If you have noticed a strong smell under your arms after working out or at the end of the day, it is probably normal. When you sweat, bacteria on the skin breaks this sweat down, causing an odor, says the Mayo Clinic. If you have excessive body odor, there are medications and at-home remedies you can try to help solve the problem.
Deodorant and Antiperspirant
If you aren't wearing deodorant with an antiperspirant on a regular basis, start wearing it every day. Antiperspirants contain aluminum, which blocks the pores in the armpits, keeping sweat from escaping through the pores. Deodorant contains alcohol, which counteracts the pungent smell of bacteria that eat away the sweat, according to the Mayo Clinic. In some cases, the body may sweat so much that deodorant alone will not eliminate the smell of the bacteria. Using a deodorant with an antiperspirant will help minimize sweating and reduce body odor at the same time. If over-the-counter products are ineffective, your doctor can prescribe stronger antiperspirants.
Tomato Juice
Dousing yourself in tomato juice may be able to reduce severe body odor, says Alice Kilpatrick, RN, a staff nurse at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Fort Lyon, Colorado. In the same way that tomato juice counteracts the smell of a skunk, it can also remove your own body odor from your skin. Kilpatrick recommends placing a few cups of tomato juice in your bathtub, then filling the tub the rest of the way with water. Soak in the mixture for 15 minutes to remove body odor from the skin.
Avoid Onions, Garlic and Caffeine
If your diet is high in garlic or onions, your sweat may be releasing an odor of its own, notes the Mayo Clinic. Additionally, foods with other strong odors, like spices, may be causing your sweat to smell. By cutting garlic and onions from your diet for several weeks, you will be able to determine whether or not these foods are the problem. Caffeine may also cause body odor in some individuals, explains the Mayo Clinic, because it may cause you to sweat more than usual. Experiment with dietary changes to determine the cause of your body odor.
Member Comments