caused by heat and humidity, it is also caused
by exertion, stress, nervousness, and even certain foods as well.
Sweating is however only a minor nuisance at worst.
Unusual changes in patterns of perspiration should however cause some concern,
and changes in body odor, or an increase in body odor, should also be attended
to. Such changes could be indicative of the presence of some underlying medical
condition. A prompt medical diagnosis and treatment of the underlying condition
would help to eliminate the problem. Body odor is one of the unpleasant things
that we don’t really expect. Body odor is affected by what sweat glands emit.
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