You can get rid of body odors naturally by taking care of hygiene: take a bath or shower regularly and wear fresh cotton clothes; also avoid keeping your feet with socks in closed shoes for long periods. Make healthy lifestyle choices: stop smoking and chewing tobacco and drink plenty of water; also, prepare the meals yourself. Finally, consider using natural antiperspirants.
Steps
Part 1 of 4: Improving Personal Hygiene
Step 1. Bathe or shower regularly
Since bacteria react to the sweat produced by the sweat glands by releasing odor, it is important to keep clean. Use a mild natural cleanser and soap thoroughly; the more foam you can create and the more you keep it on your skin, the more effective the elimination of bacteria.
- Not all detergents are antibacterial, but it is not always necessary to use this type of product. Try using a mint castile soap to shower; peppermint oil is mildly antiseptic and can help you fight bad odor.
- Although a soap shower is best, even a simple rinse with water is better than nothing. To eliminate bacteria and sebum even more effectively, you can do a scrub with sand or a towel; this can be a useful solution in circumstances such as wild camping.
Step 2. Make sure you dry completely
It is a fundamental detail for those areas of the body most subject to odors: the groin, armpits and around the nipples; also dry all skin folds thoroughly (under the breasts, groin and abdomen).
Don't use cornstarch as a body powder. Many doctors believe that this product can feed mushrooms; you should use an odorless talcum powder instead
Step 3. Make the environment inhospitable for bacterial reproduction
For example, shaving the armpits can help reduce odors; Also, wash the inside of your shoes regularly, as they are perfect places for bacteria to proliferate.
Step 4. Put on clean cotton clothing
Choose natural fibers, such as cotton, wool or silk. If you exercise and sweat, synthetic materials that evaporate sweat can be helpful, but go back to wearing natural fibers after a shower.
Cotton allows the skin to breathe, reducing sweating; therefore, clothing made with this fiber keeps the epidermis healthy, dry and free of odors
Step 5. Do not keep shoes closed for long periods while wearing socks
If you sweat a lot, this type of footwear makes your feet stink because it doesn't allow air to circulate. This is even more true if they are also made of non-breathable material; try to wear the most breathable sandals, flip flops, or footwear whenever possible.
Part 2 of 4: Improving Life Choices
Step 1. Stop smoking and chewing tobacco
These habits lead to the production of free radicals that cause damage to the body; they also cause the proliferation of bacteria on the skin, which in turn give off a bad smell.
Step 2. Drink lots of water
It is an excellent "diluent" that expels all toxins from the body; it is the most neutral substance that allows to reduce bacterial growth in the intestine. Drinking about 8-10 glasses of water each day promotes healthy, hydrated and odor-free skin.
Step 3. Eat foods containing probiotics
They are natural bacteria, beneficial for the gut, which help to keep the growth of harmful ones under control. They favor the development of Lactobacilli bifidus, which improve intestinal functions and keep the population of "bad" bacteria under control; you can find them in products like yogurt and buttermilk.
For great benefits, eat a cup of a food containing probiotics every day for a period of six months; you may notice improvements in overall health, as body odors are only a matter of good digestion
Step 4. Eliminate odor-causing foods
There is a wide variety of foods that can alter body odor; fatty ones (fatty meat, poultry with skin, fried foods) and some spices (curry, garlic, onion) can actually affect this. Leave them off your diet for at least two to four weeks and see if you notice any changes.
- Coffee and caffeinated drinks can, for some people, cause bad odors.
- Other foods and drinks that can cause the same effect are: alcohol, asparagus, cumin, and red meats.
Step 5. Eat enough green vegetables
Their lack of nutrition can induce this bodily problem; green vegetables contain chlorophyllin, a natural substance capable of absorbing odors.
Part 3 of 4: Using Natural Antiperspirants
Step 1. Use a commercially available natural antiperspirant
If you feel uncomfortable with conventional deodorants or antiperspirants, you can try a natural product. You can find several for sale; ask your pharmacist or look for them in the best supermarkets.
