Body odor Symptoms 

Body odor is a normal phenomenon, and it isn’t really much of a problem under normal circumstances. Excessive or unpleasant body odor can also be extremely common however and this can be a source of great discomfort to others and a source of extreme embarrassment to the concerned individual. While all of us have had the unpleasant experience of being subjected to someone else’s foul body odor, you very often don’t realize it when the source of that foul smell is yourself.

Body odor that is extremely strong can prove to be a source of great embarrassment to an individual and severely damage self confidence. People who are aware that they have a body odor problem tend to avoid or minimize social interaction and contact with others, at the work place or even in their private lives. Although the problem of body odor may be non-threatening and seem trivial enough, the implications of the condition are therefore a lot more far reaching.



If you are plagued with a strong body odor or underarm body odor you need not panic and throw your hands up in despair though. There are plenty of body odor remedies for women and men that can help save you and those around you from a lot of unnecessary discomfort. While the use of deodorants and body sprays can help minimize or camouflage the presence of body odor smell, these methods are not always very effective, and don’t really solve the problem. They can simply help mask it to some extent. It is important to understand what causes body odor as this will help to prevent body odor from becoming a problem.



There are a lot of misconceptions that people have when it comes to body odor, and a common belief is that perspiration is the cause and source of the foul smell. Sweat in reality however is odorless. Body odor is caused by the activity of bacteria on sweat. Perspiration is a normal human biological process and response to certain conditions. We all perspire, but sweat does become a problem when you find yourself suffering from excessive body odor. Body odor, medically also referred to as bromhidrosis, is caused by increased bacterial activity on your skin surface when you sweat. The source of the foul or fishy body odor is therefore not from the sweat itself, but from the action of bacteria.

Bacterial activity on the sweat causes chemical reactions that release the unpleasant odor. This is why areas that are more prone to sweating and that remain moist are more likely to emanate such a foul odor. The feet, armpits, breasts and groins are therefore a lot more susceptible to the problem because of the higher perspiration in these areas. Keeping these areas clean and dry is therefore the most promising approach to get rid of body odor.

The most important step you need to take if you wish to eliminate body odor would be to maintain high levels of personal hygiene. Make sure you have a bath regularly and use a scrubber and anti-bacterial soap to cleanse your skin. Make sure you pay particular attention to areas that are most prone to sweating. Levels of bacterial fauna and activity on the skin differ from person to person, and high levels of bacterial fauna can make the problem of body odor a lot more severe, and it would be necessary to bathe a lot more frequently.

Dry yourself well after baths and also make it a point to use and antibacterial and antifungal powder. Wearing clean clothes and making sure that you wash clothes well to get rid of body odor in clothes is just as important. It would also help to identify conditions and situations that cause an increase in perspiration so that you can minimize or avoid them. Sweating isn’t just caused by heat and humidity, it’s also caused by exertion, stress, nervousness, and certain foods as well.



Sweating is however only a minor nuisance at worst. Unusual changes in patterns of perspiration should however cause some concern, and changes in body odor, or an increase in body odor, should also be attended to. Such changes could be indicative of the presence of some underlying medical condition. Prompt medical diagnosis and treatment of the underlying condition would help to eliminate the problem of body odor.



Normal body odor causes from sweating can however be treated quite effectively at home.



Body odor is one of the unpleasant things that we don’t expect. Body odor is affected by what sweat glands emit. If body odor is very unpleasant it may affect your social life.

Symptoms for Body Odor

Body Odor Symptoms

Causes for Body Odor

Body Odor Causes

Women often complain that some men tend to smell a lot and this really isn’t untrue. So what causes body odor in men, women, toddlers and young children?



The human body actually secretes two types of sweat, with eccrine sweat being secreted to regulate and control body temperature such as when the weather is hot or if you exert a lot. This type of sweat is rarely responsible for any body odor. Apocrine sweat however, which is type of exudation is secreted in certain areas like the armpits, groin, hands, and feet is actually the source of the trouble.

This type of sweat doesn’t smell either but it has a high fat and protein content and the bacteria react with this type of sweat to release the foul odor. This type of sweat is not produced in children which is why you are unlikely to come across the problem of strong body odor in children. Production of apocrine sweat only begins with rising levels of testosterone from puberty.



Certain foods are also believed to be possible body odor causes, but their effect on body odor is debated. Nutritional deficiencies are however a very likely cause of body odor. Zinc deficiency is not uncommon and is very often a possible cause of body odor, as zinc is necessary for detoxification in the body and the waste management process. Blood sugar imbalances can also have an effect on body odor.



Body odor may be due to serious illness. Body odor may be due to kidney disease, fungal infections liver disease and so on If you take some strong medicines then the smell of those medicines may be present in your body odor. Diabetic patients may smell of acetone because of insulin that they take. If you drink alcohol, smoke cigarette or cigar you will have an unpleasant body odor. Body odor may also be due to zinc deficiency, cavities, toxins and so on. It is often related with sweating of the body, but the unpleasant odor is mainly due to bacteria present in the sweat. The major non-food reason for body odor due to sweating is the sweat glands under the arms and in the groin area. Poor hygiene is the most common reason for body odor.

Remedies for Body Odor

Remedies for Sweat

Use antibacterial soap or deodorant soap to combat body odor due to sweating. Wear cotton clothes during summer so that the sweat is soaked up. Instead of using deodorant, wipe your sweat producing areas like armpit using white vinegar or alcohol. Avoid using antiperspirant because they clog sweat glands, use alum instead. Apply some baking soda on arm pit, it will absorb sweat and kill bacteria.

Other Remedies

If your body odor is caused due to any medicine that you are on, then you need to talk to your doctor. Soak yourself for 15 minutes in bath water with couple of cups of tomato juice in it. Use baby powder to keep areas of heavy perspiration dry. Apple cider vinegar can be used to combat under arm odor.

Diet for Body Odor

Try and follow a balanced diet and cut down on the junk foods and oily foods. Avoid eating foods that are extremely spicy. Including a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables in your diet will help provide you with the nutrition you need. The high fiber content in fruits can also be supplemented with whole cereals that are rich in fiber. This will help with digestion and improve the efficiency of your body’s detoxification system. If the problem of body odor is caused by zinc deficiency your doctor can recommend the appropriate dosage of zinc or mineral supplements. Simple modifications to your diet and lifestyle can go a great way to help eliminate body odor naturally or at least control it, no matter what the causes of strong body odor may be.

Diet for Body Odor

Diet to Avoid

There is a direct relation between what a person eats and his body odor. Avoid refined sugar, white flour, hydrogenated oils and other processed foods. Avoid red meat because it releases many toxins into the blood stream. Avoid foods that lack fiber. Avoid alcohol, caffeine, cumin and garlic.

Eat Healthy Food

Eat a healthy diet which contains whole grains, lots of leafy vegetables, sprouts, fresh fruits, soy products, raw nuts and so on.

Suggestion for Body Odor

Other suggestions for Body Odor

Never repeat unwashed clothes, especially undergarments during summer, it will aggravate the odor. Wax your armpits regularly. People who wear shoes for long time complain of foot odor. It is caused by rapid bacteria growth due to excess sweating of feet. To avoid foot odor wear cotton socks, never use socks repeatedly. Wash your feet properly. If possible wear open foot wear like leather sandals. All the above mentioned remedies for body odor can be used for preventing foot odor