Body Odor Myths

Body Odor Myths

1. “Sweat is smelly”

This is untrue since we have two sorts of sweat. The first type originates from our eccrine glands, which are present throughout the body. This type of sweat aids in thermoregulation, allowing us to cool off when exercising and we start to feel too hot.

Then there are the apocrine glands, which are sweat glands that we can see in places like the groin, the chest, and the underarms—all places that we sometimes connect with stench—but the sweat produced by the apocrine glands does not smell, so why does that area? it's the bacteria there, so the bacteria there will eat whatever the gland produces as food, and that's what causes the smelly byproduct.

2. “Everyone's armpits stink”

There are many different treatments for treating “smelly armpits”. The first is showering with antibacterial soap, which is probably the simplest fix of all. Two percent of the population has a special mutation, I believe it's the abcc 11 gene, which means they don't have smelly odors. Some people can take oral medicines, use antiperspirants, and even get botox. Botox can be used to reduce the amount of sweating in the area, but it only works for around three months.

3. “Smelly feet mean bad hygiene”

We know that we produce sweat everywhere, and that sweat then becomes bacteria food. However, the feet are really a unique area because they have one of the highest concentrations of sweat glands on the body. A moist environment is the ideal breeding ground for bacteria and yeast, and because our feet are frequently covered in shoes in the dark, they are particularly susceptible to this.

Therefore, this explains why we frequently observe yeast and fungus on the feet. As a result, the feet are somewhat more likely to smell, which is a fairly regular occurrence. It's a good idea to constantly wash your feet after showering with antibacterial soap. Yes, socks are vital as well, so using cotton socks that are absorbent and they're going to take away that moisture from the foot that really helps. Just make sure everything is cleansed and pat dry as quickly as possible before you put on a pair of fresh socks.

4. “Your signature scent never changes”

This is false, because since we are dynamic beings, our hormones, microenvironments, diets, and other factors always change. As we age and our hormones do, all of these factors have a significant impact on how we smell. The oxidation of certain chemical compounds can actually cause a specific scent, but the more you are exposed to a certain scent, the more used to it you become to it. Additionally, as we age, our skin barriers tend to deteriorate a little bit and there is more oxidation of certain things on our skin itself, so that old person smell is actually due to changes in how our skin is protected from the environment around us.

Just keep in mind that disagreeing with something does not necessarily mean it is inaccurate; rather, it is just a matter of how you interpret the odor and the general atmosphere at the time that shapes your perception of it.

5. “Sweating is a good way to detox”

This is a major myth because, as you probably already know, your body is an amazing machine that 99% of the time detoxes through your liver and kidneys. Because of this, it's crucial to keep those organs safe because that's how we get rid of all the harmful toxins and byproducts in our bodies. Your body's job is to kind of maintain this equilibrium and keep the steady state, which is what sweating helps you do. It's vital that we comprehend that sweating is not one of the most effective techniques to cleanse our bodies.

6. “You won't sweat if you put on deodorant”

There is a significant distinction between deodorant and antiperspirant since this is a misconception. Deodorant masks the smell, which helps to lessen the stench. One thing about natural deodorants is that sometimes they can have a lot of salts and other ingredients that can be a little bit harsh on the skin. Antiperspirants will actually help to reduce sweating because they contain aluminum-based ingredients that will clog those pores and glands and help to reduce sweating.

So sometimes it takes a little bit of trial and error to find the right natural deodorant for you. Ceramides, for example, can help to protect and fortify the skin barrier. Vitamin B5 can help to soothe the skin and reduce inflammation. Coconut oil can also help to kind of soothe the skin. Once you find a good deodorant, you should stick with it.

7. “Antiperspirant is dangerous”

What should you do when you hear people claim that aluminum is harmful, causes cancer, and other such things? After all, the presence of an ingredient does not always imply causation.

So what we observe is that when we biopsy breast tissue, especially in the underarm region, which is a common location for breast cancer, aluminum is present in the tissue because it is close to the area where aluminum-containing ingredients are used. However, at this time, there is no evidence to support a link between aluminum use and cancer, so even though many people may feel uncomfortable with this, they can choose to use alternatives.

8. “Smelly foods only affect your breath”

We know that some foods, especially those cruciferous ones like cabbage, cauliflower, and broccoli, can affect how we smell overall because they produce sulfuric acid, which is similar to the rotten egg smell that we are all familiar with. The same is true for red meat; some studies have shown that people who eat a lot of it may have a slightly different odor. Trimethylamine, or trimethalosaurus, is a result of eating a lot of fish, and it gives out a distinctive odor. We do excrete food components, which then mix with bacteria and cause us to smell differently. As a result, there may be some foods that can somehow change how you smell.