Most often, the term “body odor” is referred to an unpleasant smell emanating from a person when perspiring. Perspiration, which is completely odorless, gives off a significantly unpleasant odor when it comes in contact with bacteria. So, how does one get rid of body odor? There are several home remedies for this condition.
Home Remedies for Body Odor
Body odor does not have to overtake your life. There are many easy body odor remedies that you can consider to rid yourself of this unpleasant smell.
1. Stay Clean
If you need to avoid body odor, you have to stay clean. This means showering at least once a day so that bacteria build-up on the skin is reduced. Wash areas that are prone to sweating, such as the areas under the arms, under the neck, between legs and toes etc. You may be more prone to body odor if you do not sweat so much. This is because excessive sweating can wash off bacteria.
2. Rinse with Antibacterial Agent
There are a number of antibacterial soaps that wash away bacteria. Reduced bacteria ensure less body odor. You can try using 1tsp hydrogen peroxide and 1 cup water and wiping sweaty areas using a washcloth.
3. Use Antiperspirants at Bedtime
Antiperspirants, while not preventing sweating, hides any unpleasant odors emanating from under the arms. The most effective method of ensuring reduced body odor under the arms is to apply antiperspirants at bedtime. This enables the product to do its work when you are not sweating, as during the day, the sweat under the arms will wash the deodorant away and prevent it from working effectively.
4. Towel Off Completely
Leaving damn areas on the skin, especially areas prone to sweating, without wiping it off encourage bacterial and fungi growth.
5. Keep Underarms Clean
Sweat accumulates under the arms. Keeping your underarms dry and clean, as much as possible, prevents bacteria formation. Shave under the arms as often as you can. This keeps them dry and prevents bacteria build-up. Here's more on treating a sweating underarm.
6. Wear Proper Clothing
Clothing makes a significant impact on body odor. For example, wearing tight clothing that traps in moisture causes an unpleasant odor. Therefore, consider wearing lose-fitting, light-weight clothing that makes you sweat less and does not trap moisture.
7. Change and Wash Clothing Often
If you sweat a lot, you should ensure that you wash your clothing often. Bacteria thrive in warm, moist environments. Therefore, you should wash your clothes often and keep your body clean in order to avoid body odor.
8. Care for Your Feet
Very few people pay attention to their feet, and this can be a major problem. Unclean and damp feet can cause the build-up of bacteria which will bring out an unpleasant odor. This can be remedied with over-the-counter foot powders. Wear socks (cotton or wool) that help keep the feet dry. Soaking your feet in one cup of salt water for every quart of water and letting it dry will help kill bacteria on the feet.
9. Control and Relax Yourself
Various emotions, such as anger, anxiety and excitement increase activity in the sweat glands. Sweating over situations beyond your control results in body odor. Consider learning and practicing yoga and meditation that help manage stressful situations.
10. Avoid Certain Foods
This one of body odor remedies may seem unsual, there are foods that cause body odor. For example, meat, alcohol and caffeine can lead to bad breath and unpleasant body odor. Knowing the foods that cause body odor and avoiding them will be a good method of avoiding embarrassment.
11. Quit Smoking
The harmful effects of smoking are numerous. Apart from causing cancer, discoloring teeth and aging you, smoking can also make you smell bad. Cigarettes contain thousands of harmful chemicals. These enter the body and destroy various organs and others exit via the skin, thereby causing body odor.
Body odor can be extremely embarrassing. If wondering why your friends are avoiding you, check your body odor. Consider the abovementioned body odor remedies to get rid of body odor.