We all have experienced how annoying those smelly pits or soles can be. Foul body odor can make life uncomfortable for you as well as the people around you. Your body may smell bad due to some very strange, and sometimes, even unknown reasons. That annoying smell can hit your nostrils after a grueling workout session or even during an all-important office presentation! Some people get over that disrupting smell by merely using a few deodorant swipes.
However, not everyone is lucky. For some people, even multiple showers in the day are not sufficient. If you are also among those miserable people, we have something for your amazement! Yes, a home remedy for body odor can make your life easier while trying to feel and smell fresh.
We have these home remedies that can help you feel and smell fresh at the same time. These easily available, as well as very effective home remedies, can bring your confidence back! While using these remedies, you don’t have to worry about any harsh effects or anything like that! Simply add them to your daily regime and represent the best of you with an overload of confidence!
But before talking about these estimable, aromatic home remedies, let’s discuss some crucial aspects of lousy body odor first.
What causes body odor?
Sweating (precisely excessive sweating) is one of the major causative factors of bad body odor. Sweating is a significant phenomenon required for the cleansing of your body. Sweating is controlled and regulated by two different sweat glands, i.e., eccrine and apocrine glands. You have eccrine glands almost all over your body, even the open skin surfaces. When you get a rise in body temperature, these glands cool your body down by releasing fluids, known as “sweat.”
Apocrine glands are usually found in hairy parts of your body, such as your armpits, breasts, eyelids, ear, and groin. These glands release sweat even when you are mentally stressed! Sweat is more often than not odorless until it is aggregated with different bacteria.
Body odor is usually linked with apocrine glands when the bacteria break down the tiny, microscopic sweat particles.
Apocrine glands are not only for regulating sweat. They secrete much-needed fat droplets into the breast milk. They also play acompelling role in the formation of earwax.
They are also named “scent glands,” as they inject a distinct odor in your sweat. Sweats formed by apocrine glands are usually high in protein, which means bacteria can quickly break them down. Everyone can have a distinct odor from their sweat. But it becomes a bit of a problem when the bad body odor is excessively strong and may cause extreme discomfort for anyone.
What causes body odor even after bathing?
Bathing, especially with lukewarm water, is usually enough to get rid of body odor. If you don’t get over that annoying smell even after bathing, there is something more than what you are thinking – probably an underlying physical condition causing a strong smell from your sweat. A sudden change in your body aura may also be accompanied by visible signs, including itching, a rash, redness, discharge, discoloration, oozing, etc.
Your diet might be one of the major causes of body odor:
Yes, sometimes, you may experience a sudden, temporary change in your body’s aura after eating certain foods. For example, you may notice a strong smell in your urine after consuming asparagus. Once the asparagus is appropriately digested and metabolized by your body, the smell through urine will go away as well.
Overeating certain foods like cauliflower, cabbage, broccoli, processed foods, etc., can cause a sudden change in your body smell. You may develop bad body smell even after consuming foods you are sensitive or intolerant to.
On the other hand, excessive carbohydrate intake, especially when coincided with disturbed digestion, can play a role in abnormal body odor. And you may get affected quite easily with bad breathing after eating strong-flavor foods like onions, radish, garlic, spices, etc. Smoking tobacco products is also among the primary causes of bad breathing.
Is body odor a sign of illness?
Sometimes, bad body odor, primarily through sweating, can be a major illness sign. Following are some health conditions that can aggravate your body’s smell.
- Stress: Stress and anxiety can sometimes be responsible for excessive sweat, leading to a bad, more pungent body odor.
- Hyperhidrosis disorder: If you have hyperhidrosis disorder, you will always sweat more than usual, sometimes, even without a visible cause. Some people get hyperhidrosis disorder genetically, or due to prolonged usage of certain medications, or sometimes, an underlying health problem.
- Diabetes: Both insufficient formation and improper use of insulin by your body may cause diabetes mellitus and may cause a surge in high blood sugar. Severely increased blood sugar may cause a fruity smell from your breath, and sometimes, even from the sweat.
- Pregnancy, menopause, and menstruation: These are some specific causes of bad body odor. Smelling differently during periods, pregnancy, and early stages of menopause are neither uncommon nor harmful. All these conditions are characterized by frequent fluctuations in hormones and may cause a distinct odor, especially from the vaginal area. Bad odor due to these conditions is not always unpleasant – just a bit different from usual.
- Vaginal Infections: Severe vaginal infections like bacterial vaginosis and a vaginal parasite infection may be responsible for a sudden change in body odor. Trichomoniasis, a sexually transmitted infection, may cause an unexpected change in body odor without other complications or symptoms.
- Certain Skin Infections: Certain skin infections can also be among the major causes of bad body odor. You may notice an instant change in sweat odor from the body area affected by the infection. Some types of skin infections that can cause a distinct odor from your body are:
- Erythrasma:a bacterial infection affecting your skin superficially.
- Trichomycosisaxillaris: a bacterial infection was affecting hair follicles of the underarm.
- Intertrigo: A skinfold rash that may become odorous with time, especially when combined with secondary infections such as candidiasis.
Also Read: 15+ Coconut Oil Uses for Your skin, Hair, Body
What diseases can cause bad body odor?
Some other diseases can also cause a different, unpleasant smell, particularly from your sweat. They are:
- Pneumonia: The common lung infection, sometimes known for causing foul-smelling mainly through breathing and sputum.
