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We all want to smell good all the time! It helps our confidence in our social and physical interactions with others. Still, body odour or Bromhidrosis is something we have all faced at some points in our lives. For some people, it becomes a worry as fear how others judge them for how they smell. While most of us regularly use deodorants and perfumes to mask our body odour, we still would like to know about how to remove body odour from its roots. This article provides a guide on how to do that but let's begin with what are the causes behind body odour.
What Causes Body Odour?
While everyone sweats to various extents, it is not exactly the sweat that causes the odour. The bacteria in our skin breaking down proteins in the sweat that leads to the smell. This can happen in the following situations.
1. Overactive Sweat Glands That Mix With Bacteria
There are two types of sweat glands in our body. Eccrine glands produce sweat to balance the body’s temperature. Apocrine glands (found in groin, underarms, breasts, etc.) causes the odour-producing sweat that mix with the harmful bacteria on our skin.
2. Poor Hygiene
It is well-known that if you do not clean your body properly and regularly, the bacteria on your skin will multiply creating a really foul smell.
3. Nutrient Deficiencies
Lack of probiotics or fruits and vegetables have been linked to body odour. It is essential to find out what your diet lacks.
4. Gastrointestinal Problems
Kidney and liver help in flushing out toxins from the body. When there is a dysfunction in either or both of them, it leads to building up of toxins, and body odour.
5. Medical Problems
Some medical problems like diabetes, thyroid and genetic disorders may also cause the smell. It is better to look for how to control body odour in these cases, rather than for a permanent cure.
How To Get Rid Of Body Odour Naturally?
While store-bought deodorants help, they are a superficial solution and often harmful to the skin, causing irritation and inflammations in some people too. Hence, natural solutions that help improve our body odour from within are the best way forward. So if you're worried about how to cure body odour permanently, here are some recipes for body smell.
1. Fenugreek Tea
Ingredients
- Fenugreek seeds – 1 teaspoon
- Water – 250mL
Method
- Put the fenugreek seeds in the water and let it boil for some time. Wait till the level of water has reduced to about half.
- Let it cool a little.
- Consume this tea on empty stomach.
Benefits
This is one of the ways to cure body odour permanently, as it tackles the problem from within. Its antioxidants flush out the bodily toxins, while its anti-bacterial properties prevent the spread of the odour-causing bacteria. There are many other ways these seeds can be used externally for skin and hair. To add to their awesomeness, Fenugreek promotes the hair growth with its high-quality proteins.
How Often To Do
Drink it every morning after waking up.
2. Arrowroot
Ingredients
- Arrowroot powder
Method
- Apply the powder on your sweat-prone areas.
- Leave it on.
Benefits
Laced with anti-inflammatory properties, it also keeps the skin dry, preventing bacteria.
How Often To Do
Use this every day.
3. Witch Hazel
Ingredients
- Witch Hazel – as required.
- Cotton balls
Method
- Dip the cotton balls in witch hazel and dab it on your afflicted areas.
- You can use this as a replacement for deodorants.
Benefits
Witch hazel is another ingredient with astringent properties that reduces pores on the skin and prevents sweating.
How Often To Do
For a body smell solution, use this every day.
4. Parsley
Ingredients
- Parsley leaves – few
- Water – 1 cup
Method
- Combine the ingredients and boil it for 5 minutes.
- Strain it and drink.
Benefits
Parsley’s properties are said to relieve body odour and bad breathe.
How Often To Do
Consume this daily.
5. Oils
Ingredients
- Essential oils (tea-tree/lavender/peppermint) – 2 teaspoons
- Water – 2 tablespoons
Method
- Mix in the ingredients and apply it on the sweat-prone areas.
- You can combine various oils but increase the water in proportion to dilute it adequately.
Benefits
Most essential oils have antiseptic, anti-bacterial and anti-microbial properties that help to kill off the bacteria and prevent sweat.
How Often To Do
Do this daily.
6. Cornstarch
Ingredients
- Cornstarch
Method
- Apply this on your sweat-prone areas.
- Leave it on.
Benefits
With anti-bacterial qualities and properties to keep the skin dry, this is a solution on how to remove body odour.
How Often To Do
Use daily.
7. Apple Cider Vinegar
Ingredients
- Apple Cider Vinegar – as needed
- Cotton balls
- Water – 1 cup
Method
- Dabbing Apple Cider Vinegar with cotton balls on your underarms and other parts of the body works as a body smell solution in itself.
- Another way is to add ¬Ω a cup of apple cider vinegar with 1 cup of water and use it as a deodorant.
Benefits
The acidic nature of this ingredient kills off the bacteria that cause the odour.
How Often To Do
It can be used as a replacement for conventional store-bought deodorant.
8. Rose Water
Ingredients
- Rose water – 3 tablespoon
- Apple cider vinegar – 1 tablespoon
- Spray bottle - 1
Method
- Mix in the ingredients in the spray bottle.