Step 2. Create a custom product yourself
You can find several recipes online, but a blend you can try is described below. Mix 150 g of powdered maranta root with 4 teaspoons of aluminum-free baking powder. Melt 6 tablespoons of cocoa or organic mango butter and two tablespoons of raw coconut oil in a double boiler; mix the blended ingredients with the dry ones and add half a teaspoon of lemongrass essential oil.
Store the product in a glass jar with a lid; it is not necessary to keep it in the refrigerator
Step 3. Treat body odors with a hydrogen peroxide solution that acts as an antibacterial remedy
Pour a teaspoon of 3% hydrogen peroxide into 250ml of water; take a cotton towel and soak it in the resulting solution, squeeze out the excess liquid and rub it on your armpits, groin area and feet.
Step 4. Rub your skin with apple cider vinegar
This product helps kill the bacteria responsible for the stench. Soak your feet every day in a mixture of 1 part apple cider vinegar and 3 parts water; you can pour the same solution into a spray bottle and spray it on your armpits.
Apple cider vinegar is very strong and people with sensitive skin may experience adverse reactions, such as burning or itching. Therefore, you should do a little skin test before using it and also make sure that you have not just shaved your armpits
Step 5. Use tea tree oil
Add 8 or 10 drops to 250ml of witch hazel; pour the resulting mixture into a spray bottle and use it as a natural deodorant, especially after physical activity. Witch hazel acts as an astringent and reduces sweat, while tea tree oil is an antibacterial agent.
- Tea tree oil is known for its antiseptic properties, as well as its strong but pleasant smell.
- When used externally, it is capable of killing bacteria on the skin, thereby reducing the formation of toxins.
Part 4 of 4: Knowing Body Odor
Step 1. Find out why the body releases odors
The bodily one, technically known as bromhidrosis or osmidrosis, is due to the breakdown of skin proteins by the bacteria present. The specific odor depends in part on the type of bacteria, the proteins that are broken down, the acids produced by the body, the foods you eat, how much you sweat and your health in general.
- For example, people suffering from diabetes, hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating), who are taking certain medications, are more likely to smell more.
- When you sweat, the bacteria on your skin break down sweat and proteins into two main types of acids, and it is the latter that give off odor; the two main substances are produced by two different types of bacteria and are: propionic acid and isovaleric acid. The first comes from the work of propionic bacteria and tends to have a vinegar-like odor; the isovaleric one is instead produced by the staphylococcus of the skin (Staphylococcus epidermidis) and releases a smell that resembles cheese, perhaps because it is the same bacterium that is used to obtain certain dairy products.
Step 2. Look at the areas of the body where the odor develops the most
Skin folds, areas that are covered or sweaty are most affected, such as the feet, groin, armpits, pubis and hairy areas, navel, anus and behind the ears. There are other areas of the body that can sweat and release odor, but generally at a lower level.
Step 3. Know that feet are different from other types
Eccrine sweat glands are present in this area, but considering that most people wear socks and shoes (often made of synthetic material) for most of the day, sweat cannot evaporate very easily.
- Unlike cotton and leather, synthetic materials (unless made with breathable components) tend to retain sweat, preventing it from evaporating.
- When it doesn't evaporate, it creates an ideal environment for fungus to grow - and many fungal infections release an unpleasant odor.
Step 4. Identify other factors that can cause this disorder
For example, age can be an element that affects this aspect; children before puberty do not stink much. Androgens that are secreted during adolescence are associated with bad body odors.
Step 5. Determine when to go to the doctor
In most cases, the problem can be managed with home remedies, but there are situations where the bad smell indicates the need for a medical examination. In some cases, the family doctor may refer you to a dermatologist (skin specialist); contact him to make an appointment if:
- You have tried several techniques to control the problem, but none of the treatments reduced or eliminated the odor in the space of two or three weeks;
- You started sweating a lot more or less than usual;
- Sweat disrupts your daily routine;
- You begin to experience night sweats
- The body suddenly changed its smell.
wikiHow Video: How to Get Rid of Body Odor Naturally
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