Have you ever finished a sweaty workout, and within minutes, noticed
a peculiar smell? When "Richard" (not his real name) left the gym
after basketball practice, he walked up to a group of friends. They immediately
commented on someone’s body odour, wondering which of them was the culprit.
"When I realized it was me, I was humiliated," Jack said.
"I quickly went to my locker and realized that I didn’t have a deodorant
at school.
"I avoided all my friends that day. When I got home, I put my new
deodorant in my backpack to make sure this never happens again."
Richard is not the first (or last) teen
to notice body odor. Bromhidrosis (another word for body odour) happens
at puberty because of increasing hormones called androgens. These
hormones are not active until puberty, which is why body odor wasn’t a problem
when you were a kid.
While sweat itself is virtually
odorless, bacteria use it as a breeding ground and multiply rapidly. What you
smell is the products related to bacteria breakdown of keratin protein on the
surface of your skin. Sounds disgusting, doesn’t it? Chalk it up to an
unpleasant fact of life!
When you work out or move around in the
heat or sun, your body produces sweat. Sweating is the body’s way of
regulating temperature. When sweat meets the bacteria on the surface of
your skin, it produces an odor. That smell is what we call body odor (or
B.O. for short).
While body odor is usually associated
with the armpits, bacteria can also produce odor in the
groin, anus area, upper thighs, and feet, among other places.
Thoroughly washing your skin with a wet washcloth and soap -- especially those
areas prone to sweating -- can help prevent body odour.
Remember that smelly feet can also cause
smelly shoes. Treating your shoes with an over-the-counter deodorizer can help.
Also, wear thick, absorbent socks if you can.
If you want to be "odour-free"
consider the following tips:
1. Apply an antiperspirant at bedtime.
This gives the product a chance to work while you sleep and are not
sweating. If you apply antiperspirants after showering in the morning, the
sweat you accumulate will wash away the product and render you defenseless
against daytime sweating. Remember, deodorants do not prevent sweating. They
mainly mask the smell of the sweat on your skin. Antiperspirants are chemical
agents that reduce sweating. Many antiperspirant preparations also contain a
deodorant, which helps to mask the smell. Check the product you use to make
sure it contains an antiperspirant.
2. Keep your underarms dry. Bacteria have a
hard time breeding in dry areas of the body.
Try a solution of hydrogen
peroxide and water to fight body odour. Use 1 teaspoon of peroxide (3%) to
1 cup (8 ounces) of water. Wipe this on affected areas (underarm, feet, groin)
with a washcloth. This may help destroy some of the bacteria that creates odor.
3. If sweat from working out is
your No. 1 cause of body odour, wash your workout clothes often.
Sweaty gym clothes are a bacteria-breeding ground.
Change your diet. Sometimes, fatty
foods, oils, or strong-smelling foods such as garlic, curry, and onions, can
seep through your pores and cause body odour (always see a doctor or dietician
before making drastic dietary changes).
4. If you have excessive sweating
(called hyperhidrosis), talk to your doctor. There are a few treatment
options for those with more severe sweating who desire more aggressive
treatments. Also, certain medical problems can lead to excessive sweating. Your
doctor can make a diagnosis and prescribe treatment.
Shaving your underarm regularly
will help prevent the accumulation of bacteria and can reduce sweat and odour.
You May Like:
SIMPLE SKIN, HAIR AND HEALTH CARE TIPSBEST BODY WEIGHT EXERCISE TO BUILD MUSCLES
EYE LASHES ENHANCER
HOME MADE FACIALS FOR EVERY SKIN TYPE
CELEB WORK OUT: FABULOUS BODY
SIMPLE HOME MADE BODY SCRUBS
Comments
Post a Comment