Body Odor - Causes, Remedies and Treatments

Body odor is one of the most socially embarrassing conditions to be afflicted by. While a lot of the embarrassment and social unacceptability stems from a complete misunderstanding of its root cause, the condition itself can create an extremely uncomfortable environment for people in close proximity of the affected individual. Most of the social paranoia against the condition stems from misunderstandings, such as the thought that people suffer from the condition simply as a result of lack of personal hygiene. While this may be true in some cases, the simple facts are that sweat produced by the body is odorless. The foul smell caused during excessive physical exertion and the creation of sweat occurs only when the drops of sweat come in contact with some of the bacteria present on the upper layers of the skin. This bacterium, also known as anaerobic bacteria flourishes with greater intensity when the body doesn’t have enough oxygen. The odors given off during metabolism also contain some amount of waste and therefore can add to the foul smell being emitted. You may also want to play close attention to the area of your body from which the smell seems to originate. For example, some people may suffer from halitosis, which is an infection of the gums and is also a form of body odor. However, this condition has little to do with the emission of sweat and waste products from the upper layers of the skin. The other more common parts of the body that emit body odors include the feet (mainly because of a lack of oxygen when covered by shoes for a long period of time – thereby allowing the bacteria to spread more freely and cause a greater stench) as well as the armpits – which is simply the reaction of sweat with the bacterium. It is also important to be aware of the fact that body odor can also be caused by kidney or liver infections.

How To Get Rid of Body Odor?

The most effective ways to deal with body odor include some significant changes to your lifestyle. A daily bath will help remove some of the bacteria from the skin – especially in areas like the groin and armpits. Wear clothing that is loose and preferably made of cotton as this material allows the sweat to evaporate much faster. Avoid eating foods like onions, meats and garlic as they are known to increase the prominence of any smell being emitted from the human body. You also have the very popular option of simply opting for a deodorant – however, this will not serve to be a permanent option.