Temperatures are rising, you took a shower this morning, you are wearing clean clothes and you have an otherwise normal day, when you suddenly notice the stench of sweat, to which you wonder: “why do our armpits stink, and why do we sometimes smell more than others? “.
It all comes down to one oily secretion from special glands under our skinwhich are widespread in the armpits and most active at certain times, and despite what you might having heard on Instagram or TikTokcleaning your armpits with glycolic acid is not the best long-term solution.
The major sweat glands (called sweat glands “ecrine“) That cover most of our body are not the ones that produce the stench of sweat, in fact they mainly secrete waterwhich is odorless and evaporates to refresh us, however our body is also equipped with a second type of sweat glandcalled “sweat glands apocrine“.
The latter are mainly found around areas with many hair follicles, such as the armpits and groin, in addition to these glands secrete an oily compound and become more active in response to stress, fear, anxiety, pain, and sexual stimulation.
Initially odorless, this oily secretion provides excellent food for the bacteria that live on our skin, and these bacteria convert this sweat into fatty acids and compounds that produce “perfumes”giving off the classic stench of sweat with traces of odors reminiscent of onion, cumin and rotten meat.
The type of bacterium is relatively consistent among people, but the balance between each type can be different, with genetics playing a leading role in the way we “smell”, and because our apocrine glands respond to emotions, our thoughts and lifestyle can influence their activity; some foods, or a lot of red meat, can also alter the smell of sweat.
For both men and women, armpit hair can also cause a more prominent odor.
What is the role of the stench of sweat?
Apocrine sweat glands generally don’t activate until pubertywhich is why sweat stink isn’t really a problem when we’re young, however our smell changes with hormone production.
For example, during the menstrual cycle, the most “attractive” smell occurs in the period of ovulation, when women are most fertile, however the sexual function of body odor does not seem to play an important role in humans, different speech instead as regards the social relevance and the correlation with our stench of sweat.
Infants, for example, can recognize the smell of their mother’s armpit a few weeks after delivery, and mothers can distinguish their baby’s scent within about three weeks.
Having said that, surely the first thing we ask ourselves is “how do i get rid of the stench of sweat“? Our sweat gland secretions are odorless, so the longer the bacteria on our skin have to process the oils, the more “scented” compounds they can produce.
Here because showering every day helps reduce odorsand thus avoid that the stench of sweat is too heavy, or the use of antiperspirants which reduce the amount of sweat released by the glands, and this is usually due to ingredients such as aluminum, which form a temporary block in the glands.
Deodorants work to mask odors with stronger, more pleasant scents, and often also contain alcohol or ingredients that can make the skin slightly acidic or make the area less hospitable to bacteria.
Choose clothes wisely, if your skin is damp for a long time, it gives bacteria a chance to grow, and choose clean clothes that allow for good airflowthey can help you keep smelling fresher for longer throughout the day.
Caffeine, some medications, and some illicit drugs such as methamphetamines, MDMA, heroin, and cocaine can increase sweating, which will affect body odor.
You may have heard that the anti-perspirant containing aluminum could cause cancerthe Cancer Council he defined this a myth and a rumor, without scientific studies that specifically link the use of these products to cancer, however it is wise to consider the cosmetics or chemicals we put on our skin.
If you think your antiperspirant or deodorant is causing irritation or a rash, try a product with different ingredients or see a doctor.
A recent trend on Tik Tok and Instagram suggests using glycolic acid (often used as a facial exfoliant) on the armpits to reduce odor and, theoretically, adding this chemical to the armpit will alter the environment underneath. arms.
This can inhibit the growth of bacteria and help reduce body odor, however it could irritate the skin, particularly under the arms where there is a lot of friction, and especially if the area has been recently shaved. it also does not inhibit the amount of sweat.
Glycolic acid straight from the bottle will not act for long, as the sweat from the armpits will dilute and neutralize its activity, which means that even if it works temporarily, you will likely return to your usual stench of sweat very soon.
If you’re trying to avoid chemicals, the best steps to an odor-free life are the obvious ones. Shower with soap every day (and dry well), wear breathable fabrics (such as cotton, linen or breathable sportswear), keep your clothes clean, reduce stress and limit your caffeine intake.
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