BODY ODOR - causes and treatment tips

  Often times unrecognized by the person who has it but unpleasant to others; Body odor also called Bromhidrosis is a perceived unpleasant smell given off by the body when bacteria that lives on the skin (e.g. propionibacteria) breakdown sweat into acids. Sweat is odorless but if left on the skin for long, the process of break down takes place. Although body odor can have a nice and specific smell to individuals,it can be influenced by diet, gender, health and medications.

  Who’s affected?
-Children below the age of puberty rarely have body odor because the specialized glands only become active at puberty. Hence, it is commonly seen from puberty.
-The obese
-people who take spicy food regularly e.g curry
-people that sweat too much:
This could be restricted to some part of the body like the feet and palms
It could be all over the body commonly seen in some medical conditions like diabetes, hyperthyroidism, tuberculosis etc

   Sites commonly affected
It is most likely to occur in the feet, groin, armpits, genital and pubic hair and other hairs, belly button, anus, behind the ear.

   Is it important to see the doctor?
As stated above, some medical conditions are associated with increased sweating (e.g. hyperthyroidism, tuberculosis etc) while some change how a person smells (e.g. liver diseases, diabetes etc).If your body odor becomes persistent or causes you concern, seek medical care.

  Treatment Tips
-Keep the body clean e.g. wash the armpits, feet etc. regularly
-Hair slows down the evaporation of sweat, so shave it off.
-Use a deodorant or antiperspirant
-Don’t use a cloth more than once or tight fitted clothes
-Reduce the intake of spicy food
-Treat or manage the medical condition cause the increase sweating.