You Have Some Extra-Stinky Bacteria Under There Showering should get rid of that "armpit smell," but if it doesn't, you might be dealing with stubborn bacteria. We all have a mix of "good" and "bad" bacteria living on the surface of our skin, including the skin in our armpits.
ODOR AFTER A SHOWER IS DUE TO LINGERING BACTERIA
So the key to eliminating body odor is to tackle the bacteria growth that exists in our armpits with a proper armpit washing routine, using an antibacterial soap.
"When we sweat, natural bacteria on our skin breaks down the perspiration into thioalcohols, [so] the body odor we notice is thanks to bacteria interacting with our sweat," explains Shein. "Warm, wet and dark areas of the body are most likely to capture smells as they are ideal for bacteria, including the underarms."
Body odor is caused by a mix of bacteria and sweat on your skin. Your body odor can change due to hormones, the food you eat, infection, medications or underlying conditions like diabetes. Prescription-strength antiperspirants or medications may help.
However, unlike antiperspirant, deodorant does not block sweat. Thus, the potential mingling of sweat and bacteria might lead to unexpected odors even after deodorant has been applied.
By the end of the study, researchers concluded that men who removed their armpit hair by waxing it off or shaving it with a razor had the least body odor. Those who simply trimmed their armpit hair had the next smelliest, with the strongest armpit odors coming from those who left their pit hair untamed.
Dettol Antibacterial Body Wash Original
Using the signature Dettol formula, this body wash will eliminate bacteria from your skin, killing off bad odors and leaving you smelling fresh for hours. This wash is a fairly strong formula, so it might not be suitable for everyone.
it can take up to 30-days for your body to learn to sweat naturally and regulate itself again. You should expect your armpits to smell a little pungent for the first couple of weeks.
A person living with a health condition such as diabetes or kidney disease may also have sweat that smells like ammonia.
Inner thigh odor is caused by a variety of factors, including excessive sweating, fungal infections, poor hygiene, and hormonal changes.
Busting the myth: 'hairy armpits smell worse'
The biggest misconception around hairy armpits is that they're unhygienic and smell much worse. Let's unpack this. Studies have found the difference in the smell of regularly shaven pits compared to hairy ones is minimal at best.
If you sense a little body odor, it's because your pubic hair is doing its job of trapping sweat, oil, and bacteria. To care for your pubic area, all you need to do is regularly rinse with water. Long story short, there is nothing dirty or unclean about pubic hair.
Shaving/trimming your armpits can reduce your body odour.
Our underarm hair traps the moisture on our skin, giving bacteria more time to produce the bad smells that you want to avoid. Shaving your armpit hair can help maximise the effectiveness of the antiperspirants that you use.
Antibacterial soaps
Dial® is a great example of a common antibacterial soap. It can be a little too harsh to wash the entire body with, but is great for the areas that have a tendency to produce unwanted odor. My male patients particularly love it. Hibiclens® is another alternative and also available over-the-counter.
Hibiclens: Soap and Skin Cleanser
Hibiclens Soap and Skin Cleanser is a heavy-duty solution for excessive odor. In addition, it's an antiseptic, meaning it will eliminate all harmful bacteria on the skin.
Good hygiene helps only so much. Your genes can also play a big role in how good or bad you smell. In fact some people, no matter how much they shower, still smell bad. Callewaert has found these individuals have a larger amount of “bad” bacteria.
Underarm odour can be an embarrassing problem, but there are natural remedies that can help to combat it. By keeping your underarms clean, using baking soda, apple cider vinegar, or lemon juice, wearing natural fibers, staying hydrated, and eating a healthy diet, you can get rid of underarm odour naturally.