You're standing in a crowded train during rush hour and suddenly, the stale smell of sweet hits you like a ton of bricks.
But the person from whom this odour emanates is most likely oblivious to it.
In many people with unpleasant body odour, or BO for short, the smell has become so familiar, their nostrils are insensitive to it.
Most BO is caused by bacterial activity on sweet which has dried on the skin.
There are two types of sweat glands in the armpits.
While the eccrine glands produce sweat, the apocrine glands secrete an oily substance.
This oily substance is odourless, but when bacteria acts on it, new chemicals are produced, imparting that characteristic smell.
There are many causes of BO: 1.
Personal Hygiene Inadequate bathing or cleansing can lead to BO.
So if this is the cause, adopt better hygiene practices.
Shower regularly with anti-bacterial soaps.
Also use anti-perspirants, as these help reduce the local bacterial population.
Try different anti - perspirants as certain ingredients do not work for some people.
It also helps to remove armpit hair and to wash clothes after each wear ( use hot, soapy water).
And opt for natural fiber fabrics like cotton, as they absorb sweat better than synthetic materials.
2.
That time Of The Month For some women, menstruation and stress can dramatically increase the degree of body odour, so careful attention should be paid to personal hygiene as well as diet.
Some people find that they impart unpleasant body odour after eating garlic, fish, cumin, eggs, peanuts and curry, which can remain in the body's secretions for several hours.
So remember to take a balanced diet and drink lots of water.
3.
Health Problems Body odour can arise from metabolic disorders, taking certain drugs, obesity, diabetes and intertrigo - a rash along the armpit folds.
It can also be caused by imbalances that affect the amount of "friendly bacteria" in the digestive system.
This affects the body's ability to detoxify and can cause BO.
Imbalances can result from medications or a high - fat, high - sugar, low - fibre diet.
To normalise intestinal flora, take more products containing Lactobacillus acidophilus.
A Reading University study shows that people with body odour tend to have a zinc deficiency, so a daily multivitamin may also help.
4.
That Fishy Smell Fish odour syndrome is an inherited disorder where the person secretes a chemical that smells of rotting fish in her sweat, saliva and urine.
To reduce its intensity, avoid foods which are rich in carnitine and choline, such as peanuts, soy beans, eggs, liver and saltwater fish.
These leave a residue in the intestines which, if the body fails to break down, will produce that fishy odour.
Sweat Control If you find that thorough cleansing does not help, discuss these treatment options with your doctor : 1.
Topical Solutions Chlorhexidine 0.
05 per cent solution, an anti - bacterial and antiseptic solution, is available at pharmacies.
Daily application will help reduce the amount of bacteria, but this doesn't have any impact on sweat.
You can also try a 20 per cent aluminium chloride solution (brands like Driclor) to help control sweating.
It's used at night in armpits after washing and drying.
For it to be most effective, apply at bedtime when lying down and sweating ebbs.
You can also try wash product which contain tea tree oil - a natural anti - bacterial agent.
2.
Liposuction.
This procedure can be used to reduce the number of apocrine glands and hence apocrine secretion.
3.
Botox.
A small amount of the toxin is injected into problem areas.
But while the injection may lower body odour to some degree by reducing perspiration, it does not eliminate it.