06/07/2023
BODY ODOUR! CAUSES, EFFECTS AND TREATMENTS
Body odor is not a new ocurance, and some people often remedy its effect at home. sweat itself doesn't produce odour but the breaking down of the protein elements (byproduct) secreted alongside with the sweat produces the smell. Although people often associate body odor with unpleasant smells, this is not always the case!
Washing oneself thoroughly, the use antiperspirants, and shaving may all assist effectively in combating body odor. If symptoms persist, one needs seek a doctor's advice who in some cases recommends prescription treatments and, in other cases, surgery.
Excessive sweating and body odour may be symptoms and signs of an underlying health conditions. Do not hesitate to seeking professional guide when you notice an unusual sweat volume and body odour!
Making efforts to stop accumulation of sweat is another key way to preventing body odour this is because bacteria utilizes such accumulated sweat to breakdown the accompanying proteins and the mixtures thereafter produces the smell.
Human sweat is itself almost odourless, it is wrong to say that sweat on it's own causes body odour.
Yes, body odour is a common problem but can severely affect one's quality of life; in some instances it is traceable to person's hygiene practices but on the other hand can indicate a more serious underlying health conditions.
In this context we are only particular about general body (skin) odour but in some of our later updates we shall also look at odours from other body cavities!
Body odor is an umbrella term for natural smells originating from a person.
Human body naturally produces different substances that smell, known as odorants. Many of these secretions are important for regular bodily functions and in small quantity but when allowed to accumulate on the body it exudes unpleasant smells.
During puberty the hormones and sweat glands become more active therefore body odour becomes more significant from this time. people with some health conditions like obesity, diabetes, people that sweat excessively (hyperhidrosis) tend to be more susceptible to Body odour.
WHERE YOU NOTICE BODY ODOUR MOST:
1. The feet
2. The groin
3. The armpits
4. The ge****ls
5. P***c and other hair
6. The belly button
7. The a**s
8. Behind the ears
"A person’s diet, natal s*x, health conditions, and medications help create a unique body odor".
CAUSES
The human skin contains two glands that are directly and indirectly linked to sweat, they are apocrine and eccrine sweat glands respectively.
'Apocrine glands start to function at puberty and are associated with hair follicles in the underarms and groin. These glands produce a viscous, protein-rich sweat that is initially odorless. However, as bacteria break down the abundance of proteins, they will produce odorant molecules in greater concentrations, causing body odor'.
'In contrast, eccrine sweat glands predominantly regulate body temperature through perspiration and are not as strongly linked with body odor'.
PREVENTION
It is also good to note that there is no universal treatment for the causes of body odor, but some steps can be taken to control it remarkably:
WASHING: A person should wash regularly with soap and ensure that they dry themselves thoroughly.
SHAVING: Having hair in areas such as the armpits can slow down the evaporation of sweat, giving bacteria more time to break down proteins and create odorants. Shaving can help body odor control in that area.
USE OF ANTIPERSPIRANT: Antiperspirants can reduce the intensity of a person’s body odor by changing sweat volumes and altering the amount and activity of odor-causing bacteria.
A SPECIAL ATTENTION TO SPECIAL BODY AREAS:
A person may also experience noticeable body odors in areas that are often covered by clothes, such as the feet. A combination of increased humidity and sweat trapped in the fabric can promote bacterial multiplication and activity. This can lead to body odor.
To prevent this, a person may wish to pay extra attention to these areas when washing and ensure that they are completely dry before putting on clean clothes. Wearing natural fibers may also help with the evaporation of sweat and help reduce bacteria buildup.
BE MINDFUL OF WHAT YOU EAT AND THE QUANTITY:
Consuming chilies, onions, garlic, and other potent foods can also make some people’s sweat more pungent. If a person consumes excessive amounts of protein, this may also affect their body odor.
TREATMENT
If you have applied all the necessary precautions and have adopted the home remedy measures yet no improvement, consult your doctor or a dermatologist.
1. Aluminum chloride which is absorbed into a person's skin and reduces amount of sweat secreted by a person is helpful under doctor's prescription
2. Botulinum toxin (Botox) is another treatment that is injected into the person's skin which blocks the chemical that triggers sweating under doctor's prescription.
3. Surgery: 'When self-care and medicinal measures are not effective at treating severe body odor, a doctor can perform a surgical procedure called an endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy (ETS). This severs the sweat-controlling nerves below the skin of the armpits. This option is a last resort, and it runs the risk of causing damage to other nerves and arteries in the area'.
When to contact a doctor
Some medical conditions may change how much a person sweats or the odor their body produces. These can be indicators of more serious conditions. If a person notices any of these changes, they should contact a doctor immediately.
For example, an overactive thyroid gland or menopause can make people sweat much more, while liver disease, kidney disease, and diabetes can change the consistency of sweat.
A person should contact a doctor if:
They start sweating at night.
Bouts of sweating occur irregularly or at excessive levels.
They begin to experience cold sweats.
Changes to their sweating are impacting their daily life.
'A person should also contact a doctor if their body odor suddenly smells different. A fruity smell could indicate, diabetes due to having high levels of ketones in the bloodstream, while liver or kidney disease can often lead to a bleach- or ammonia-like smell due to a buildup of toxins in the body.
