By ULIKEBEAUTY
November 4, 2023
7 minutes
If you notice how your armpits smell worse when you are exposed to sweat, bacteria, and a bit of dust in contrast to when you stay home, you already have an idea of the culprit behind the bar armpit odor. This pungent smell that comes out from your armpits makes you both uncomfortable and lose confidence.
We’ll, unlike what you might assume, it is not solely caused by sweat. Rather it is the consequence of the breakdown of the molecules of sweat by bacteria that results in the formation of thioalcohol. Thioalcohol has a smell similar to onion, raw meat, or sulfur.
So, did you find your way here because you are also suffering from a similar condition? Do you want to know how to get rid of the armpit smell? If yes, we are here for you. Let us find out how to get rid of the armpit smell and increase your confidence here.
Table of Contents:
Part 1: What Causes Armpit Odor?
Sweat alone can do nothing to cause an armpit smell as it is just an odorless liquid produced by the sweat glands in the body including the armpits. It is rather the normal and abnormal microbiota living on the skin that adds fuel to the fire and makes your armpits sting.
These microbiota are mainly bacteria. These bacteria react with the odorless sweat and form thioalcohol by breaking the molecules. Thioalcohol gives a stingy pungent smell to your armpits. Several bacteria are considered to cause this reaction. However, staphylococcus hominis is the only one that has been detected yet. Now, let us see the factors that promote the reaction of bacteria with sweat.
Genes
One of the factors detected the most in people with a family history of strong armpit odor is genes. It is because genes determine the formation of sweat glands in gestation and childhood and their activation at puberty.
Thus, if your sweat glands are intensely activated at puberty, you are at risk of having stingy armpits at puberty.
Puberty
Sweat glands may form in childhood but they do not produce sweat that might smell bad. This is exactly why you have smelly armpits as an adult even though they didn’t sting when you were a child.
Let us now see how the formation of sweat works. There are mainly two types of sweat glands in the body; the eccrine glands, these glands make the armpits smell as the sweat produced by them dries off and the apocrine glands, these glands make the body produce sweat.
Diet
What you eat plays an important role in determining the production of the sweat. Taking a diet rich in sulfur like some fruits, vegetables, and meat along with a deficiency of hydration causes smelly armpits. Such edibles include garlic, onions, broccoli, red meat, alcohol, and coffee.
Increased Sweating
Anything that makes you sweat will make your armpits smell bad. The common conditions that make you sweat increasingly include hot weather, lack of ventilation, eating spicy foods, exercise, anxiety, and hyperhidrosis. Here, hyperhidrosis is a disorder of sweat glands that causes the patient to sweat more than usual even at rest.
Systemic Diseases
There are some metabolic systemic disorders in which the end products accumulate in the body. These end-products lead to the production of an armpit odor which might not be pungent but rather depends upon the metabolite produced. Such not-so-rare disorders include hyperthyroidism, gout, diabetic ketoacidosis, and liver or kidney failure.
Part 2: How to Get Rid of Armpit Smell?
Are you looking for tips and tricks to get rid of the armpit smell long-lastingly? If yes, here is your answer.
Maintaining Good Hygiene
To get rid of armpit smell long-lastingly, maintaining good hygiene is an essential factor. Here are some tips you can follow to stay clean and smell good.
Bathing Daily
If your routine chores or hobbies are made of physical work that makes you sweat excessively, it is essential to bathe every day to wash off the sweat, dust, and bacteria and prevent it from accumulating in the underarms.
Armpits are hidden areas that might be missed as you bathe. So, pay special attention to scrubbing the armpits. Furthermore, even if you do not sweat much, bathe often to prevent armpit smell.
Properly Washing Techniques and Tools
You should use benzoyl peroxide-containing body washes, deodorant soaps, and anti-bacterial soaps to cleanse the armpits and eliminate the armpit smell. Use benzoyl peroxide before shaving the armpits and soap at the end. In addition, rinse the armpits adequately so that no residues are left behind.
Drying Thoroughly
Even if you get rid of the sweat by bathing, there is a chance of trapping the moisture after the shower in the armpits if you wear the clothes immediately. Thus, use a towel to dry your armpits thoroughly.
Washing Clothes Regularly
In addition to maintaining your physical hygiene, you should keep your wardrobe bacteria and sweat-free as well. So, if you are wondering how to get rid of armpit smell from clothes, here are the tips.
Do not repeat your gym clothes without washing them every time you sweat. Moreover, always wash the garments and dresses regularly to prevent bacteria from accumulating on them.
