Quick fact: Your sweat is not the culprit behind smelly armpits. It’s the bacteria that breaks down the protein in the sweat to release a pungent odour. Moreover, sweating is simply your body’s way of regulating temperature. Who knew? Well, that establishes the guilty party here.
The underarm smell is like an awkward byproduct that doesn’t discriminate and sneaks up on all of us. Sure, everything from puberty to indulging in more alcohol and spicy treats can further ramp up some serious underarm drama. So, think of the sweat and smell as the circle of life that happens to the best of us.
What Causes Underarm Smell?
So what causes smelly underarms? When you perspire, the apocrine glands (sweat glands) in your armpit produce sweat high in protein. According to research by the American Society for Microbiology, this viscous fluid (a.k.a. sweat) is naturally almost odourless. When bacteria present on your skin break down this sweat into acids, it results in an unpleasant smell which is the body odour. Your genetic makeup, diet, and hygiene also decide the kind of smell your body emanates. According to a scientific study published in the National Library of Medicine, each human has a unique odour signature that carries information related to his or her genetic makeup, as well as information about personal environmental variables, such as diet and hygiene. Here are some other reasons that can cause underarm smell:
- Certain health conditions might cause you to sweat more.
- Certain kinds of medication might increase the level of perspiration in your body.
- Not changing clothes immediately after working out.
- Not showering enough.
- Certain foods, like garlic and onion, can also cause the underarm smell.
- Hormonal changes could be another reason for body odour.
Home Remedies For Smelly Armpits
Since body odour (BO) is pretty natural and only gets stronger as the day wears on, the best you can do is try natural cures to score fresh-smelling armpits. So, here’s a lowdown on the home remedies for underarm odour.
1. Apple Cider Vinegar
Step 1: In a clean spray bottle, add 1 cup of apple cider vinegar and dilute it with ½ cup of water. Shake it well.
Step 2: Spray the solution on your underarms before sleeping and leave it overnight.
Step 3: In the morning, rinse off with lukewarm water.
2. Potato
Step 1: Peel a potato and cut it into thin slices.
Step 2: Rub the slices on your armpits. Let it sit for 30 minutes.
Step 3: Wash it off with water.
3. Coconut Oil
Step 1: Massage the coconut oil on your armpits for 15 minutes.
Step 2: Let it sit for 30 minutes.
Step 3: Rinse off with water and pat dry with a clean towel.
4. Aloe Vera
Step 1: Scoop the gel out of an aloe vera leaf into a bowl.
Step 2: Apply the gel to your underarms.
Step 3: After leaving it on for 30 minutes, wash it off with water.
5. Baking Soda
Step 1: In a bowl, add 2 tablespoons of baking soda and 1 tablespoon of lemon juice. Mix well till it forms a paste.
Step 2: Massage this mixture in circular motions on your armpits and let it sit for 10 minutes.
Step 3: Wash off with water.
6. Tea Tree Oil
Step 1: In a bowl, add 2 tablespoons of tea tree oil and 2 tablespoons of water. Stir it well.
Step 2: Apply copious amounts of this solution to your underarms and leave it on for 15 minutes.
Step 3: Wash off with cold water and follow it up with a moisturising lotion.
7. Epsom Salt
Step 1: In your bathwater, add 1 cup of Epsom salt and 3 drops of lavender essential oil.
Step 2: Now soak in the water for 15 minutes.
Step 3: Wash off with cold water and follow it up with a moisturising lotion.
8. Lemon Juice
Step 1: In a bowl, squeeze half a lemon and dilute it with 4 tablespoons of water.
Step 2: Directly apply this solution to your underarms and leave it on for 10 minutes.
Step 3: Wash off with lukewarm water.
9. Lavender Oil
Step 1: In a clean spray bottle, add 4 drops of lavender oil and dilute it with ½ cup of water. Shake it well.
Step 2: Spray the solution on your underarms before sleeping and leave it overnight.
Step 3: In the morning rinse off with lukewarm water.
10. Tomato
Step 1: Blend a fresh tomato and extract its juice into a bowl. Squeeze 2 drops of lemon juice and mix it well.
Step 2: Now massage this mixture on your armpits for 10 minutes.
Step 3: Rinse off with water.
How To Get Rid Of Body Odour With These Skin Care Products
We’ve rounded up a list of super-effective products to help beat body odour.
