Get Rid of Body Odor Options

[Nugget]

Why you (sometimes) smell. - Every body part has bacteria that protects it from infectious agents in the environment. When that bacteria feeds on sweat and oils to live, it makes a by-product. It's that by-product that smells. So, if sweat and oils build up, bacteria multiplies and creates more by-product --- giving off a noticeable odor.

Scalp
Odor - A musty, almondy smell.
Cures::

• Wash hair when roots get greasy. Oil, flaky skin, and sweat bulidup make your hair slick, and your scalp starts to smell. This occurs at different times for everyone; straight fine hair gets greasy the quickest because it's easy for oil to cling to smooth hair.
• Shampoo more in summer, when you sweat a lot.
• Try a clear shampoo. If you wash daily and your scalp gets dry or irritated, use a clear shampoo, like Neutrogena Clean Replenishing. It has fewer drying chemicals.

Tip: If your scalp smells despite regular washing, see a dermatologish -- you may need help for yeast or fungus problem.

Mouth
Odor - A sulfury, rotten-egg smell.
Cures::

• Brush teeth two to three times daily with a fluoride toothpaste to eliminate food bits that bacteria feeds on. Make gentle, round motions over every tooth surface (front and back) for about 10 seconds.
• Brush your tongue as far back as you can reach. Food and bacteria get stuck in its grooves.
• Floss once a day to remove food from between teeth.
• Drink water to maintain saliva (saliva rinses away food and bacteria -- if your mouth is dry, bacteria will multiply).

Tip: It's hard for you to tell if your breath smells -- when you breathe out, air flows away from your nose. Ask a friend instead.

Armpits
Odor - A tangy, sour smell.
Cures::

• Use an antiperspirant/deodorant. The aluminum in antiperspirants blocks sweat glands, and deodorant chemicals mask odor. Every girl's chemisty is different, so you may need to try a few brands to find the one that works best for you.
• Wear clothes made of cotton, which absorbs and releases moisture, or certain synthetic fabrics like Coolmax that pull sweat away from your skin.

Tip: If you soak through clothes even when you're not active, visit your doctor. Excessive sweating can be treated.

Belly button
Odor - A sharp, cheesy smell.
Cures::

• Wash gently in and around your navel with antibacterial soap to remove sweat, oils, and bacteria that can get trapped there.
• Dry it with a towel -- if you don't, moisture can spur yeast (a fungus) to grow, causing itchiness and odor.
• Sprinkle on Zeasorb, a moisture-absorbing powder. Don't rub it in with your fingers because you could transfer the bacteria that's on them; lie flat and sprinkle it in. Avoid powders with cornstarch -- bacteria and fungus feed on it.

Tip: Pierced navels can get infected. See a doctor if you notice a strong smell that doesn't go away or redness or discharge.

Vagina
Odor - A tangy, sour smell
Cures::

• Wash your labia and pubic hair daily with a mild soap, like Dove, to rinse away sweat and secretions. Don't use douches or sprays -- they irritate delicate skin.
• Wear cotton underwear - it allows moisture to evaporate and keeps bacteria from getting trapped. Or try looser-fitting boy shorts, which let air flow into the vaginal area.
• Sleep without underwear (when you don't have your period) -- this can reduce the buildup of sweat.

Tip: If the odor is fishy or you have a chunky discharge, see a gynecologist -- you could havea yeast infection or an STD.

Gas
Odor - A sulfury, rotten-egg smell.
Cures::

• Take a Beano before you eat gas-causing foods to aid digestion. Foods like beans, onions, apples, broccoli, and dairy are hard to break down because they contain compounds we can't digest; our bodies expell them as gas. And sulfur-rich foods, like eggs, meat, and cauliflower, can produce especially stinky farts.
• Figure out which foods cause you gas and go easy of digestive bacteria in our guts.

Tip: If you have a lot of gas after eating dairy, you may be lactose-intolerant (lactose is a dairy sugar). See a doctor for a test.

Feet
Odor - A cheesy smell.
Cures::

• Wash feet daily with mild (not antibacterial) soap.
• Wear sandals when you can. Feet have more sweat glands then almost any other body part, so t's good to expose as much skin on your feet as possible so sweat can evaporate.
• Wear cotton/acrylic socks, and change them once a day. This blend absorbs moisture away from the feet.
• Sprinkle Zeasorb powder inside the shoes and on your feet before you put shoes on if you still have an odor problem.

Tip: Place shoes in the sunlight for three hours to kill odor-causing bacteria and fungi. If they still smell, replace them.


Thanks to Seventeen magazine.