Removing Armpit Hair
Removing armpit hair can be the best remedy for unwanted armpit smell.
Prevention of Sweat Retention
Dark hair in the armpits stimulates the production of sweat by sweat glands because of the lack of ventilation in this area. Armpit hair traps the moisture instead of allowing it to evaporate and give the body a cooling sensation.
Furthermore, it helps in the accumulation of the bacteria in that sweat as well. Consequently, there is increased body odor. Thus, removing armpit hair can prevent sweat retention and body odor in the armpits.
Using a Semi-Long-lasting Hair Removal Method
Although you can use short-term hair removal methods like shaving and waxing, we’d suggest you use a semi-long-lasting method of hair removal instead. For this, give IPL underarms treatment.
Ulike Sapphire Air3 IPL Hair Removal Device can be used to get rid of armpit hair and thus bad odor for good. A few flashes of Ulike Air3 in the armpit area take only 30 seconds to 1 minute and its results last for a long time. In addition, the hair that grows back is finer.
Altogether, it helps in preventing the accumulation of sweat in the armpits, allowing air to flow, and your body to smell good.
Using Antiperspirants and Deodorants
To reduce the discomfort caused by the armpits’ smell and feel fresh all day long, antiperspirants and deodorants can help you. Here is how both can help you.
Antiperspirants
Antiperspirants are body sprays that deal with the roots caused by smelly armpits and excess production of sweat. These sprays block the production of sweat. Wash and dry the armpits before using perspirants.
Then apply 2 strokes in an upward and then downward direction to cover the whole area of the armpit. Find out the best men’s antiperspirants here.
Deodorants
Deodorants come in the form of sticks that are directly used on underarms. These small products consist of alcohol and aluminum-containing to reduce the growth of bacteria on the skin and a fragrance to mask the bad odor of the armpits.
Deodorants work best when used alongside perspiring. Here are the best deodorants for smelly armpits in females.
Choosing the Right Clothing and Fabrics
Clothing plays an important role in making your body sweat or preventing it.
Moisture-Wicking Fabric
Out of the countless types of fabric present, choosing lightweight moisture-wicking fabric can help you eliminate the bad odor. Linen, bamboo, and cotton garments are the most useful for you if you sweat a lot.
Also, try to buy your undergarments that are made of this material so that you can prevent armpit and body odor thoroughly.
Loose Clothes
Loose clothes help in ventilation and the flow of air around the body. This air helps in evaporating the sweat and preventing it from accumulating. So, try wearing loose Breathable clothes in seasons in which your body tends to sweat more.
Additionally, it is best to avoid tight clothes because they prevent airflow and result in the accumulation of sweat in the armpits.
Keeping Diet and Hydration
Managing your water intake and healthy diet reduces the armpit’s smell and makes you feel better altogether. Adequate intake of water improves the circulation of fluids through the body, eliminates toxins, maintains body temperature, and prevents sweating.
In addition, some foods can cause bad body odor and others help in preventing it. So, eat more vegetables, lean proteins, fresh juices, and fruits. And avoid overconsumption of alcohol, caffeine, red meat, fish, and cruciferous vegetables.
Remedies for Persistent Odor
All points mentioned above are more focused on preventing the bad body odor in addition to getting rid of it. Below are some remedies to treat it.
Natural Remedies
Homemade remedies are a simple yet effective solution to persistent odor.
- Cornstarch and baking soda: A mixture of equal amounts of cornstarch and baking soda in water works as a homemade antiperspirant and deodorant.
- Lemon or apple cider vinegar: Lemon and apple cider vinegar reduces the pH of the underarms and kills the bacteria that cause bad odor.
- Tea tree oil: Tea tree oil works to shrink the sweat pores and reduce its production.
To use all these remedies, take the product on a cotton ball and apply it on your armpits.
Prescription Treatment
If homemade remedies do not work for the bad odor and your armpits stay smelly, you likely have an infection or some medical disorder. So, you can use precipitation treatment.
These treatments consist of a strong combination of deodorant and antiperspirant. Additionally, benzoyl peroxide, ketoconazole, and botox injections can be used as well.
Conclusion
When you live in a society, smelling nice and staying fresh is a given. Bad body odor, especially from the armpits can create an awkward situation for you. To help you never get into such a situation, we have mentioned the methods to avoid armpit smell in this article.
Also, a combination of lifestyle changes, usage of over-the-counter treatments, deodorants and antiperspirants, and homemade remedies offer a foolproof solution to bad body odor.
Lastly, if the stingy smell from your armpits does not go away with lifestyle changes, it is your sign to go to a doctor.
