Body Odor

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BODY ODOR

Most people develop a bodyodor-or B.O., as many of us called it in junior high-sometime around puberty. A particular type of sweat gland found in hairy areas under the arm and around the genitals-to secrete an odorless milky goo that, when combined with bacteria on the skin, raises a pungent scent.

Grab a baby wipe

If a tense encounter of some sort gets you so steamed that your apocrine glands start to squirt, step into the bathroom and wipe your odor-prone areas with premoistened towlettes, sold as feminine hygiene wipes or baby wipes. Then toss your odor problems away.

Wash with two kinds of soap

Since B.O. occurs only when a secretion from the apocrine glands mixes with bacteria under your arms and around your genitals and anus, wash these odor-prone areas with an antibacterial soap once a day. To avoid the drying side effects of antibacterial soap on other areas of your body, use a milder all-purpose soap like Cetaphil.

Use an antiperspirant

Once you've reduced the numbers of bacteria on your skin, apply an antiperspirant-deodorant that contains contains aluminium chlorhydrate under your arms. The antiperspirant will reduce the moisture on which bacteria feeds.

Sprinkle a little cornstarch

You can also reduce the amount of moisture that normally developers over the course of a day by sprinkling odor-prone areas with cornstarch.