Why do Underarms smell?
Why do Underarms smell?
Poor Hygiene. Most of the time, our underarms are closed and no air can pass through. This makes the underarms hot which cause them to sweat especially under strict physical activities.
Sweating is natural and healthy for the body. Through perspiration, our body cools itself down. But naturally, sweat is odourless. So where does the eerie smell come from? It comes from the bacteria in your skin. These bacteria eats the skin cells in your underarms and releases a chemical called 3-methyl 2-hexenoic acid†which triggers the odor. Bacteria mixed with sweat, joined by the air equals a pungent and awful smell.
The only solution is maintaining a proper hygiene. Poor hygiene can cause smelly underarms. Properly clean your body especially your underarms, scrub it gently while showering and use products such as antiperspirants to reduce sweating or deodorants to prevent having underarm odor.
Undigested ‘Trimethylamine’. If however your underarms reek of fish-odor then you have a different issue. The ‘fish-odor’ syndrome is a case where the armpits smells like decomposing fish. This condition is rare and is only found in those persons whose system is unable to digest ‘trimethylamine’, a substance responsible for the odor associated with ‘fouling fish’. It is also related with taking large doses of choline and carnitine which can be found in eggs, fish, liver and legumes.
If this is your case then all you need to do is to control your diet and minimize your intake of these types of foods.
Spicy Foods. Too much intake of spicy foods such as curry, onions, garlic, chillies and other spices can also cause your underarms to smell through your sweat. The smell of the spices is secreted outside your body and is mixed with sweat producing the bad odor which is why most people who live in the Middle East have this distinct smell on them.
Other diseases. Having diseases such as gastrointestinal problems, kidney or liver problems and diabetes can also cause smelly armpits due to in-take of strong medicines which affect the body odor.
Genes. If your family have smelly underarms then you know where you got it.
In conclusion, there are a lot of reasons why the underarms smell. To solve this problem, you need to look for the main cause and get the right solution.
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If bacteria caused the smell then it would go away when sanitized. Smell is not due to poor hygiene at all. That’s an absurd conclusion. The armpits are essential in ridding the body of toxins. That’s why we sweat. Red meat, processed and manufactured foods, and spicy foods cause the odor. If your armpits stink its because they are cleansing your body of horrible toxins and you need to change your diet! Covering up the smell with deodorants just masks a health issue! Not to mention harms your body with the toxic fragrances and heavy metals. Most contain aluminum, which causes your body to reduce sweat production. This can harm the way your body releases toxins! Not to mention the cancer causing effects of aluminum! Washing off the smell is not the answer. And if the smell was caused by bacteria, rubbing alcohol would do the trick. The smell comes from within.
Of course bad hygiene leads to odor you idiot.
I wish I could “like” this
Kristin is a dumbass.
Kristin makes a strong point on it not being a hygiene issue, because even after taking a shower your armpits will naturally start to sweat and smell again. It is only with the use of deodorant that prevents it and there are now potential health issues from deodorants with certain chemical ingredients. So without using deodorants, your armpits can smell within an hour of having cleaned oneself. Thus not necessarily a poor hygiene issue.
Kristin, I totally agree with you. Not every person’s odor comes from poor hygenie. I am a female, 28, with excellent hygenie. I take at least 2 to 3 showers a day due to persistent underarm odor. Deodorant, rubbing on alcohol, vinegar (you name it) only calms down my odor problem. Get this!!! My underarms still smell after I shower- just not as bad. My mom says my problem started as an infant. She began putting deodorant on me before I was walking because the problem was that bad.
I agree spices can up the odour, but why did the author have to put a racist judgement on it? Author could have just left it at ‘spices can cause odour’ instead of adding a value judgement and continuing the sentence with ‘this is why people who live in the Middle East…’
Poorly executed and not needed at all.
And by the way, for your ignorant minds, the Middle East is not the only place on earth who use spices, there are many other countries and cultures who use spices, so if you’re going to label one, you may as well list all of them, since you obviously know so much about what people from which cultures eat what.
At least spiced food tastes better than white people food. All y’all eat is sandwiches.
I didn’t see it as a racist remark, but enlightening. The same as I have heard the kimchi eaten by Koreans come out through the body pores, therefore is not body odor.
@Lara, so youre insult because you are middle eastern and most americans are aware that middle eatern people do have B.O and smells pungeant like curry and spices. but, you end off by trying to add an insult about Americans and sandwiches? That’s hilarious! All you did by posting is show your anger. well, i have a middle eastern friend who moved to the U.S 10 yrs ago. She tells me that her parents never use deodorant or even soap when washing and she learned those things from people she met. Diet isnt the only way to solve this. I eat very healthy and if i dont wear DO i smell like a middle eatern too! Lmao! sorry, I couldnt resist;)