How to Control Body Odor
Develop and follow a good daily hygiene routine., Make your skin less hospitable to odor causing bacteria., Use baby wipes on the go., Buy a deodorant that contains aluminum chloride., Prepare your armpits before you apply deodorant., Apply...
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Develop and follow a good daily hygiene routine.
A good daily hygiene routine will help minimize the bacteria that cause offensive body odor.
Include the following practices in your daily routine.
Shower or take a bath daily.
Wash your entire body with antibacterial body wash or soap, paying special attention to your underarms, groin, and feet.
Use a washcloth or pouf to wash these areas thoroughly.
Shave your armpits daily.
Hair provides additional surface area for bacteria to multiply, but by shaving daily you will reduce the number of odor causing bacteria on your body.
Dry yourself thoroughly.
After you get squeaky lean, dry yourself off with a clean, dry towel.
Excess moisture provides a breeding ground for bacteria, so dry your armpits especially well. -
Step 2: Make your skin less hospitable to odor causing bacteria.
After showering and before applying deodorant, spritz your underarms with white or apple cider vinegar and then wipe them dry with a cloth.
This extra step will reduce the number of odor causing bacteria on your skin and help you to smell better all day. , In addition to showering daily, keep your armpits and other parts of your body clean and sweat free by using baby wipes or adult body wipes. , Although some scientists have suggested a link between aluminum chloride deodorants and breast cancer, conclusive evidence of this link has yet to be found.If you are still concerned, you can purchase a deodorant without aluminum chloride.
However, deodorants without aluminum chloride will not be as effective against sweating.
The aluminum chloride in antiperspirant deodorants will reduce sweating and less sweat means less odor causing bacteria.
If your body odor is especially strong, ask your doctor about a prescription strength deodorant. , Make sure that your armpits are clean and dry.
It is best to apply deodorant right after you have showered, but if it has been a few hours since your last shower, use a washcloth and soap to clean your armpits and remove any excess sweat.
Then, dry your armpits thoroughly before you apply your deodorant. , Apply your deodorant once in the morning and again in the afternoon or evening.
Deodorant wears off as you move and sweat throughout the day, so a second application is crucial for keeping dry and maintaining a pleasant scent. , Do not re-wear clothing—especially shirts, undergarments, and socks—because odor causing bacteria can attach to clothing and multiply. , Since washing your dry clean only garments every time you wear them may not be an option, you can keep odor causing bacteria at bay with a simple vinegar and water solution.For your dry clean only items, prepare a 50/50 mixture of vinegar and water, turn the garment inside out, and spritz a little of the vinegar/water mixture onto the underarm area of your garment. (Spot test your garment first to make sure the vinegar solution does not cause any discoloration.) Repeat this process after each wear. , Stash an appropriate spare shirt in your car, gym bag, and/or office so that you can change out of sweaty clothing on the go. , Moisture wicking clothing is specially designed to help keep you dry during workouts.
Wearing moisture wicking clothing will reduce the amount of sweat and bacteria on your body and your clothing. , Some foods can contribute to body odor, so it is worthwhile to think about what you eat and consider reducing or eliminating foods that may be making your situation worse.
Think about how often you include the following foods in your diet.
Spicy foods.
Foods that are spicy may significantly raise your body temperature and make you sweat more than usual.
Meat.
A study published in Chemical Senses found that men who abstained from meat for 2 weeks smelled better to the opposite sex than men who did not abstain.Sulfurous foods.
Some foods contain higher amounts of sulfur than other foods, which contribute to body odor.
Limit your intake of eggs, cheese, onions, garlic, broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower.
Alcohol.
When you drink alcoholic beverages, the unpleasant smell of of the alcohol may linger on your skin and breath.Caffeine.
Drinking too much coffee or other caffeinated beverages (cola, tea, etc.) may cause you to sweat more than usual., This process may be difficult, especially if some of your favorite foods and beverages seem to be contributing to your body odor.
But remember your reasons for reducing or eliminating these items and go slowly.
Try reducing or eliminating one item per week until you have made the necessary adjustments. , Chew on parsley after dinner, eat oranges or apples between meals, drink water with lemon throughout the day, sip herbal tea instead of your usual afternoon coffee, or add a sprinkle of cinnamon to your morning oatmeal. -
Step 3: Use baby wipes on the go.
-
Step 4: Buy a deodorant that contains aluminum chloride.
-
Step 5: Prepare your armpits before you apply deodorant.
-
Step 6: Apply deodorant to your underarms twice daily.
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Step 7: Always wear clean clothing and wash your clothing after each use.
