Medical News

No one likes being the sweaty one who might have body odor especially around others. It is a very self-conscious position to be in. There are a few myths that go around about armpit odor that you shouldn’t listen to. Here are the myths as well as the truth.

Myth: Sweat is what makes you stink.

While you may not believe this, sweat in and of itself doesn’t actually stink that bad. It is mainly water with some salt and a few traces of other minerals. What causes the stench is the bacteria. The bacteria feeds on the sweat and the odor is a byproduct of this process. For odor control, controlling the bacteria is more important than controlling sweat. Using soap that targets bacteria in your problem areas is better than normal body washes to help reduce odor. This can make all the difference in the world.

Myth: Antiperspirant is the solution to armpit sweat problems.

If you scour the internet for information on sweating, it almost seems like the default answer is to just use an antiperspirant. The problem is that some of these don’t work. Some don’t actually get all the sweat and only some of it. And some people are allergic to antiperspirants completely as it gives them rashes. Even if it does work for you, as an excessive sweater more sweat is coming out of your pores so there will still be visible moisture in your armpits or other problem areas.

Sweat helps the body regulate the internal temperature. If one could successfully block all sweat pores with antiperspirant or another chemical, then how would the body actually cool off? Stopping the sweat is not the solution!

Myth: There is not much one can do about an excessive sweating problem.

There are actually many solutions to sweating and underarm sweat. Some are more complicated like surgical procedures that block or manipulate the sweat glands.

Other methods are more simple. If you have excessive sweat, try these tips.
Be sure to get plenty of water as water will help the body regulate its core temperature better.
Get a better diet and exercise. This can also make the body more efficient and can burn some extra fat off that can cause sweating by retaining heat.
Use deodorants and antiperspirants only when the armpit is completely dry as opposed to right out of the shower when it’s still wet.
Wash the underarm with antibacterial soap to help decrease the bacteria causing odor.
You do something about the odor of underarm sweat, just don’t believe the myths!