Sooner or later everyone gets worried about their body odor. Who has never done a quick check of their armpits? Fortunately, there are short-term solutions to handle this embarrassing problem, as well as practices for better personal hygiene that will help you get rid of bad smells.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Quick Solutions
Step 1. Wash yourself
If you smell strong, take a shower if you have the time. Body odors are caused by bacteria, so by rinsing yourself (paying special attention to problem areas) you can get rid of the problem quickly. However, it is important to use an antibacterial soap or detergent and not limit yourself to pure water.
When in the shower, focus on your armpits and feet, two of the biggest areas that give off the most odor
Step 2. Apply an over-the-counter antiperspirant
Some of these products form a sweat barrier thanks to the chemical agents contained (such as aluminum) that reduce odor. Many antiperspirants are effective throughout the day, but you'll need to reapply them, especially if you've been exercising.
- Unlike deodorant that masks odor, antiperspirants stop sweating.
- There are many debates going on about whether aluminum-containing products can cause breast cancer or Alzheimer's, but medical research has never found any close links (not even between parabens and breast cancer), so they should be safe to use.
Step 3. Use a deodorant to quickly mask the odor
Sweating is not a bad thing (unless it is excessive and a symptom of a larger problem), so you shouldn't completely eliminate it. Sweat does the useful job of cooling the body. However, you can manage this natural reaction so that it doesn't happen on inappropriate occasions. Deodorants hide the odor or eliminate it altogether, but they do not decrease sweating.
Some products last longer than others. If you are looking for a quick remedy for your body odor problems, apply the deodorant you have available. If, on the other hand, you want something that will keep you fresh for a long time, consider investing in a quality product
Step 4. Try a hydrogen peroxide blend
If you are at home and don't have a deodorant or antiperspirant available, mix one teaspoon of 3% hydrogen peroxide with 240ml of water.
Stir the mixture and then soak a towel. Rub it under your armpits to mitigate any odors
Step 5. Scrub your armpits with hand sanitizer
If you are really struggling and need to get rid of bad smells quickly, you can use a hand sanitizer. Here's how to proceed:
Squeeze a small amount of product onto one hand and use it to rub the gel under your armpits. Sanitizer helps you fight odor-causing bacteria
Step 6. Use some paper towels
If you are sweating a lot and fear that you will start to smell, you can use an absorbent wipe to get rid of the moisture. This is a very effective product, so rub it under your armpits (or where you're sweating) to avoid emitting odors.
Step 7. Rub a piece of alum into the responsible area of the body
It is a mineral with such characteristics that it can fight the bacteria that cause bad odor. To use alum, rub it under your armpits like a regular deodorant.
If you are sweating, consider washing the alum after using it
Step 8. Rub mud on problem areas
If you are outdoors, such as camping, and you don't have a deodorant or antiperspirant available, rub mud on your feet and armpits. Let it dry and then rinse it off. The purpose of this procedure is to remove the layer of dead cells and sweat that cause body odor, just like mud masks do for the face.
Step 9. Spray the skin with vinegar
If you prefer not to use commercial products, try some natural remedies to resolve the issue. Vinegar is a natural antiseptic that kills bacteria and fungi that may be on the body (e.g. underarms and feet). Spray these areas with white or apple cider vinegar.
- You can also dilute some vodka and use it under your armpits. Actress Joan Rivers herself confessed to using this "old grandma trick".
- If vinegar isn't your thing, you can use other natural antiseptics like tea tree oil or witch hazel, both of which have a similar effect.
Step 10. Use diluted lemon juice
It is a natural antifungal and antibacterial agent. You can then use it to mitigate body odors. Try scrubbing your armpits or feet with a cloth soaked in lemon juice or rub half a citrus fruit directly on the area.
- However, you will have to take a few tries to figure out how much lemon you can put on your skin. Since it is a very acidic product, it can cause irritation. If this happens, wash off immediately and wait a couple of hours before applying a less concentrated solution.
- Dilute the lemon with water.
Part 2 of 3: Maintain Good Personal Hygiene
Step 1. Shower regularly
As mentioned earlier, a shower quickly gets rid of bad smells. So wash yourself every day to feel clean and fresh as you go about your normal daily activities. When you wash:
Use an exfoliant a couple of times a week. By doing this, you remove the layer of dead cells, bacteria and dirt that contribute to the development of body odors. You can buy a scrub at the pharmacy or make your own with natural products
Step 2. Keep your skin dry
Bacteria love humid environments, with food available and adequate pH and sodium levels. All this is available in the folds of wet skin. For this reason, it is vital that you dry yourself every time you get wet, after a shower or because of sweat.
- Use an absorbent towel or wipes to wipe away sweat and moisture.
- After showering, consider applying talcum powder to areas that are most likely to sweat.
- Change your clothes after training or an activity that made you sweat a lot. This way you will always keep yourself cool and dry.
Step 3. Shave your armpits regularly
This is true for both men and women, although hair removal is a well-established habit for the latter. Removing armpit hair helps you control odor as it is absorbed by the hair itself. Less hair, less chance of smelling.
Step 4. Put on clothing made of breathable fabric
Some synthetic materials do not allow the skin to breathe, unless they are designed for that purpose (such as polyester blends). If you are really worried about your smell, choose to wear cotton, wool or silk which have absorbent and breathable properties that result in less chances of sweating and smelling.
