During family celebrations with relatives, PTA meetings at your child’s school, or important seminars at college, work is the last thing you want to encounter a whiff of pungent, unpleasant air leaving your system.
Body odor, often abbreviated to B.O., whether mild or strong, is unfortunately a common problem that affects people of all ages, from teenagers to young adults and seniors.
Although most prominently found in the armpits, B.O. it can also originate from the feet, pubic area and buttocks. Even a sweaty scalp that smells is a common concern for both men and women.
Medically referred to as osmidrosis, bromhidrosis, and ozochrotia, body odor is triggered when bacteria residing on the surface of the skin break down the proteins in sweat into several distinct acidic compounds.
Sweating, puberty, spicy diet and chronic diseases like diabetes, thyroid disorders are the most common causes of body odor.
Smelly armpits can be a nuisance during everyday activities. You might be thinking, “How do I get rid of underarm odor? To answer your question, we have some home remedies for smelly underarms that you might want to try to get rid of underarm odor. They are as follows:
1. Green tea
Green tea can help you unclog the pores on your skin and reduce sweating.1 To use green tea to avoid smelly armpits, you can take a few green tea bags and soak them in warm water as you normally would when making tea. Then take out the tea bags and when they reach room temperature, you can put them under your armpits for a few minutes. Consistent use of this remedy can prove to be a good remedy for smelly underarms.
2. Lemon juice
Lemon juice contains citric acid, which kills bacteria. As a remedy for smelly armpits, you can take a lemon and juice it, then mix the juice in water. You can put this lemon juice in a spray bottle and spray it under your armpits.1 If you don’t have a spray bottle, you can also apply some of this mixture directly to your armpits.
3. Baking soda
The skin has natural acids in it that baking soda can balance. This helps reduce underarm odor. This could be a pretty simple remedy to get rid of smelly armpits. You can take a small amount of baking soda and mix it with some water to make a semi-solid paste. Wash it off after it dries.1 This could prove to be a good remedy for smelly underarms.
4. Apple cider vinegar
Apple cider vinegar contains an acid that helps to effectively destroy bacteria. So, it can be used as one of the home remedies for smelly armpits. You can take a few drops of apple cider vinegar and dilute it in a little water. You can pour this diluted water into a spray bottle and use it to spray your armpits.1 Otherwise, just apply the mixture to your armpits with a cotton swab.
Check it out – Wow Life Science Organic Apple Cider Vinegar
5. Turmeric
Turmeric can help effectively kill bacteria that react with sweat and cause bad odor.2 It can be used as one of the home remedies for smelly armpits. You can use turmeric powder to make a paste that is not too runny. Apply the mixture prepared in this way to the armpits and leave it on for a while. Then you can rinse it off. Regular use can prove to be a good remedy for underarm odor.
6. Antibacterial soaps
Taking care of your hygiene by bathing regularly can prove beneficial in reducing body odor. You can use antibacterial soaps to help reduce the number of bacteria on the skin, thereby reducing the likelihood of body odor. When bathing, make sure you focus on your underarms and give them a good exfoliation to reduce the bacterial load.1 This might be one of the easiest home remedies for smelly underarms you can try.
7. Clothing
Wearing clothes that are loose and made of cotton can help reduce body odor. Clothing that wicks moisture away from the body, known as moisture wicking fabric, can be helpful. Wearing a bra and underwear made of this material can help. Washing clothes regularly and wearing clean clothes can be a good way to reduce underarm odor.1
8. Lifestyle modifications
Lifestyle modifications such as reducing intake or avoiding foods that cause body odor such as caffeine, alcohol, onions, garlic, etc. can help manage body odor and smelly armpits. Underarm hair removal can also be helpful because the hair acts as a breeding ground for bacteria.1 You can remove underarm hair by either shaving or waxing. These small changes can help reduce underarm odor.
Although there are studies that demonstrate the benefits of certain herbs and home remedies in dealing with smelly armpits, they are insufficient. More studies are needed to determine the true extent of the benefits of these herbs and home remedies on human health. Therefore, they should be taken with caution and never as a substitute for medical treatment.
