Body odour is not just a social offender; it is also an indicator of various metabolic disorders. Masking B.O, as it is popularly called, with deodorant sprays and perfume is not the solution to these underlying problems. What is important is to know the cause of body odour and to prevent it.
What exactly is body odour?
Body odour, medically known as bromhidrosis, is a strong and unusual smell that originates from the body. The smell might be offensive or sometimes, pleasant and fruity (The key is to try not to visualise!). Most people erroneously believe that the cause of body odour is excess perspiration. This is false. The main reason for B.O is the presence of anaerobic bacteria (bacteria that grow in an oxygen-free environment) which are present on and in our bodies. Another cause of body odour is metabolic imbalances that happen in our body due to medical conditions.
The causes of B.O
Contrary to popular belief, sweating or perspiring does not cause body odour; sweat only cools down the body and helps to regulate body temperature. Sweat, by itself, is odourless. The odour arises due to interaction of sweat with anaerobic bacteria, which grow mainly in the oxygen-deficient regions such as the under-arms, the navel, and anal and genital regions. Bacteria live off the sweat in these moist areas and produce by-products which include organic acids, indoles and ketones. These by-products have the characteristic smell that gives rise to unpleasant body odour.
Metabolic disorders also play a major role in body odour. Metabolic disorders are partly genetic and partly conditional. Common metabolic disorders include Diabetes Mellitus, Diabetic Ketoacidiosis and Phenylketonuria. They are caused primarily by disruption of enzyme activity in the body. Enzymes mainly break the digested food down into simple compounds so that they can be absorbed into blood for basic metabolic activities. They also eliminate toxic wastes from the body. When enzyme activity is disrupted by defective genes, most metabolic functions of the body get disrupted, adversely affecting the digestive system and immune system. Toxins produced by the body accumulate within it and are excreted through sweat, causing intense body odour.
Body odour is also determined by a person's eating habits. The food we eat has a lot of proteins and carbohydrates, some of which the body utilizes while the unused food gets eliminated by the body as waste. This waste turns toxic if not eliminated. Excess of red meat, garlic, onion and spicy foods, besides coffee and alcohol clog the digestive organs like liver, intestines and kidneys. As a result, all these toxins emanate from the body causing body odour as well as other complications.
Preventing body odour
- Regular bathing with a antiseptic soap prevents the growth of anaerobic bacteria on the body and keeps the body fresh. A hot shower opens the sweat pores and kills the bacteria present deep inside the skin. A proper scrubbing of the body, especially in the main sites of bacterial growth namely the armpits, groin region, navel and under the ear, is necessary in order to eliminate body odour.
- Try to avoid tight clothing as it suffocates the body and increases the growth of anaerobic bacteria that cause body odour. Wear loose-fitting clothes made of natural fibre, as opposed to synthetic, allowing the body to 'breathe'.
- Dietary changes will help to eliminate body odour. Try to reduce the intake of spicy food, onion, garlic, alcohol, coffee and red meat. Eat more of greens as green, leafy vegetables have a lot of chlorophyll, which acts as internal deodorizer and helps eliminate body odour.
- Body odour caused by genetic metabolic disorders cannot be easily eliminated. However, body odour caused due to conditional metabolic disorders like Diabetes Mellitus and Diabetic Ketoacidiosis can be controlled by following a balanced diet along with supplements like zinc, magnesium and vitamins. These help to balance the body's metabolic activities and produce enzymes. Taking regular medication also helps to manage these conditions.
- Proper hygienic practices such as maintaining regular toilet habits to eliminate the toxic waste from the body, wearing fresh clothing every day, changing socks regularly and wearing clean undergarments help to prevent body odour.
Finally, use a good deodorant or an anti-perspirant which has no aluminum in it. Aluminium aggravates body odour and has also been found to cause several health problems. Remember, body odour isn't just a social offender, it is also related to underlying conditions. If you have persistent body odour that refuses to go away, medical intervention may be necessary.
Note: Please consult your Doctor for more details and guidance. This is just for the general awareness and my honest and humble effort to educate my readers the importance of keeping a healthy life and also to understand matters related to the basic medical terms and common diseases. The contents of this mail is compiled from various sources. Errors and omissions are expected.
Best Regards
Prakash Nair
prakash@yourownadviser.com
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