Causes Of Underarm Odor
Body odor from armpits is quite a common problem amongst individuals of any race, sex or social status. The odor emitted can vary from having a negligible effect to those people in close proximity, to being extremely offensive – causing a number of people making a conscious effort to avoid close interaction with the affected individual. The appearance and general presentation of an individual is becoming increasingly important when dealing with other individuals on not a professional front, but a personal one as well. this is probably the main reason that a number of people all over the world are constantly looking out for options and treatments to help not only look a whole lot better, but smell a whole lot better too. Armpit odor will usually begin only when a person reaches puberty as this is the time when the glands start to work. The sweat glands in the armpits are of a certain type and produce sweat that consists mainly of water – used to cool the body by way of evaporation and also helps moisten the surfaces of the body where most friction takes place. Under normal circumstances, this sweat is odorless and develops it characteristic smell when the sweat is broken down by the hair and skin cells in the armpits, then consumed by bacteria. The bacteria are the substance that triggers the odor as it releases a chemical called 3-methyl-2-hexenoic acid. The bacteria is present in about 90% of all men and 70% of all women while the bacteria in women also produce a much milder form of the odor.
Remedies For Smelly Armpits
One of the most obvious and practiced forms of controlling armpit odor is the use of antiperspirants and deodorants. The antiperspirants are designed to act like an additional layer of skin, thereby preventing the perspiration from being released. The absence of sweat prevents the bacteria from growing. The use of lime juice is another rather simple home remedy in the treatment of excessive armpit odor, where all you need to do is cut a lemon into two portions and rub each half into your armpits. This additionally helps exfoliate your skin as well, thereby removing dead skin cells that cling on to the upper layers of the skin; making way for the newer skin cells to come to the fore. Applying some malt vinegar on the armpits over the course of the night will also significantly help reduce the amount of odor emitted from the armpits. Applying the vinegar to the armpits after a shower will help neutralize the bacteria that cling to the glands.
