Combating Body Odour In 6 Easy Steps

There is just something about smelling good that boosts one’s confidence and make other people around you want to come closer.

Unfortunately, body odour is a problem which plagues a lot of people, irrespective of age and sex. It is no doubt an issue which can be both frustrating and embarrassing, especially when handled wrongly. Keeping yourself smelling fresh and clean doesn’t exactly have to be so expensive though, here are 6 easy ways to combat body odour;

Keep yourself clean: Shower at least once a day and you’ll wash away sweat as well as reduce the number of bacteria on your skin. Sweat by itself is virtually odorless. But when microscopic bacteria that live naturally on your skin mix with sweat, they multiply quickly and raise quite a stink. So washing thoroughly, especially areas prone to sweating, can reduce body odor. If you sweat normally, you might have more of a problem with body odor than people who sweat too much. That’s because, when people sweat excessively, the sweat tends to wash away the odor-causing bacteria.

Cut down on ‘offensive’ foods: What you eat affects your body odor. Foods that tend to make you sweat more, such as hot peppers or other spicy foods, might also contribute to body odor. And the aroma of foods such as onions or garlic can be carried in the sweat, making you smell bad.

Use an antibacterial soap: Choose an antibacterial bath soap. Washing thoroughly with an antibacterial soap bar will reduce the bacteria count, in turn reducing the odor. Look for the words “antibacterial” on the soap’s packaging.

Dry yourself properly after a bath: Once you’ve showered, be sure you dry yourself completely. Towel off and make sure you dry any areas where you sweat a lot. If your skin is dry, it’s harder for bacteria that cause body odor to breed on it.

Use deodorants or antiperspirants: Once you are clean and dry, use a strong deodorant or antiperspirant on your underarms. While deodorants do not prevent sweating, they mask the smell of bacteria on your skin. Antiperspirants contain aluminum chloride, a chemical that reduces sweating, and often also contain a deodorant.

If you think you need even more help, you may want to ask your doctor about prescription antiperspirants. Apply the deodorant or antiperspirant twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening.

Keep your clothes clean and dry: Change clothes often when you’re sweating heavily. Fresh clothes help keep body odor down. Be sure to change your socks as well, especially if you tend to have foot odor. Use deodorant powders in your shoes, replace insoles frequently, and go barefoot if possible.