From the Guidelines
To improve body odor, focus on regular hygiene practices, including daily showers with antibacterial soap and applying an effective antiperspirant containing aluminum compounds, as these interventions have been shown to reduce sweat production and bacterial breakdown of proteins in sweat. When considering interventions to improve body odor, it's essential to prioritize those that address the root causes of body odor, which include sweat production and bacterial growth.
- Regular hygiene practices, such as taking daily showers using antibacterial soap, can help reduce bacterial growth on the skin, which contributes to body odor 1.
- Applying an effective antiperspirant containing aluminum compounds in the evening and morning can help reduce sweat production, thereby reducing the amount of sweat available for bacteria to break down 1.
- Dietary adjustments, such as reducing consumption of foods that can negatively affect body odor, like garlic, onions, curry, and excessive red meat, and increasing intake of fruits, vegetables, and herbs like parsley and mint, can also help improve body odor.
- Staying well-hydrated with water can help dilute toxins in sweat, which can also contribute to improved body odor.
- Wearing clean clothes made of natural fibers like cotton can help keep the skin dry and reduce bacterial growth, which can also improve body odor.
- While fragrance products like cologne or perfume can be used sparingly as complementary measures, they should not replace good hygiene practices. It's worth noting that the provided evidence, although related to hand hygiene and infection control, highlights the importance of antibacterial agents and good hygiene practices in reducing bacterial growth and transmission, which can be applied to the context of body odor management 1.
From the Research
Interventions for Improving Body Odor
Several interventions have been shown to improve body odor, resulting in a more pleasant scent. These include:
- The use of deodorants and antiperspirants, which can prevent malodor and sweat [ 2 ]
- Topical application of glycopyrrolate, which has been shown to be effective in treating gustatory hyperhidrosis [ 3 ]
- The use of over-the-counter soft-solid antiperspirants, which can reduce sweat rate and are considered an alternative treatment to aluminum chloride antiperspirants [ 4 ]
- Botulinum toxin injections, which are a safe and effective treatment option for focal hyperhidrosis [ 5 ]
- Iontophoresis, which is the primary remedy for palmar and plantar hyperhidrosis [ 6 ]
- Energy-delivering devices such as lasers, ultrasound technology, microwave thermolysis, and fractional microneedle radiofrequency, which can reduce focal sweating [ 6 ]
Mechanisms of Action
The mechanisms of action of these interventions vary, but include:
- Bactericidal and antiperspirant properties, as seen in triclosan and aluminum salts [ 2 ]
- Inhibition of sweat gland function, as seen in glycopyrrolate [ 3 ]
- Reduction of sweat rate, as seen in over-the-counter soft-solid antiperspirants [ 4 ]
- Blockage of nerve signals that stimulate sweat glands, as seen in botulinum toxin injections [ 5 ]
Future Directions
Future research is focused on studying the armpit biochemistry and function, and control of the microbiota present in this area [ 2 ]. Other possible areas of interest include biotechnological solutions and finding new compounds that will interfere with the biochemistry of the process of sweat decomposition [ 2 ]. Additionally, formulations with probiotics may be used to maintain the balance of axillary microbiota [ 2 ].