- Urinary Tract Infection (UTI): Urinary tract infection from bacteria may be responsible for a strong odor from urine. UTI also causes a distinct appearance, urgency, sensation, and frequency of urine.
- Tuberculosis (TB): The bacterial infection affecting the throat, neck, and lungs, causing your breath to have an unpleasant smell. Swelling or ulceration of lymph nodes may also cause a smell like stale beer from the body.
- Toxin Poisoning: If someone ingests certain toxins accidentally or knowingly, the body odor may be affected. For example, cyanide ingestion causes breath to smell like bitter almond. Arsenic and some other insecticides cause a powerful garlic-like odor from the mouth. Turpentine poisoning is usually responsible for the violets-like smell from urine.
How to Get Rid of Body Odor?
You can get rid of body odor without any special treatment or medication, especially when the odor change is not due to an underlying medical condition or a specific disease.
The best thing is, these remedies can help you to get rid of bad odor without causing pressure on your budget. And what more? The ingredients used for these remedies are easily available in your kitchen or a nearby grocery store.
1. Apply Witch Hazel
Witch hazel can be an effectual home remedy for body odor. How? Witch hazel is a worthy astringent and can contract the tissues and control the overproduction of sweat. Commercial witch hazel extract also contains a low quantity of diluted alcohol, which can help you fight bacteria, causing a foul odor.
You can get rid of armpit odor by dabbing some amount of witch hazel with the help of a cotton ball. For noted results, we suggest you to use witch hazel after bathing or showering.
2. Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar can be another decent remedy for body odor, especially from armpits. It’s naturally acidic and is packed with antimicrobial properties. ACV neutralizes the underarm area and destroys the bacterial, causing a bad smell. Regular application of ACV can also prevent the accumulation of bacteria, not under your arms but in other areas like the groin.
For best outcomes, dip a cotton ball in diluted apple cider vinegar and apply it on areas affected with bad smell. Applying ACV twice per day should help.
3. Lemon Juice and Water
Lemon juice is acclaimed for its acidic nature and can be a beneficial body odor remedy. Lemon effectively reduces your skin’s pH level and makes it unfavorable for bacterial growth. Lemon can be beneficial if the odor is due to a skin infection.
- Rub a few slices of lemon directly on your armpits or other sweat-prone areas.
- Wash off with lukewarm water, or have a warm shower.
- Repeat this treatment once daily for best results.
- If you have overly sensitive skin, dilute the lemon juice with a cup of water.
NOTE: Always be careful while using these acidic remedies like apple cider vinegar, lemon, or witch hazel. Don’t use them just after shaving to avoid possible irritation. Performing a skin test before using it might be helpful.
4. Body odor treatment baking soda
Baking soda is packed with superb alkaline properties and is known for balancing the acidity due to excessive sweat caused by a breakdown from bacteria. And hence, baking soda can reduce the unfavorable odor from your body.
- Prepare a fine paste by adding some water to baking soda.
- Apply gently on armpits or other areas affected by an unpleasant odor.
- Splash with lukewarm water and pat dry.
5. Tomato Juice
Tomato is very well known for its antioxidant and astringent prowess, which can help reduce the excess secretions from sweat glands. Also, tomato juice can effectively control bacterial growth on the skin surface.
Squeeze the juice from a couple of medium-sized tomatoes.
Immerse a clean, soft cloth in the juice, and smear on the armpits, feet, or other body parts with an unpleasant smell.
6. Body Odor Detox
Detoxing your armpits or other body parts can go a long way to tackle the foul body odor. Some effortless and easy adjustments in your lifestyle can the best way to detox your body.
- Wear Natural Fibers Only
Wearing natural fibers instead of synthetics can make a lot of difference when it comes to your body odor. In particular, synthetic fibers can favor bacterial overgrowth and may cause a surge in foul body odor. Try to wear only 100% cotton, polyester, synthetic blends, rayon, bamboo, linen, etc., to detoxify your body for a long time naturally.
- Always Check What You Eat
It doesn’t matter which body odor treatment you are opting for; you have to look at what you are eating. As we have said earlier, certain foods may also determine how your body smells. If you are not sure, try eliminating some regular offenders like alcohol, caffeine, pork, and other foods cooked or fried in unhealthy fats. When it comes to your diet, a balanced diet with loads of vegetables, plenty of water, and healthy foods can be surprisingly helpful.
- Drink Plenty of Water
Staying hydrated can be game-changing if you want to eliminate bad body odor. Drinking enough water throughout the day removes toxins and other harmful substances from your body and ensures typical body odor. So, drink at least three liters of water each day to keep your body healthy and clean.
Important Advice:
Every home remedy for body odor we have discussed here is useful only if there is a bad smell from the body due to excessive sweat or other common skin conditions. If you have an underlying condition, a disease, infection, or anything unusual, you must talk to a certified medical practitioner. Eliminating the causative factor(s) through proper treatment will be very important. These home curatives are not going to be enough at all.
A foul odor is usually not a severe problem but can indeed be a long-term lifestyle issue. It can also affect your confidence and overall personality. Hopefully, you have bagged some handy tricks to get rid of unpleasant body smell. Do write to us if you have some other proven tips to smell good throughout the day.
References:
https://thompsontee.com/blog/struggling-with-armpit-odor-heres-how-to-get-rid-of-it/
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/173478#causes
https://www.healthline.com/health/sudden-change-in-body-odor#causes
https://www.austinfitmagazine.com/May-2018/how-to-detox-your-armpits/
