Pubic hair The apocrine sweat glands in the groin area secrete fluid into hair follicles. Pubic hair can trap bacteria and moisture. A mass of pubic hair can trap heat in the skin and cause apocrine glands to secrete excess sweat.
Apocrine glands open up into your hair follicles. Hair follicles are the tube-like structure that keeps your hair in your skin. You can find apocrine glands in your groin and armpits. These glands produce sweat that can smell when it comes in contact with bacteria on your skin.
Women have a high concentration of sweat glands around the outside of the vagina on the labia majora. These “apocrine glands” are similar to those found in the armpits, and can produce a fluid that reacts to the presence of vaginal bacteria to create a pungent, “body odor” aroma. This is nothing to be concerned about.
You don't need harsh soaps to clean your vagina, even if you're dealing with odor from crotch sweat, “Always opt for a gentle cleanser in this area,” says Dr. Imahiyerobo-Ip, like Cetaphil's Deep-Cleansing Bar, Vanicream Gentle Cleanser, or Dove's Sensitive Skin Beauty Bar.
Pubic hair holds on to residual urine, vaginal discharge, blood and semen. Bacteria line up all along the hair shaft just lunching it up and creating odor. (Very appetizing, I know.) Trimming your pubic hair reduces that surface area for bacteria, thus reducing odor.
Antiperspirants are considered the first line of treatment for excessive sweating and can be used nearly anywhere on the body where sweating is a problem. That's right, antiperspirants are not just for your underarms – you can use them on your hands, feet, face, back, chest, and even groin.
Inner thigh sweating is particularly common during exercise or periods of hot weather. We have sweat glands located all over our bodies, and many of those sweat glands are found around our inner thighs. Perspiring or sweating is an entirely natural phenomenon. Sweat helps our body cool down when it's overheated.
Sweat in the groin area is different than the sweat we experience elsewhere on the body because groin sweat is secreted by apocrine sweat glands. Groin sweat contains fatty acids and proteins which feed bacteria. As the bacteria break down the nutrients in groin sweat, foul-smelling acids are left behind.
Antiperspirants and deodorants aren't just for your armpits. You can also apply them to your groin area to stop excessive sweat or mask the unpleasant odor stemming from your nether regions. Just be careful when applying these products to the sensitive skin around your groin.
Apply the deodorant in the groin fold. If you use it on your vulva, use as little as possible and keep it on the outside part only, never on the inner lips, Lincoln says. And never put any deodorizing or cleansing product (aka douches) inside your vagina.
Interestingly, 84 percent of the men surveyed had a preference when it came to a woman's pubic hair, but only 9 percent would end a date or sex because of a women's grooming habits -- so they must not care all that much. And of the men polled, a whopping 88 percent do some grooming of their own.
In addition to bacteria, oftentimes there is deodorant residue and other impurities that are trapped in the underarm pores and within the hair if you have armpit hair.
Olfactory reference syndrome (ORS), also known as olfactory reference disorder, is an underrecognized and often severe condition that has similarities to obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and body dysmorphic disorder (BDD). People with ORS think they smell bad, but in reality they don't.
"Although most of the semen drips out of the vagina after sex, some semen can remain in the vagina and cause a change in scent," Sasan says. "This is not harmful and the smell will typically go away within a few hours or after taking a shower."
Bacterial vaginitis (BV) can produce a fishy odor that is also accompanied by increased vaginal discharge, irritation, burning and sometimes itching. It is caused by an overgrowth of anaerobic bacteria that disrupts the balance of healthy bacteria that live within the vagina.
There are several benefits to wearing deodorant to bed, here are just a few: It gives the product more time to sink into your skin. Sweat glands are less active at night, so the product absorbs faster. Deodorant works better on dry skin (as opposed to damp skin after a shower in the morning).
Apply deodorant anywhere you tend to sweat: While some deodorant brands are meant only for armpits, most can be applied anywhere you sweat (like behind the knees or inner thighs). If you want to keep other areas of your body fresh and dry, check the label first to make sure your deodorant is safe to use anywhere.
Use antiperspirant—yes, under your boobs
While it may seem strange to apply an antiperspirant anywhere other than your underarms, it works, Dr. Hazen says. "Antiperspirant can be used anywhere—on your feet, hands, and even under your bra," she says.
Unscented/Sensitive Skin Antiperspirant
You can apply this to your groin area. I recommend applying it in the fold of skin in between your thigh and your groin area, NOT directly onto your sensitive lady or man parts.