The last thing you want to encounter at an important event is a whiff of pungent odour from your underarms. It can be very embarrassing to deal with in public situations. Are you someone who sweats excessively? You may have to deal with body odour more than others.
Sweat by itself does not smell, but the bacteria in our skin breed over the sweat to release unpleasant body odour. Many remedies for body odour include antiperspirants and deodorants, but they are laced with chemicals that can otherwise cause your skin to experience difficulties. The good news is there are many natural ways to get rid of body odour.
Today, we will look at some of the most common household products that can help you combat body odour. Sure, deodorants and antiperspirants are fine, but maybe you could also test these to see if they work.
What is Body Odour?
Apocrine glands are present in numerous parts of the body, such as the underarms and the genitals. These secrete sweat, which can lead to bacteria growing on the skin. This releases a pungent smell known as body odour. Moist and warm areas of the body are the perfect places for bacteria to breed and grow.
Most people use chemical deodorants as remedies for body odour, but they may not realize the harmful effects this has on their skin. You will be surprised to know that common household items like green tea bags can be useful in combating body odour naturally.
While body odour is most commonly noticed from the armpits, it can also come from the buttocks, feet, and scalp. In all these cases, it is caused by the same factor- bacteria breaking down proteins in sweat into distinct acidic compounds.
There are many reasons why someone would have body odour. Some of these are puberty onset, excessive sweating, conditions such as thyroid and diabetes, and a spicy diet. Conditions like menstruation or increased anxiety can also cause body odour.
Natural remedies for body odour are in no way substitute medical treatments for body odour. They are simply some suggestions that you can employ to make sure that you can get your body odour under control. However, it is recommended to visit a doctor if the problem gets out of hand.
Some Natural Remedies for Body Odour
Here are a few effective natural ways to significantly reduce body odour. Remember that this phenomenon can sometimes be associated with diseases such as diabetes, so all these natural treatments may not be equally effective in that case. You may have to visit your doctor for a clinical treatment plan to tackle body odour.
1. Take a Bath Regularly
One of the main reasons why many people produce body odour is because they do not wash their bodies well enough. Sweating is a very common process that happens to everyone. Bacteria living in our skin will multiply only when the skin conditions are moist and warm, which is basically what happens when you do not wash your body enough. If you produce more body odour than the general public, it is a good idea to take a bath twice or thrice a day to naturally keep body odour at bay. This is among the easiest remedies for body odour.
It is also advised to use antibacterial soap or body wash during a bath to tackle body odour. These will target the bacteria living on the skin, removing the causal factor for body odour. Many people also use scented soaps to ensure body odour stays undetected.
2. Use Coconut Oil on Your Body
One of the most natural remedies for body odour is using coconut oil of the body. This is an antibacterial agent which naturally inhibits the production of bacteria in the body, and this helps in combating bad smells. Coconut oil can be a very good cure for body odour because it also helps in improving digestive health, which can be a reason behind a bad odour.
Applying coconut oil to your body before showering every day is advised. This will naturally kill the odour-causing bacteria, improving body odour.
3. Use Lemon Peels on the Armpits
If you are a female with a strong body odour, rubbing lemon peels on your armpits can be a good way to combat body odour. Lemon peels have antiseptic and antimicrobial properties, which can inhibit the growth of odour-causing bacteria on the skin. Thus, even if you sweat, you will not produce bad body odour. Lemon peels are among the easiest remedies for body odour you have to try in case showering frequently is not working out for you.
Lemon contains acidic elements, which can counteract the growth of bacteria on the skin. Including more lemon in your diet will also remove harmful toxins from the body, controlling body odour. However, before you rub lemon peels on your body, ensure you are not allergic to them.
4. Use Baking Soda on the Armpits
Another way you can combat body odour with household ingredients is by using baking soda on your armpits. Baking soda is a desiccant that can help absorb sweat from the skin. This way, bacteria-causing body odour will not grow or multiply if the sweat is absorbed. You can apply baking soda as an underarm odour treatment. Baking soda can be one of the quickest remedies for body odour.
You can also go for a mixture of baking soda and cornstarch, as this is a natural deodorant leading to a sweat-free underarm. However, if you experience burning after applying baking soda, stop using it immediately. Make sure you consult a doctor to know that this will not harm your skin.
5. Use Neem Leaves on Your Body
Neem is a strong natural antimicrobial agent. Neem has numerous medicinal benefits due to being an antiseptic and antibacterial agent. This can go a long way in combating bad body odour in people. Among the best remedies for the body, the odour is applying neem paste on the body, especially in the armpits, and washing it off after 20-25 minutes.
If this seems like a very time-consuming option, then you can simply add neem extract or neem leaves/twigs to your daily bathwater and this will inhibit the production of bacteria that produces body odour.
You can also add neem to your diet to ensure that your internal organs are working well. This will remove harmful bacteria in your gut.
6. Try to Use Tomato Juice
Tomato juice is a natural method of reducing bad body odour. This is because drinking tomato juice lowers your body’s temperature, resulting in lesser sweating. Lesser sweating leads to less bacterial growth, leading to less body odour. Tomato juice has antibacterial and antimicrobial properties, leading to less bacterial growth in the body.
One of the best remedies for body odour is to soak pieces of cloth in tomato juice and apply them on the underarms for a few minutes. You can also do this with other parts of the body that causes body odour. However, make sure you are not allergic to tomatoes in any way. This is not a substitute treatment for body odour, and if you see no change, you should contact a doctor for a clinical treatment plan.
There are many other solutions to the body odour problem, such as apple cider vinegar, green tea bags, pink salt, etc. These are household ingredients that you can find easily and use as remedies for body odour. However, the most basic requirement is to wash your body as frequently as possible and drink enough water.
Water is a very good solvent, which can flush out toxins, impurities, and other bacteria that can lead to unpleasant body odours. Water also prevents bacteria from growing in your intestines and aids in a healthy digestive system.
In Summary
Small lifestyle changes can go a long way in reducing body odour and restoring confidence. Try implementing these remedies for body odour, and you will notice the difference in a few days.
FAQs
Q1. How can I reduce my body odour?
There are some simple ways to reduce body odour. Make sure to take a bath regularly, use substances like lemon peel and baking soda on the armpits, and apply coconut oil on the body after every shower.
Q2. What is the Ayurvedic remedy for body odour?
The use of neem leaves on the body can be counted as an ayurvedic remedy for body odour. You have already read in the article how to use neem leaves on the body to get rid of body odour.
Q3. How can I make my armpits smell free?
It is not difficult to get rid of the armpit smell. All you have to do is follow some simple steps and make lifestyle changes to make your armpits smell free.
Q4. Can body odour be cured easily and how?
Body odour is not difficult to cure. It might take some time, but by following the remedies mentioned above, you will definitely see changes in your body.
Author Bio
Mokshada Tandon is an accomplished Content Writer. Her agenda through writing and creating content is to spread awareness and discuss issues that are relevant in a woman’s life. Every concern, passion, dilemma, and perspective that a woman might have been beautifully written about by her. Her experience and outlook on women are capable of spreading knowledge and bringing about a change in society.
