Causes of Body Odor and Its Social Implications

Book Review January 16, 2008

I have absolutely no hesitation in saying "Stop Sweating and Start Living" is going to put antiperspirant companies out of business. I was reluctant at first to endorse any product but this book was different because the remedies it suggests are all-natural and target the root causes of problem sweating. My only complaint about the book is that it is only available as a downloadable ebook and not as a paperback. It's not available on Amazon or anywhere else. But the instant download feature is probably popular with people overseas and those who want to get started right away. I strongly recommend "Stop Sweating and Start Living" to anyone who sweats excessively in the underarm, hand, foot, face or back areas. - James Chambers

Do you feel ashamed when summer comes around because you simply can’t stop stinking to the high heavens? You must be desperate to know the causes of the strong underarm odor from which you suffer. Well this article aims to help you in that regard.

To begin with let us make an important point. We generally believe that underarm perspiration is the direct cause of underarm odor. However perspiration by itself is always odorless and it is the bacteria present on the skin and other sources that always cause the odor. Anaerobic bacteria which begin flourishing when the body doesn’t have enough oxygen may very well be the cause of underarm odor.

Also as the body’s metabolism begins to work the process creates unpleasant odors which is the body’s way of ridding itself of waste products. Any imbalances in metabolism invariably result in stronger odors.

Even more simply body odor is sometimes simply a result of irregular bathing or inadequate or no cleaning of clothes. If that is the cause then the solution is equally simple. Follow a better hygiene routine; make sure you bathe and wash your clothes regularly and when you buy your clothes try and make sure they are made of natural fibers like cotton wool and silk.

Talking about waste products we must consider toxins as a possible source of body or underarm odor. In today’s world we are constantly exposed to toxins in our homes diets and external surroundings. These toxins accumulate in our bodies when the organs that are meant to eliminate them cannot satisfactorily do so. In other words when the liver intestines and kidneys are clogged or malfunctioning the result is that odors emanate from the body. You may already be under medication for liver and kidney-related ailments but if not you can go through a detoxification program by cleansing the liver kidneys and colon.

If your diet is imbalanced resulting in constipation or a deficiency of minerals like magnesium and zinc you can fall victim to body odor. Because of certain people’s body chemistry they can emit a very distinctive and offensive body odor. For instance you can radiate a ‘fishy’ smell if your body cannot metabolize foods containing large amounts of protein such as eggs fish liver and legumes. To get rid of this cut out these products from your diet. Onions garlic curry certain spicy foods coffee and alcohol are also prime causes of offensive body odor. Fried and baked food items may contain rancid fats and oils that lead to body odor.

The sweat glands under the arms and in the groin secrete a substance which is also a major cause of body odor. This substance containing protein carbohydrates and lipids is often secreted owing to a surge in sex hormones and it is attacked by bacteria very rapidly thus causing body odor. Also children today reach the stage of puberty much sooner than was previously the case and this change in hormones may lead to body odor at a younger age than usual.

Other causes of body odor may be specifically disease-related. Such problems as low blood sugar liver disease diabetes parasites metabolic dysfunction menopause or emotional stress may also trigger excessive sweating and body odor. Diabetics especially those who depend on insulin can sometimes smell of acetone more familiar to us as nail-varnish remover. Such individuals require urgent medical attention.

Patients with liver disorders may smell of ammonia and some people with systemic yeast conditions (Candida) sometimes give out a ‘beer’-like smell. These conditions can be brought under control by safe natural anti-yeast dietary and herbal methods.

When they have high fever some people sweat more so body odor can be a problem and moreover ailments like T.B. induce night sweats. Diseases such as malaria and cancers like leukemia or lymphoma can also produce unusual or profuse sweating patterns.

Some medications like morphine high doses of the hormone thyroxin and overdoses of analgesics such as aspirin are all known stimulators of body odor.

Another important cause of body odor is emotional stress. The physiological effect of emotional trauma or distress is excessive sweating as the body struggles to fight the external stimuli. Thus in anxious moments we tend to emanate body odor. But there are some people who generally sweat more than others. This might be a hereditary affliction. Naturally chances are that they will suffer more from the problem of body odor than those who sweat less.

Some people with body odor also suffer from the problem of ‘friendly bacteria’ which live inside the digestive systems. If these vital microorganisms are ‘disturbed’ owing to medication or a high fat high sugar high red meat low fiber diet the vital role they play in detoxification of the bowel and in manufacturing important nutrients is impaired which in turn can lead to body odor problems.

According to various medical studies people with body odor suffer from severe problems in their personal and social relationships. It is also seen that they sometimes suffer from wrecked promotion prospects at work educational under-achievement because of teasing and bullying from other students and also enormous degrees of stress owing to peer pressure which might ultimately force them to indulge in alcoholism excessive tobacco or drug abuse and in some extreme cases might even lead to suicides. Where there is the presence of body odor it is also common to find feelings of shame embarrassment low self-esteem isolation frustration anxiety and depression.

It is seen that sufferers of body odor and their families benefit considerably from sympathetic counseling but anyone suffering from body odor problems must realize what triggers the condition and thus think about long-term strategies and approaches which deal with underlying causes of increased body odor and lay stress on how to eradicate it completely.

You might start using antiperspirants and deodorant sprays but they actually are good only for masking the problem although if a good brand is used it might prove useful in the short term — as long as it does not add to the problem by causing skin afflictions like contact dermatitis. You may also resort to such methods as surgery and Botox injections but the former may have harmful side effects while the latter is once again a temporary solution.

Some people use anticholinergic drugs that hamper the neural transmissions to the sweat glands and thus prevent their stimulation but once again these drugs can cause side effects like dizziness blurred vision and dry mouth.

Thus the only option is to aim for natural treatment methods that eradicate the problem from its root. That way you know you can safely say goodbye to body odor and hello to social confidence.