How To Prevent Body Odour Naturally This Summer
19-05-2017 | Posted By: Chhavi | 4901 View(s)
How uncomfortable is it when you find yourself sitting next to a person in a crowded area whose body odour is so bad that it makes all the other people and you sick? Surely, it is a terrible scenario! The summer season brings one common problem for all- Sweating and Body Odour.
When the bacteria living on our skin turn the sweats into acids, our bodies emit a terrible smell which is called Body Odour. This unpleasant smell increases when we wear tight clothes for a long time.
Sweating is a healthy process as it helps in keeping the body cool. It is a natural process that starts after birth. Our body generally produces almost 1 litre of sweat every day. However, most of the sweat is evaporated as soon as it is created. Although sweating is a natural process, however when it leads to a body odour, it makes people feel uncomfortable.
Body odour occurs when sweat glands are overactive. However, it is not just the sweat which causes the body odour. This odour occurs when bacteria mixes with sweat.
Some other causes of body odour are poor hygiene, liver disease, diabetes, constipation, etc. The primary symptom of body odour is a pungent smell which arises from the body. Other symptoms include excessive sweating, weight loss, and cold hands.
One must practice good hygiene habits to avoid body odour. Also, there are certain home remedies which may help control the growth of bacteria, reduce excessive sweating and thus get rid of body odour.
Effective Home Remedies to Treat Body Odour
1. Baking Soda
Baking Soda is one of the effective ways to prevent Body Odour. Baking Soda helps in reducing body odour by absorbing moisture and sweat from the skin. Also, it works as a natural deodorant and kills bacteria.
How to Use:
Mix one tablespoon each of lime juice and baking soda. Apply the mixture to the body parts where you sweat excessively. Leave it on for 5 minutes and then wash it off with plain water. Do not scrub after using this mixture. You can take a bath after applying this. Follow this remedy once daily for few weeks.
2. Apple Cider Vinegar
Vinegar is a known ingredient that fights against bacteria. Also, it helps in controlling the pH level of the skin. One can use apple cider vinegar in different ways to prevent body odour problems.
How to Use:
Simply drink raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar once a day to get rid of body odour problem.
Alternatively, put some amount of apple cider Vinegar in warm water and soak the feet in the water for 15 minutes. This is helpful in reducing the level of foot odour.
Also, one can simply rub the underarms with apple cider vinegar before taking a bath. It helps in controlling the underarm smell.
3. Lemon juice
We all must have heard once in our lives about the great benefits of lemon juice for hair and skin. Lemon juice does wonder when it comes to treating body odour. Lemon Juice is acidic in nature and thus helps in lowering the pH level of the skin and make it difficult for the bacteria that produce odour to live on the skin.
How to Use:
Cut a lemon into two halves and simply rub one-half of the lemon on the underarms. Ensure that the lemon juice gets onto the skin. Allow the juice to dry and then take a bath. Apply lemon juice daily for a few weeks.
For those who have sensitive skin, they can use lemon juice in another way. Mix the juice of fresh lemon with water and dilute it. Use a fresh cotton ball to apply the mixture. Leave it on for 10 minutes, and then rinse off with plain water. Follow this remedy once daily.
4. Tomatoes
Tomatoes do not only taste good but also help in preventing body odour. Tomatoes have antiseptic properties which can kill bacteria that causes body odour. Also, tomatoes assist in reducing sweating by shrinking the pores.
How to Use:
Crush 6 to 7 tomatoes and then extract the juice out of them. Add the extracted juice to a bucket of water. Use this water to take a bath. You can follow this remedy once daily to reduce body odour.
Or, one can also simply drink a glass of tomato juice daily to get rid of body odour. Tomatoes have antiseptic properties that kill bacteria causing body odour.
5. Wheatgrass
Wheatgrass includes chlorophyll and has a deodorising effect. It also helps in eliminating toxins from the body and reduces sweat, hence reducing body odour.
How to Use:
Mix one tablespoon of wheatgrass juice in a cup of water and drink it every morning on an empty stomach. Follow this routine every day until the body odour is gone.
Note: Keep in mind that wheatgrass has a strong taste and can be nauseating for some people.
6. Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil contains antiseptic, antibacterial and astringent properties which help in killing the bacteria present on the skin, reduce sweating and eliminate body odour.
How to Use:
Simply add two drops of this oil to one tablespoon of water. Then you can put the solution in a spray bottle, and you can use it as a deodorant.
Note: People who have sensitive skin must avoid using tea tree oil.
Few Lifestyle Habits that Can Help One Prevent Body Odour
1. Keep an Eye on What You Eat
Those who have a body odour problem must avoid foods which have a strong smell such as garlic and onions. These foods contribute to increasing the body odour.
Also, one must include healthy foods and drinks to their diet like salads, fruits, green vegetables, lime water, coconut water, etc.
2. Take Regular Baths
Come summer and people who have body odour problem will face a hard time in eliminating this problem. But, they can prevent it by taking care of their personal hygiene. During summers, it is important to take a bath twice a day.
It is not necessary that one takes half an hour to take a shower. Even if it is just for 10 minutes, it is fine. Also, use antibacterial soap as it reduces the bacteria which causes body odour. So, showering twice a day using antibacterial soap may help one get rid of the body odour problem.
3. Wear Comfortable Light Clothes
One must wear cotton, khadi, jute and natural fibres clothes. One must avoid synthetic clothes in summer as they do not allow our skin to breathe and causes excessive sweat. Another golden rule to remember is that one must wear loose clothes that allow air to pass through our bodies and keeps us cool.
4. Say ‘No’ to Smoking and Drinking
Alcohol and smoking build toxins in the body which results in bad mouth and body odour. Thus, to get rid of the body odour problem, one must avoid drinking and smoking.
5. Stay Hydrated
Water helps in removing harmful toxins from our body and regulates our body temperature. Thus, one must drink 8-10 glasses of water every day to prevent body odour.
Follow the tips as mentioned above and bid farewell to the body odour problem. Also, remember that everybody sweats and a mild and occasional body odour is normal. However, if the problem persists for too long, one must consult a Dermatologist.