Sweat and Bacteria Interaction: The most common cause of a smelly armpit odour is the interaction between sweat and bacteria on the skin's surface.
There's a kind of soap-resistant bacteria that colonizes in the armpits and crotch, anywhere with patches of hair, that once it colonizes that area, it produces a pungent odor, and no amount of scrubbing will get rid of it, you have to shave the hair off, scrub like normal, and let new hairs regrow.
We all have natural bacteria on our skin and that's totally normal. However, when our sweat interacts with that bacteria, it can cause the production of compounds that can have a strong smell. This is especially true in the armpits, where the warm and moist environment encourages more bacteria to grow.
These glands release a milky fluid when you are stressed and are odorless until they come into contact with bacteria. Hair is particularly prone to trapping bacteria, which is why men are more likely to smell even after showering. In other words, lingering underarm odor is caused by enduring bacteria.
There are actionable steps you can take to control armpit odor and boost your confidence. Maintaining good hygiene is crucial. Regular washing of your underarms with antibacterial soap can help keep the bacteria population in check. Consider your diet.
Your body odor can change due to hormones, the food you eat, infection, medications or underlying conditions like diabetes. Prescription-strength antiperspirants or medications may help.
Diabetes - Fruity smell. Kidney disease - Bleach-like smell. Infectious diseases - Varies with location and infection. Overactive thyroid - Sour smell.
You can use a gentle body scrub on your armpits to exfoliate them. If you want to learn how to exfoliate your underarms naturally, you can also create your own body scrub with natural ingredients like sugar or coffee grounds. Apply the product in gentle, circular motions for a few seconds.
Vitamin D does more than just give you a sunny glow—it's also super important for keeping your skin and body in check. If you're low on it, your skin could let more bacteria do their thing, which = more body odor.
If you sense a little body odor, it's because your pubic hair is doing its job of trapping sweat, oil, and bacteria. To care for your pubic area, all you need to do is regularly rinse with water. Long story short, there is nothing dirty or unclean about pubic hair. There is no medical reason to remove it.
The truth is that when everything's normal, no one else smells any odors from a girl's vagina. If a girl has an infection like bacterial vaginosis, she may notice a fishy smell. But even then, it's unlikely that people around her will notice it.
Our vaginas are home to billions of bacteria and the balance of this bacteria changes constantly, creating different aromas varying from musty and fermented to coppery or sweet smelling. These smell variations are likely a result of your menstrual cycle, your hygiene habits, or just you.
Bacterial vaginosis is one of the most common causes of a smelly vagina, affecting 15% to 50% of women of reproductive age. 'It's a condition where there's an imbalance in the vaginal flora,' Dr Rosén explains. 'The first symptom is often a fishy smell, which can progress to a frothy, grey or green-ish discharge.
A strong vaginal odor may be a sign of vaginitis, or it may be a temporary smell related to your hygiene, lifestyle or other changes. Take note of whether you have other symptoms. If the odor is related to an infection, you'll usually notice other changes, like vaginal itching, burning and discharge.
People with uncontrolled diabetes can experience a fruity or acetone-like smell (think nail polish remover) on their breath or skin. This is due to the buildup of ketones in your bloodstream, which is a byproduct of fat breakdown.
Everyone has sweat glands, but some people have overactive ones. This means you might sweat more than usual, even after a shower. More sweat equals more food for bacteria, which equals more odor.
Many deodorants and antiperspirants also contain antimicrobials, like propylene glycol, triclosan and benzalkonium chloride, which decrease bacterial abundance and result in an altered skin microbiome in the armpits.