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Step 8: Spritz your dry clean only items with a vinegar and water solution.
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Step 9: Keep a set of clean dry clothes handy.
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Step 10: Invest in some moisture wicking clothing.
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Step 11: Evaluate your diet.
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Step 12: Reduce or eliminate the foods that you identify as potential contributors to your body odor.
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Step 13: Incorporate more foods and beverages into your diet that help to make you smell nice.
Detailed Guide
A good daily hygiene routine will help minimize the bacteria that cause offensive body odor.
Include the following practices in your daily routine.
Shower or take a bath daily.
Wash your entire body with antibacterial body wash or soap, paying special attention to your underarms, groin, and feet.
Use a washcloth or pouf to wash these areas thoroughly.
Shave your armpits daily.
Hair provides additional surface area for bacteria to multiply, but by shaving daily you will reduce the number of odor causing bacteria on your body.
Dry yourself thoroughly.
After you get squeaky lean, dry yourself off with a clean, dry towel.
Excess moisture provides a breeding ground for bacteria, so dry your armpits especially well.
After showering and before applying deodorant, spritz your underarms with white or apple cider vinegar and then wipe them dry with a cloth.
This extra step will reduce the number of odor causing bacteria on your skin and help you to smell better all day. , In addition to showering daily, keep your armpits and other parts of your body clean and sweat free by using baby wipes or adult body wipes. , Although some scientists have suggested a link between aluminum chloride deodorants and breast cancer, conclusive evidence of this link has yet to be found.If you are still concerned, you can purchase a deodorant without aluminum chloride.
However, deodorants without aluminum chloride will not be as effective against sweating.
The aluminum chloride in antiperspirant deodorants will reduce sweating and less sweat means less odor causing bacteria.
If your body odor is especially strong, ask your doctor about a prescription strength deodorant. , Make sure that your armpits are clean and dry.
It is best to apply deodorant right after you have showered, but if it has been a few hours since your last shower, use a washcloth and soap to clean your armpits and remove any excess sweat.
Then, dry your armpits thoroughly before you apply your deodorant. , Apply your deodorant once in the morning and again in the afternoon or evening.
Deodorant wears off as you move and sweat throughout the day, so a second application is crucial for keeping dry and maintaining a pleasant scent. , Do not re-wear clothing—especially shirts, undergarments, and socks—because odor causing bacteria can attach to clothing and multiply. , Since washing your dry clean only garments every time you wear them may not be an option, you can keep odor causing bacteria at bay with a simple vinegar and water solution.For your dry clean only items, prepare a 50/50 mixture of vinegar and water, turn the garment inside out, and spritz a little of the vinegar/water mixture onto the underarm area of your garment. (Spot test your garment first to make sure the vinegar solution does not cause any discoloration.) Repeat this process after each wear. , Stash an appropriate spare shirt in your car, gym bag, and/or office so that you can change out of sweaty clothing on the go. , Moisture wicking clothing is specially designed to help keep you dry during workouts.
Wearing moisture wicking clothing will reduce the amount of sweat and bacteria on your body and your clothing. , Some foods can contribute to body odor, so it is worthwhile to think about what you eat and consider reducing or eliminating foods that may be making your situation worse.
Think about how often you include the following foods in your diet.
Spicy foods.
Foods that are spicy may significantly raise your body temperature and make you sweat more than usual.
Meat.
A study published in Chemical Senses found that men who abstained from meat for 2 weeks smelled better to the opposite sex than men who did not abstain.Sulfurous foods.
Some foods contain higher amounts of sulfur than other foods, which contribute to body odor.
Limit your intake of eggs, cheese, onions, garlic, broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower.
Alcohol.
When you drink alcoholic beverages, the unpleasant smell of of the alcohol may linger on your skin and breath.Caffeine.
Drinking too much coffee or other caffeinated beverages (cola, tea, etc.) may cause you to sweat more than usual., This process may be difficult, especially if some of your favorite foods and beverages seem to be contributing to your body odor.
But remember your reasons for reducing or eliminating these items and go slowly.
Try reducing or eliminating one item per week until you have made the necessary adjustments. , Chew on parsley after dinner, eat oranges or apples between meals, drink water with lemon throughout the day, sip herbal tea instead of your usual afternoon coffee, or add a sprinkle of cinnamon to your morning oatmeal.
About the Author
Marilyn Long
Marilyn Long is an experienced writer with over 23 years of expertise in lifestyle and practical guides. Passionate about sharing practical knowledge, Marilyn creates easy-to-follow guides that help readers achieve their goals.
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