You can also consider wearing a cotton or silk tank top to absorb sweat so you won't get your clothes wet
Step 5. Do your laundry regularly
As mentioned earlier, bad smells get into your clothes. If you sweat a lot and wait for the shirt to dry without washing it, the next day it will stink. Try to wash your clothes every day to keep them fresh (and your body too).
Part 3 of 3: Making Lifestyle Changes
Step 1. Eat a healthy diet
What you eat affects your natural smell. If you have problems like this, try to avoid certain foods and integrate others. Among these we remember:
- Foods to avoid: large amounts of red meats, garlic and onions, spicy foods, highly processed products with high amounts of sugar. All of these foods make your smell worse. You should also exclude caffeinated sodas.
- Foods to eat: leafy vegetables, whole grains, raw nuts and seeds, healthy oils (olive, salmon, avocado, etc.) and all the phytonutrients that allow you to eliminate toxins (parsley, coriander, celery, mint, sage, rosemary, thyme and oregano).
Step 2. Take care of the gut
In some cases the bad smell is generated by intestinal problems. If your digestive system can't digest certain foods well, it interferes with your natural smell. Try to manage this at home, but if you do not resolve it quickly, see a doctor. Here's how to proceed:
- Take probiotic supplements to improve the quality of the intestinal flora.
- Take digestive enzymes with meals or drink some apple cider vinegar to aid digestion.
Step 3. Take chlorophyll or wheatgrass supplements
They act like natural deodorants, so take them every day to reduce or eliminate bad odor. Add them to your regular vitamin regimen.
Step 4. Get rid of stress
Stress acts on the exocrine glands, the ones that cause bad odor. This means that when you are angry or anxious, you are more likely to smell.
- Meditation can help you reduce stress. Try meditating for 15 minutes a day and you will find that the stress will become more manageable (and you will stop smelling bad).
- Yoga is another good way to relieve stress.
Step 5. Try to detox
Cleansing the body, especially if the bad smell is caused by intestinal problems or the food you eat, is a way to solve the problem and make you feel clean and fresh.
- There are many types of detoxification, so discuss it with your doctor before attempting it, especially if you want to try a rather rigorous technique. This is even more important if you suffer from any pathology.
- Some say you could benefit more from detox if you also integrate a sauna, although this has yet to be scientifically verified. Try using the sauna 2 or 3 times a week to help you detox and reduce body odors.
Step 6. Stay hydrated
Drink plenty of fluids throughout the day to flush toxins out of your body. In addition, it is crucial for intestinal health and results in better body odor.
- An adult woman needs on average 2, 2 liters of water per day, while an adult man needs 3 liters.
- Some have had a positive experience drinking warm water with some squeezed lemon to detoxify and stay hydrated.
Step 7. Train regularly
While it may seem counterintuitive, since exercise makes you sweat, be aware that playing sport regularly helps you get rid of the bad smell in the long run. It allows you to sweat and therefore to expel the toxins that have accumulated in the body and which are a potential cause of bad smell.
However, remember to shower after your workout and dry yourself carefully, as recommended above
Step 8. See your doctor if the problem persists
If you have tried all the remedies described so far without success, then there may be an underlying pathology. Make an appointment with the doctor and discuss with him. You may be suffering from bromhidrosis, a disease that causes sufferers to smell bad.
- Your doctor will prescribe strong antiperspirants. They may cause skin irritation, so be sure to use them only to manage a disease (bromhidrosis or hyperhidrosis).
- Botulinum toxin may also block sweat glands and limit sweating. Even in this case, however, it is not a solution to be taken lightly, but only on medical advice, as it is both expensive and painful. The effect of botulinum toxin lasts only a few months and is not a long-term solution.
Advice
- Purchase some cooling wipes (similar to baby wipes). They work like a paper towel dipped in a little alcohol and are contained in an airtight bag.
- If your feet smell bad, you should always wear socks (preferably cotton, which absorbs moisture and dries faster) and change them at least once a day to keep them dry.
- Change the sheets often and preferably choose white ones that can be treated with bleach. After all, you spend 8 hours a day in bed.
- If you are taking prescription medications, consult your doctor, as some can cause bad odor, sweating, and so on.
- If your body smells bad, it could be due to mycosis. Use an antifungal shampoo, apply it to your armpits while taking a shower and let it sit for three minutes, it could be the solution to your problem. See your doctor if you need to take stronger medications, as they are only available by prescription.
- Put some talcum powder inside the armpits of the clothes (if the dress is dark remember to brush the outside after applying it). Make sure you also put some deodorant on the skin but don't rub it.
- Clean your armpits after shaving. You can use alcohol or peroxide.
- If you don't want to quit smoking, try an e-cigarette that only emits vapor.
- Don't mix too many soaps, deodorants, perfumes, and so on. The result would be unpleasant.
- Take a foot bath with water and salt. Since the feet are one of the most problematic areas, you can wash them from time to time with this method to reduce their odor. The salt kills the bacteria that cause the unpleasant odor.
Warnings
- If you decide to shave with a razor, make sure the blade is clean. You can clean it with a disinfectant.
- Do not use cologne to mask odors, it will only make the situation worse.
