Eliminating Sweat-Related Odors

Sweating is a normal, healthy part of your body's system for temperature regulation. There are two types of sweat glands in your body - eccrine and apocrine glands. Eccrine glands secrete a fluid when your body temperature rises, and it's mostly water and salt. However, when you experience stress, your apocrine glands secrete a fatty sweat that's pushed to the surface. Bacteria breaks this fatty sweat down, and that's usually what causes the smell. (Yummy, eh?) However, there are ways to reduce body odor. Here are a few:

Deodorant/Antiperspirant. It's the most obvious answer, but it's also the most effective first line of defense. Antiperspirants actually block the sweat pore temporarily, while deodorants make your skin less appealing to bacteria. If normal, over the counter deodorants don't work, your doctor can prescribe prescription antiperspirantsthat are used at night and washed off in the morning.

Bathe regularly. Bacteria don't like soap and water. Keep the bacteria on your skin in check by washing it off regularly and your chance of being smelly goes down significantly.

If you have trouble with sweaty feet, rotate your shoes (i.e. don't wear the same shoes two days in a row) and wear shoes made of natural materials so they can breathe. Cotton socks and leather shoes will make your feet smell less than synthetic materials.

Wear natural fabrics. Cotton, wool and silk will let your skin breathe more than polyester.

Strange as it sounds, relaxations techniques like yoga can help you to control the triggers that make you sweat - particularly stress triggers.

Caffeinated beverages and strong-smelling foods (garlic and onions, for example) can make your perspiration smell more. Consider backing off or eliminating these things if they are giving you a problem.