1. PLIX Pineapple Underarm Depigmentation Spray, For Lightening, Hyperpigmentation, Odour Protection
You can’t go wrong with this odour protection. It calls upon its blend of pineapple actives and niacinamide to tackle the odour emanating from bacteria thriving on sweat. So whether you are scaling mountains or manoeuvring your way onto the train or bus for your work commute, you will remain enveloped in a cocoon of soft fragrance laced with delicate floral notes. All of this with zero alcohol content. Genius.
2. PureSense Body Spray Hope Japanese Cherry Blossom for Women
We are officially swooned. Who wouldn’t be? Saturated with the extracts of delicate cherry blossoms, this body mist gives your underarms (often neglected) the care they deserve. The best part? This alcohol-free formula is designed to last all through your deadlines and dates. If you’ve got sensitive skin, your underarms will surely thank you for switching to this rescuer that’s easy on the skin.
3. Crazy Owl Your Skin Co. Energy Boost Aqua Musk Body Spray
If you are worried about toxins seeping in through your armpits and working their way into disrupting your body’s normal functioning, then this one’s made for you. This IFRA-certified fragrance is infused with the pleasant aroma of Aqua and White Floral notes, treating your underarms gently and keeping them smelling like musk all day long!
How To Prevent Sweaty Armpits?
Are you wondering about how you can get rid of armpit smell without a deodorant or any other skin care product? We’ve got your back! Here are some simple tricks and tips to keep in mind so you can keep the smelly underarm problem in control:
- Shower Daily
- This might sound incredibly simple, but you must take a shower daily. Even on weekends! In fact, if you feel unusually sweaty at the end of the day, no harm in sneaking in another quick shower before bed too.
- Change Clothes Frequently
- When your underarms sweat, the sweat gets absorbed by the clothes you’re wearing and this might lead to bad odour. One way to tackle this naturally is by changing clothes more frequently.
- Keep ‘em Dry!
- As much as possible, keep your underarms dry. This will prevent bacteria from breeding in the area.
- Don’t Shy Away from Shaving
- Further, you can also shave your armpits. This will also help in reducing sweat and odour.
- Check Your Wardrobe
- If you’re someone who sweats a lot, you should try to wear light, breathable fabrics like cotton. This will ensure you sweat as little as possible.
How To Prevent Under-Arm Smell
No matter how good a deodorant is, it won’t work well if you don’t know how to use it properly to prevent underarm odour. Always wait for the skin to dry post-shower before applying deodorant. The water molecules present on wet skin will prevent deodorant from penetrating the skin, therefore diluting its performance. The same goes for excess sweating. If you want to touch up your deodorant, absorb the excess sweat with a tissue, and allow the area to dry before reapplying the deodorant. Adding active-based skincare serums can also help prevent foul smell from your underarms. Serums are a concentrated liquid with potent ingredients that easily penetrate the skin to nourish it. Salicylic acid is a chemical exfoliator that goes deep into the layers of the skin to remove excess sebum, sweat, bacteria, and body odour. You can apply this once to twice a week before going to bed. For daily use, consider using a vitamin C serum. It’s rich in antioxidants that will prevent body odour. Moreover, it will also help fade under-arm pigmentation.
When To Seek Medical Help
While deodorants and skincare products can be effective, prolonged cases of body odour could be an indication of any underlying or undiagnosed health concern or hormonal change. Health concerns like diabetes, and chronic stress can lead to the body emitting more odour. To better understand, always consult a doctor to understand what may be the root cause of your body odour.
FAQs
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How to remove the smell from underarms with the best deos for women?
Once or twice a day spray a deodorant to keep smelling fresh. Best deodorants for women include:
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Suggest underarm pads for sweating.
Here are the recommended sweating pads.
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Suggest the best underarm roll-on.
Here are the highest-rated roll-on recommendations:
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Suggest some tips to get rid of the underarm smell.
- Wearing fresh clothes helps minimise body odour.
- Cut back on caffeine, alcohol, spicy food, cruciferous vegetables, and other such dietary choices that trigger body odour.
- Bathing with an antibacterial soap can help reduce bacteria that cause the pungent odour.
- Prefer clothes made from wool, silk and cotton that allow sweat to evaporate faster. Synthetic clothes, on the other hand, don’t allow your skin to breathe and trap the sweat on your skin which means a breeding ground for bacteria.
- Hair tends to trap sweat thus, providing a friendly environment for bacteria to multiply and result in body odour. This is why it’s necessary to regularly shave or wax the hair on your armpits.