- Shake it well and spray like a deodorant.
- You can store the rest in a cool and dry space.
Benefits
Apart from the mild fragrance that rose water is famous for, it also contains astringent properties that reduce pores on the body and prevent the bacteria from growing. This is an excellent way on how to control body odour.
How Often To Do
Use it like a deodorant as and when required.
9. Lemon Juice
Ingredients
- Lemon – 1
- Water – few drops
Method
- It is the easiest answer on how to control body odour.
- Cut the lemon into two halves.
- Rub it on your odour-producing areas directly.
- If your skin is sensitive, mix the juice with the water before applying.
Benefits
Lemon is acidic in nature. It lowers down the pH level of the body, preventing the bacteria from thriving.
How Often To Do
Apply this daily for best results.
10. Tea Bags
Ingredients
- Unused tea bags – 4
- Water – 2 cups
Method
- Combine the water and the tea bags and let it boil till the colour is leeched onto the water.
- Mix this with your bathing water. Pour it over your body and let it sit for 15-20 minutes.
Benefits
Tea bags contain tannin (a class of astringent) that keeps the skin dry, that not just kills of harmful bacteria, but also prevents its formation.
How Often to Do
3-4 times a week is recommended for an effective body smell solution.
11. Green Tea
Ingredients
- Green tea leaves – as needed
- Water – 1 cup
Method
- This ingredient provides a two-way solution on how to stop body odour.
- Boil the leaves in the water.
- As the colour leeches, strain it.
- Use the strained leaves on the problem areas.
- Additionally, drink the tea that is made.
Benefits
Green tea is filled with anti-oxidants as well as tannin. Applying it on the skin dries it, preventing bacteria while drinking it flushes out the toxins.
How Often To Do
You can drink it once every day. But for external application, do it 4 times a week to prevent excessive drying.
12. Fennel
Ingredients
- Fennel seeds (crushed) – 1 teaspoon
- Water – 1 cup
- Honey – as required
Method
- Add the crushed seeds into the water and let it boil for 5-10 minutes.
- Strain the tea into a cup.
- Add honey to it for more flavour.
Benefits
Fennel seeds are considered to be laxatives that fight body odour. They also enhance the secretion of gastrointestinal juices for better digestion.
How Often To Do
Drink the tea every morning on an empty stomach.
13. Neem
Ingredients
- Neem leaves – few
- Water – 1 tablespoon
Method
- Add the leaves and the water in a blender or using a mortar and pestle set.
- Put the mixture into the areas that sweat more.
- Alternatively, boil the leaves in 1L of water till the colour is leeched onto the water.
- Add this to your bathing water, and take a bath with it.
Benefits
Neem has numerous benefits like anti-bacterial, antiseptic and anti-microbial properties that help to kill the odour-causing bacteria and remove the toxins. It is a multi-layered solution on how to cure body odor permanently.
How To Prevent Body Odour?
1. Bath Regularly
Do not forgo your bathing, irrespective of weather condition. It keeps the sweat and bacteria in check.
2. Wear Breathable Clothes
Wear fabrics that allow your skin to breathe – cotton. Synthetic fabric enhances the body odour, and may even cause rashes.
3. Avoid Closed Footwear With Socks For Longer Periods
Shoes made of a non-breathable material that is enclosed doesn’t allow the feet to breathe. It also causes sweating. Try avoiding wearing this for long durations.
4. Quit Tobacco And Smoking
Other than forming free-radicals on the body, it also increases the bacteria of the skin that causes odour. Avoid tobacco.
5. Drink Plenty Of Water
Water is necessary to flush out the toxins. Drink 8-10 glasses of water daily to keep yourself hydrated. Set alarms if needed.
6. Keep Body Dry
Sweat prone areas (like underarms, groin, under-breasts) are often not dried properly after a bath, leaving them as bacteria-breeding grounds. Dry them out completely.
7. Wash Clothes Properly
Make sure you wash the clothes with adequate detergents and dry them under the sun, properly. This reduces the chances of bacteria growth on your skin.
8. Dietary Changes
Avoid Spicy Odor Producing Foods
Spices like curry, garlic onion, as well as red meat and fried food enhance body odour. Try avoiding them.
Eat Green Vegetables
Green vegetables have chlorophyll which absorbs body odour. It is highly recommended in your diet.
Include Foods With Probiotics
Probiotics promote the growth of helpful bacteria called Lactobacilli Bifidus that helps in removing gut bacteria and overall odour. Yogurt and buttermilk are some food containing probiotics.
9. Shaving Underarm
Shaving underarms eliminate it as a bacteria-breeding ground. Do this especially during the summers.
10. Consult Doctor In Case Of Hyperhidrosis
While most body odours are common and home-made body smell solutions are enough. But in some cases of excessive sweating, do consider consulting your doctor.
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