Body odour is a general term for what happens to sweat and other skin secretions when they are acted upon by naturally occurring bacteria. Sweat or perspiration is a salty liquid, which oozes out of the pores in our skin. Actually sweat is body’s most convenient way of maintaining “homeostasis” or keeping cool. But when the temperature spurts above the normal there are about 2.5 million sweat glands, which act as tiny air-conditioners in maintaining the homeostatic balance. Surprisingly our sweat has no odour of its own. It usually smells bad only when the bacteria act on the sweat after reaching the skin surface. Normally most people tend to combat bad body odour with products like deodorants or body sprays as a solution. But it can only diminish the effects temporarily. In fact bad body odour (BO) indicates that you’re disturbed emotionally or physically.

Broadly, there are three completely different kinds of problem that are responsible for bad body odour

Hygiene problem: Not cleaning up properly, not having proper bath or using clean clothes.

Skin problem: If you have a bit of eczema or psoriasis or allergy problems, it is possible that a skin infection, probably fungal, is contributing to the problem. You need to know, and if that’s the case, it is treatable, though not always easily.

Genetic: There are some uncommon genetic conditions that are associated with odour. They are uncommon, and there are methods of dealing with the problem. Again, consult your doctor.

Following are the factors that are the main cause of body odour.

Obesity

Heat: Warm temperatiures not only stimulate the sweat glands but also cause bacterium to break sweet down into a sticky coating that becomes a magnet for dirt thereby causing bad body odour.

Synthetic fabrics like polyester look good but trap sweat. This trapped sweat makes a perfect breeding ground for bacteria.

Bad eating pattern

Tight fitting clothes/shoes also increase the likelihood of excess perspiration and body odour.

Golden rules to fight body odour

• Take a shower using an antibacterial soap followed by a deodorant once a day especially in the areas around the anus and the genitals.

• When bathing, use a good brush/scrubber in circular movement.

• Use cotton clothes especially cotton undergarments, which lets the skin breathe.

• Wear loose cloths instead of figure-hugging ones and change your cloths daily.

• Washing the underarms areas is a must as 80 per cent of the body’s sweat is present there.

• If you’re buying products to handle perspiration knowing their difference is a must. For example, antiperspirants stop the sweat from leaving the skin by blocking the pores while deodorants destroy the bacteria when sweat leaves the body.

• Use a deodorant or anti-perspirant that contains aluminium chlorohydrate or zirconium.

• Curb your coffee and tea intake. Caffeine can stimulate the autonomic nervous system, which regulates sweating. Limit yourself to two cups daily.

• Avoid alcohol since it increases perspiration potential by dilating blood vessels.

Some home remedies

After your bath, add a tablespoon of honey to tepid water for the final rinse. This will help keep body odour in check.

Adding a teaspoon of alum to your bath water make you smell fresh all day.

In summer, add a cup full of vinegar or a cupful of camphor oil to your bath water.

Baking soda used as a powder will absorb chemicals

Boil mint leaves and add the water to your bath water. Keep some aside for a special dousing for your armpits and between the thighs.

Foods that help

A balanced diet is a must.

Include turnip or its juice in your diet.

Red radish juice can be included in the diet. You can also apply it under the arm after the morning shower. Also apply it on your feet and in between the toes.

Drinking plenty of water will also ensure that you smell fresh and sweet.

Eating a tablespoon of aniseed is other way of smelling fresh and sweet.

Foods to be avoided

People with body odour should avoid food that are rich in lecithin or choline or cantine/lysine such as soya products, corn, wheat and also chocolates, peanuts, nuts, raisins, cereals, eggs, or limit the intake of these foods to a small part of the daily diet.

Smelly feet

If foot odour is a problem,you can try the following:

Take a tea bath: Put two tea bags (black/green) in 500 ml of boiling water and let the tea steep for 15 minutes. Then add two litres of cool water and soak feet for 30 minutes. You may need to repeat this for several days.

Vinegar: This is another popular foot soak, pour 1/2 cup of vinegar into warm water and soak the foot. You can also try one tablespoon of baking soda to a quart of water.

Medical problems: There are some medical causes for severe foot odour. Ask your physician for advice for severe

foot odour that is especially strong or lingering, and if the appearance of

the foot has changed in some way. — Agencies