Learning good hygiene skills is an important part of your child's physical and social development. As children reach puberty, changes in their developing bodies make perspiration and odor more likely. While some children embrace showers and cleanliness, others may need frequent reminders about the social benefits of preventing a smelly body.
Identification
Good hygiene involves keeping your body and clothing clean and free from odor. A smelly body can occur at any age. This may be more likely to become a problem during the pre-teen and teen years, when children begin to take responsibility for their own hygiene.
Showering
Showering or bathing at least once daily is an important step to reducing body odor. When sweat from the underarms and genital area mixes with bacteria on the skin, odor occurs. Washing every area of the body with warm water and a mild soap removes sweat and dirt. If foot odor is a problem for your child, he may need to wash his feet more than once per day to reduce it.
Daily shampooing should also be an important part of your child's daily hygiene routine. Washing hair daily removes odor caused by sweating on the head and improves your child's appearance. The Children's, Youth and Women's Health Service reports that the combination of hair oil, sweat and dead skin cells can make the hair look greasy and dirty.
Preventing Odor
Daily use of antiperspirants or antiperspirant/deodorant combinations can help your children avoid a smelly body. Deodorants mask odor, but do not control perspiration. Antiperspirants temporarily block sweat glands, preventing perspiration. The Women's Health Center suggests trying several different brands to determine which are most effective in controlling perspiration and odor. Using antiperspirant or foot powder on the feet, or wearing odor-absorbing insoles in shoes can help if your child has a foot odor problem.
Importance of Clean Clothing
While it can be tempting to wear a shirt you've already worn if it doesn't look dirty, fabrics can trap body odor, causing an unpleasant smell even if your body is clean. Socks and underwear can develop particularly strong odors over time if unwashed. If your child is active, choosing the right type of clothing can help in reducing odor. Kids Health from Nemours recommends wearing shirts, T-shirts, socks and underwear made from cotton or other natural materials, as these fabrics absorb sweat more effectively.
Warning
In some cases, a smelly body is not due to poor hygiene, but is a symptom of a disease or medical condition. Phenylketonuria, an inherited disease, causes a musty smell because the body cannot break down phenylalanine, an amino acid. People who have trimethylaminuria give off a fishy odor because their bodies cannot break down the compound trimethylamine. The Genetics Home Reference website reports that trimethylaminuria can occur from a gene mutation, an excess of certain proteins in the diet, or an increase in bacteria that produce trimethylamine in the digestive system. Report unusual body odors to your child's doctor.
Member Comments