There’s a funny thing about body odor. It’s not confined to your underarms. It can affect your whole body, from your armpits to your bits … and beyond. Ever get a whiff of your feet after a long day in sandals? How about your bra when you whip it off after you get home after work? Or are you thinking ahead to the Big Day and dancing the night away? Let’s be honest, ladies. We might want to smell like a delicate spring rain but by the end of the day? Sometimes the struggle is real.
“Some people think body odor means you’re ‘dirty’ when body odor is completely normal and natural,” says OBGYN Dr. Wendy Goodall McDonald of Chicago’s Northwestern University Hospital and the brains behind dreverywoman.com. “We all have bacteria that naturally exist on our bodies. If that bacteria mixes with sweat in tight spaces, it will emit an odor. Also, many think body odor is only normal under the arms when it can come from many more parts of the body.”
But, McDonald explains, the tactics many use to combat body odor have been less than effective, including taking multiple showers a day, layering clothes, applying powder, using sprays or perfumes to mask the odor, even avoiding being close to or intimate with others.
Women have enough stress. Do we really need to worry about this, too? There’s got to be a better solution. The good news? There is. Here are some tips that really do work.
Watch what you eat
Far be it from anyone to suggest you give up garlic bread, hummus or a Caesar salad, but according to WebMD, foods with garlic, onions and other more aromatic spices can actually affect how your body smells. The aroma can be carried in your sweat. Try a fruit salad instead on a hot summer day.
Watch what you drink
Alcohol and caffeine can make you perspire more than usual and overall hydration can really affect your scent. Aim to drink eight glasses of water each day. Bonus tip: It can help with bad breath, too.
Consider a whole-body deodorant
Didn’t know that was a thing? It is! Whole-body deodorants are having a moment. The deodorant is reportedly able to target areas of the body that generally emit an odor, like your feet and privates. Dermatologists, including Dr. Goodall McDonald, recommend them and say they’re thought to be safe and effective, and they may be a good option for people who have trouble controlling their body odor.
No doubt you’ve seen the commercials for Lume. There are others in the category, including SheaMoisture, Dove, Native, Secret—the list keeps growing. They are offered as a spray or cream. Secret Whole Body even offers a stick with coconut oil and shea butter. With scents like Peach + Vanilla Blossom and Fresh Lilac + Waterlily you’re sure to smell (and feel) fresh.
Exfoliate
Showering is a given to get rid of the bacteria on your skin, but don’t forget to exfoliate, too. It can help remove dead skin cells that can trap bacteria and cause body odor. Another tip for your showering routine: towel off well, especially in areas where you tend to sweat later in the day. When you get dry right away, it’s harder for bacteria to breed.
Wear loose, lightweight clothes
You may want to do the opposite and cover up more if you’re concerned about whole body odor. But dressing in outfits that will keep you cool can help minimize odor.
Replace your insoles
To help combat foot odor, replace those insoles often. New insoles won’t stop your feet from sweating, but old, stinky insoles certainly aren’t helping.