Body Odour

What is body odour

It's pretty explanatory. Someone is said to have body odour when a foul smell emits from him which is not caused by external factors. Body odour is caused by sweat.

The body has 2 kinds of sweat glands, eccrine and apocrine. Eccrine glands are found in all parts of the body, but with highest concentrations on the forehead, palms and soles. These glands are stimulated to produce more sweat than usual when the person is under emotional pressure or feels hot.

Appocrine glands are activated after puberty. They are located in places where there is hair i.e. underarms, genital areas and around nipples.

Sweat is odourless but if it is left on the skin, it will be decomposed by bacteria, creating a foul smell. Eating food such as garlics and spices causes sweat to smell stronger.


Preventing body odour

One way is to use an anti-bacterial body wash. By reducing the amount of bacteria on your body, you reduce the decomposition rate of sweat.

You can reduce sweat production by wearing cotton clothes and open-toe shoes or sandals to keep the skin cool. You can also apply antiperspirant.

If the condition is so serious that the above-mentioned methods do not suffice, there is something called the poneer needlescopic thoracic surgery.

It involves making small holes (3mm diameter) in the skin. Through these tiny holes, the nerves controlling the sweating can be clipped away (The effects of the surgery are reversible). In this way, the person experiences compensatory sweating, where the body sweats in more parts, reducing the concentration of sweat (and smell) in each place. The surgery can be performed on the palms, face and armipits.

For people whose feet sweat excessively, there is an alternative, unconventional but nevertheless effective method that can be used - Botox injections, which weakens the muscles, hence reducing action of the sweat glands. Botox can be injected into the armpits and palms too as an alternative method to surgery.

Removing hair by shaving or laser treatment can also reduce body odour, especially in the armpits and pubic areas.