Body Odor: Intervention To Prevention

I've always been told that the best way to keep anything from getting out of hand is to nip it in the bud before it starts. I try to apply that philosophy to every part of my daily life, whether it be at home or work. That also applies to how I approach the subject of body odor. Now, it's not something that can be eliminated completely, but understanding what are the main causes of body odor can go along way towards preventing it.

Bacteria - There are hundreds of different types of bacteria that live on the human body. These microbials do their day to day thing with very little effect on us. The one side effect they do have is the production of acid compounds that smell. Bacteria, as with any living thing, needs to feed. Their food happens to be proteins found in our sweat. As they consume these proteins, they release waste in the form of acids such as propionic acid which as a strong vinegar odor. Different bacteria produce different types of waste products and they can range from the smell of onions to rotten cheese.

Sweat - The body has two types of sweat glands, apocrine and eccrine. Apocrine sweat glands are the ones found under the armpits and are responsible for body odor. The sweat produced from these glands are thick with proteins and fats. In addition, it contains odor compounds produced by the body. Bacteria feed on this sweat and release molecules that cause body odor. In addition, the sweat itself is shown to contain certain odor compounds that are responsible for body odor.

Food - Much of what you eat can contribute to how you smell. Certain foods contain high amounts of sulfide compounds which get released into the body during digestion. They get absorbed into the system and are released through the skin, sweat and pores. Garlic, onions, meat, seafood, eggs, beans and spicy foods are known to be high in sulfide compounds.

Genetics - We aren't all born alike, and that certainly applies to how we smell. Some of us are born with fewer apocrine sweat glands which as was noted earlier, is a prime source of body odor. In addition, scientists have recently found what they are calling the body odor gene. Named ABCC11, this gene is shown to influence the activity and odor compound production of apocrine sweat glands. This gene is found in about 2% of the population.