Content

• Steps
• Method 1 of 4: Improving Personal Hygiene
• Method 2 of 4: Improving Your Lifestyle
• Method 3 of 4: Using Natural Antiperspirants
• Method 4 of 4: What Causes Body Odor
• Tips

Natural body odor confuses many people and they try to get rid of it. Fortunately, this can be done in natural ways.

Steps

Method 1 of 4: Improving Personal Hygiene

1. 1 Shower or bathe regularly. Body odor is caused by bacteria that interact with the sweat produced by the sweat glands, so you should take a bath or shower regularly. Use a mild vegetable oil-based soap and lather well with it. The longer you lather and the more lather you get, the better you will get bacteria off your skin.
   • Not all soaps are antibacterial and there is no need to use special antibacterial soaps. Try peppermint-scented soap. Peppermint oil is a mild antiseptic and helps reduce body odor.
   • It is best to shower with soap, although you can simply rinse with water - this is still preferable to nothing. If you can't take a shower, you can rub your skin with sand or a simple washcloth to help remove bacteria and sebum. This method can be used, for example, during outdoor recreation.
2. 2 Don't forget properly dry. This is especially important in areas that are most susceptible to odor, such as the groin, underarms, and the area around the nipples. In addition, make sure that the skin in the folds of the body (under the breast, in the groin and abdomen) is completely dry.
   • Do not use starch as a powder. Many doctors believe that starch is food for the fungus. Use unflavored talcum powder.
3. 3 Remove bacteria food. For example, you can reduce body odor by shaving your armpits. Also, clean the inside of your shoes regularly, otherwise bacteria can easily build up in them. If possible, use insoles that can be removed from the shoe, cleaned and dried.
4. 4 Wear clean cotton clothing. Choose clothing made from natural materials such as cotton, silk or wool. If you exercise and sweat, you can wear synthetic clothes that absorb moisture well, but shower and wear natural fabrics after exercise.
   • Cotton fabrics allow the skin to breathe and do not trap sweat. This keeps the skin healthy and dry, which helps prevent odor.
5. 5 Avoid wearing closed-toed shoes with socks for extended periods of time. In such shoes, feet do not “breathe” well and acquire an unpleasant odor if you sweat a lot. This is especially true if the shoe is made of a material that is poorly breathable. Wear sandals, flip flops, and other lightweight open-toed shoes whenever possible.

Method 2 of 4: Improving Your Lifestyle

1. 1 Quit smoking and chew tobacco. Smoking and chewing tobacco leads to the formation of free radicals that are harmful to the body. In addition, these bad habits contribute to the development of bacteria on the skin that cause unpleasant odor.
2. 2 Drink plenty of water. Water is an excellent solvent that flushes toxins out of the body. Water is a neutral liquid and prevents the formation of harmful bacteria in the intestines. Drink 8–10 glasses (2–2.5 liters) of water daily to help prevent dehydration, keep your skin healthy, and avoid unpleasant odors.
3. 3 Eat probiotic foods. Probiotics are naturally-occurring beneficial bacteria that prevent harmful bacteria from growing in the intestines. Probiotics promote the growth of lactobacilli and bifidobacteria. These bacteria improve digestion and reduce the amount of toxins in the intestines. Probiotics are found in yoghurt and buttermilk.
   • It is very beneficial to eat 1 glass of probiotic foods daily for 6 months. This way you will improve your health - it is possible that body odor will decrease due to the fact that digestion will improve!
4. 4 Avoid foods that increase odor from your diet. Many types of food, such as fatty foods (fatty meats, poultry with skin, fried foods) and certain spices (curries, garlic, onions), can affect body odor. Stop eating these foods for 2-4 weeks and see if it helps.
   • For some people, coffee and caffeinated drinks can increase body odor.
   • The following foods and drinks can also cause body odor: alcohol, asparagus, cumin (cumin), red meat.
5. 5 Eat enough green vegetables. Body odor can be caused by a lack of green vegetables. Chlorophyllin in these vegetables is a natural odor-absorbing agent.

