Your sweat or perspiration is composed mainly of water and salt (sodium chloride) and contains trace amounts of other electrolytes—substances that help regulate the balance of fluids in your body. Sweating is natural and in fact good for your body.
But sweating excessively can be embarrassing and annoying. Besides, the body odor that arises as a result of sweating is even more irritating. Perspiration as such is virtually odorless. But when it comes in contact with the bacteria on your skin, the smell that emanates can be extremely unpleasant.
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How body odor is caused
Your skin has two types of sweat glands—eccrine glands and apocrine glands. Eccrine glands are spread out over most part of your body surface. Apocrine glands are present at areas where there is plenty of hair growth such as the groin, scalp and armpits. |
| When your body temperature rises your brain sends a signal to the eccrine glands to release fluid (sweat) onto the surface of your skin. The released perspiration cools your body and maintains your body temperature as it evaporates. Your apocrine glands secrete a fatty sweat—not on the surface of your skin—but directly into the tiny tubes of the glands. When the walls of these tiny tubes shrink, the fatty sweat is pushed out onto the surface of your skin where bacteria begin to break down the fatty sweat. The breakdown of apocrine sweat causes unpleasant body odor. | |
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Click here to view an animation on sweating
Factors that trigger excessive sweating
There are a few factors (see Box) that trigger excessive sweating in some individuals. All factors are not applicable to all people.
For example, if you sweat heavily the reason could be hormonal imbalance.
If your friend sweats too much the reason behind that could be a spicy diet. So the factor/s for heavy sweating differs from individual to individual.
Tips to beat body odor
Here are a few tips that will help you fight excessive sweating and body odor: | | Why you sweat heavily | | Strenuous exercise | Hot and humid weather conditions | | Nervousness | | Anxiety & Stress | | Certain medications | | Certain diet—such as spicy diet | | drinking hot beverages, alcohol, etc. | | Certain health conditions | | Hormonal imbalances | | Heredity | | Menopause |
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- Take bath everyday—if possible twice. This will reduce the bacteria on your skin.
- Dry yourself well after a bath. Bacteria and fungi thrive well in moist environments like the armpits, toes, etc. and cause bad odor.
- Use talcum powder to absorb sweat and unwanted dampness.
- Maintain two or more pairs of footwear. Try not to wear the same pair for 2 or more days in a row.
- Choose leather footwear over synthetic ones.
- Wear cotton socks—they absorb sweat better than synthetic material.
- Change socks and undergarments everyday.
- Give your feet enough air. When you are at home, keep your feet bare.
- Control stress by doing light exercises or other techniques like yoga and meditation.
- Avoid foods that trigger sweating and body odor in you.
- Use antiperspirants and deodorants.
- Wear cotton clothing.
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