5 ways to get rid of body odour from head to toe
Sweating and body odour often go hand in hand, whether it’s a steamy summer day or you’re simply picking up the pace on your usual strolls. But excessive sweating is not the only reason you might notice an unwanted aroma. Everything from bacteria on your skin (or in your mouth!) to an underlying medical condition to changes in your body’s pH levels can play a role.
First things first: If you tend to sweat a lot, it’s worth talking to your dermatologist or doctor about prescription antiperspirants and wearing more breathable fabrics (or moisture-wicking fabrics) to reduce the amount of body odour you could experience.
You might also like
In the meantime, these research-backed tricks can help get rid of body odour fast so you feel fresh and confident even if your body temperature starts to rise.
Erase underarm odour with face wash
You might have seen this wacky face wash hack on social media, and research shows it really works. Scientists at Oregon Health & Science University found that for two-thirds of people, cleansing their armpits with a benzoyl peroxide-based face wash (like the kind used to treat acne) helped get rid of their body odour.
The reason? Benzoyl peroxide is a potent antimicrobial that kills odour-causing microbes before they have a chance to multiply and waft off a funky scent.
Dodge bad breath with iced tea
Sip a cup of iced green tea before meeting up with friends, and you can chat away with confidence.
Green tea’s leaves are packed with potent antioxidants called catechins that neutralize smelly gases known as volatile sulfur compounds produced by bad-breath bacteria, suggests a study in the journal ISRN Preventive Medicine. Best of all, it begins working with the very first sip and keeps going strong for at least three hours.
Freshen down below with a cooling swap
Hot, sticky weather can leave underwear feeling steamy and makes it harder for skin to breathe. And this increase in moisture creates an ideal environment for odour-causing microbes to breed.
To help get rid of body odour below the belt, swap synthetic or cotton undies for bamboo ones that reduce sweating.
A study published in the journal Thermal Science found that people wearing breathable bamboo underwear felt up to 25 per cent cooler and experienced significantly more sweat evaporation than those in pure cotton. And compared to a natural-synthetic blend, they reported feeling more than twice as cool and dry.
Smooth mineral sunscreen over your feet and step out in your favourite sandals without fear of a funky odour.
A study published in the International Journal of Dermatology suggests that when applied to feet, zinc oxide damages the cell walls of stink-making bacteria, killing them without harming skin.
Erase under-breast odour with baking soda
When a sour or “stale-beer” odour wafts from your bra, that’s often a sign of yeast overgrowth, a problem that occurs when skin under the breasts becomes warm and damp. Patting under-breast skin and belly folds with baking soda may increase skin pH, eliminating foul odours, suggests French research.
Also smart? Using grapefruit seed oil to get rid of this type of body odor. Laura Corio, MD, author of The Change Before the Change, recommends mixing 3 drops of yeast-fighting grapefruit seed oil with 1 oz. of water and applying it to the undersides of breasts twice daily for a week.
Block all-over odour with a green smoothie
Research suggests that a green juice smoothie may help eliminate body odour from head to toe. Chlorophyll, the pigment that gives leafy greens their vivid hue, binds to odour-causing bacteria to neutralise body odour from the inside out, suggests a Journal of the American Geriatrics Society study.
Blend your own or try cold-pressed green juice from your favorite supermarket.