Method 3 of 4: Using Natural Antiperspirants

1. 1 Buy natural antiperspirants. If you don't want to use standard antiperspirants or deodorants, look for natural substitutes. There are many natural remedies on the market.
2. 2 Make your own antiperspirant. There are many recipes on the internet, and one of them is listed below. Mix 3/4 cup (100 grams) arrowroot (arrowroot starch) with 4 teaspoons (15 grams) of aluminum-free baking powder. Melt 6 tablespoons (90 ml) of organic cocoa or mango butter and 2 tablespoons (30 ml) of unrefined coconut oil together in a double boiler. Stir in the melted ingredients, then add 1/2 teaspoon (2.5 milliliters) of lemongrass essential oil.
   • Store the mixture in a resealable glass jar. The jar does not need to be placed in the refrigerator.
3. 3 Get rid of body odor with hydrogen peroxide solution, which has antibacterial properties. Take a glass (250 ml) of water and add 1 teaspoon (5 ml) of 3% hydrogen peroxide solution to it. Soak a cotton swab in the resulting solution, squeeze out excess liquid, and wipe the armpits, groin, and soles of your feet.
4. 4 Wipe your skin with apple cider vinegar. Apple cider vinegar kills odor-causing bacteria. Soak your feet every day using a solution of 1 part apple cider vinegar and 3 parts water. Pour some solution into a spray bottle and spray it on your armpits.
   • Apple cider vinegar is quite powerful and can cause burning and itching in people with sensitive skin. Because of this, test the apple cider vinegar solution on a small area of ​​skin first, and never apply it to your newly shaved armpits.
5. 5 Apply tea tree oil to your skin. Take a glass (250 ml) witch hazel hydrolate and add 8-10 drops of tea tree oil to it. Pour the solution into a spray bottle and use as a natural deodorant, especially after sports. Witch hazel is an astringent and reduces perspiration, while tea tree oil has antibacterial properties.
   • Tea tree oil is known for its antiseptic properties and has a strong, pleasant scent.
   • When applied to the skin, tea tree oil destroys bacteria and thus prevents the formation of toxins.

Method 4 of 4: What Causes Body Odor

1. 1 Find out why the body smells. Body odor, also known as bromhidrosis or osmidrosis, is caused by bacteria that break down proteins present on the skin. The specific smell depends on the type of bacteria, the proteins being broken down, the acids produced, the food consumed, the amount of sweat and overall health.
   • Bad body odor is more common with diabetes, hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating), those taking certain medications, and obese people.
   • When we sweat, bacteria on our skin break down sweat and proteins into two main acids - propionic and isovaleric - that cause body odor. These acids are produced by two different types of bacteria. Propionic acid is secreted by propionic acid bacteria. Propionic acid smells like vinegar. Isovaleric acid is secreted by the epidermal staphylococcus and resembles cheese in smell (the same bacteria are used in the production of some types of cheeses).
2. 2 Think about where the smell might appear. Typically, these are folds of skin and other areas prone to increased sweating - feet, groin, armpits, genitals, areas of the body covered with hair, navel, anus, and skin behind the ears. Sweat can appear elsewhere, albeit less intensely.
3. 3 Please note that the smell of your feet is different from the rest of your body. The feet have a slightly different odor. Exocrine sweat glands are also located on the feet, but bOMost of the time people wear socks and shoes (usually made of synthetic materials), which makes it difficult for sweat to evaporate.
   • Unlike cotton or leather, synthetic materials trap sweat and prevent it from evaporating (with the exception of special materials).
   • The accumulated sweat serves as a favorable environment for the growth of the fungus. Many types of fungi create an unpleasant odor.
4. 4 Consider other factors that affect body odor. For example, body odor can change with age. Children before puberty have significantly less odor. During puberty, androgens are released in the body and contribute to unpleasant body odor.
5. 5 Consider if you should see a doctor. Odor can usually be managed with home remedies, but sometimes it is worth consulting with your doctor. In some cases, you should see a dermatologist. Make an appointment with your doctor if you experience any of the following:
   • you tried to deal with the problem, but you were not able to eliminate or even reduce the odor within 2-3 weeks;
   • you sweat much more or less than usual;
   • sweating interferes with your daily life;
   • you started to sweat a lot at night;
   • your body odor has changed dramatically.

Tips

• Certain types of seafood, such as tuna and swordfish, contain high levels of mercury, which is toxic and can increase body odor.