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Did you know that sweating could actually be great for your health?
Sweat maintains a moderate body temperature and keeps you from overheating; but unfortunately, one of the side-effects will always be the unwelcome aroma of body odour.
The good news is that you can combat the smell, naturally.
Antiperspirant or deodorant?
It’s important to know that not everything you swipe under your underarms is referred to as deodorant. Here’s why.
Antiperspirants typically use aluminium in some form and it’s meant to control sweat (or perspiration). Roll-ons commonly have active ingredients with scientific names.
- Aluminium zirconium tetrachlorohydrex (roll-ons).
- Aluminium chlorohydrate (aerosol antiperspirants).
The aluminium in antiperspirants creates a temporary little plug in your armpit sweat glands, which prevents excessive sweating. Deodorants on the other hand, are made to mask body odour, they don’t contain aluminium, and don’t stop you from sweating. They only reduce body odour, by using fragrance or antibacterial compounds to make your armpits a little less bacteria-friendly.
What really causes that foul odour?
Body scents in general, are the cause of two main things; secretion from skin glands and skin bacteria. Get familiar with your sweat glands. They’re made up of eccrine glands and apocrine glands. Eccrines are present in almost all body parts which produce sweat. The apocrine is found in specific body parts like the armpits, feet, around the nipple and groin. Bacterial activity on the skin gland (secretion) causes the smelly chemicals that are to blame for smelly body odour.
Go au naturel
Mild body odour is common, but when things turn sour, it can damage your self-esteem.
Homemade roll-on:
- Baking soda or bicarbonate of soda is a white crystalline compound, loaded with health benefits. It absorbs moisture from the skin and keeps it dry, acts as a natural deodorant agent to prevent body odour, kills bacteria and neutralises the body to prevent excess sweating and odour.
- Coconut oil can be useful as a deodorant because of its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties while also hydrating your skin. It can fight bacteria that causes odour in your underarms after you sweat. It’s perfect for those with sensitive armpits. Before you use coconut oil as a deodorant, do a skin test to see if there’s a chance of an allergy reaction.
Essential oils
You can choose your oils based on how they smell. It's important to include essential oils that kill bacteria.
- Witchhazel reduces underarm odour by lowering the skin’s pH (a measure of the acidity or alkalinity of our body’s fluids and tissues) so the odour-causing bacteria can’t survive.
- Lavender and tea tree oil are commonly used in natural deodorants. They have antibacterial properties.
- Rosemary contains antibacterial properties that fight build-up of bacteria, which causes body odour.
- Sage will help reduce activity in your sweat glands, which is one of the main causes of body odour.
Prevent the dreaded whiff
- Hair absorbs odours easily, so shave your armpits regularly to reduce bacterial growth, sweat and odour.
- Keep your underarms dry. Bacteria thrive in moisture and will struggle to breed in dry areas of the body.
- Wear breathable fabrics. Many synthetic fabrics trap sweat and moisture.
- Change your diet. Fatty foods and strong-smelling foods like garlic, onions and spicy foods can leak through your skin and cause body odour.
