Remember that date when you rushed home and changed your phone number so he wouldn’t call back? All because he had BO! Body odour is a put-off. Be it dates or interviews, your first impressions would go for a toss if you arrive at the scene with an ill-smelling aura. BO is not to be trifled with as it can be a game changer for you. Here we focus on underarm odour and ways to treat it.

The good, the bad and the ugly

Our body is covered with sweat glands as they perform the important function of eliminating toxins from the body and maintaining the body’s temperature. 

The eccrine glands cover most areas of the body, opening directly on the skin’s surface. The apocrine glands contain a lot of hair follicles, so they are found in areas such as the armpits and groin. They open into the hair follicles before opening up to the surface. People who suffer from hyperhidrosis or excessive sweating end up having body odour as the sweat comes in contact with bacteria, resulting in bad smell. Even those who don’t have this condition might face the BO issue occasionally. 

While hygiene and grooming routines can take care of the occasional problem, for more chronic issues, specialised help will be required. 

However, before you go for an aesthetic treatment plan to treat smelly armpits, you need to understand the exact underlying cause. Excessive sweating is also because of medical conditions such as hormonal changes, diabetes, liver or kidney condition and metabolic disorders. Once you rule out the possibility of a medical condition, you can address excessive sweating with a combined effort of grooming and aesthetic practices. 

Let’s look at the common treatments that can be explored to address this issue:

Laser hair removal
Since the sweat gets accumulated in the hair follicle, it would help to get rid of hair in the armpit area. You can try grooming routines such as waxing or shaving. For a more long term solution, ask your dermatologist for laser hair removal treatment. As the laser emits a light, it is absorbed by the melanin in the hair. Once the light energy is converted to heat, the tube-shaped sacs within the skin, which are hair follicles, are damaged and future hair growth is successfully inhibited. 

With hair off the surface of the skin, grooming and hygiene routines will help in reducing body odour considerably. 

Botulinum toxin

Botulinum toxin or botox (proprietary name) is known to address this issue more effectively. Since botox freezes the muscle and inhibits movements, when it is injected in tiny quantities in the armpit, it stops the sweat glands from functioning. You will need multiple treatments and follow up sessions for it to be totally effective. It is also important that the injection is administered by a certified dermatologist or plastic surgeon. 

Prescription medicine
Your doctor might also put you on a prescription medicine course, depending on the severity of your problem. However, medication works on the sweat glands of the entire body and not just the armpits. Since the medicine stops the sweat glands from working, the body might have problems in cooling itself down. This medication is not to be taken without the doctor’s advice. 

Handheld devices
There are certain handheld devices that have received FDA approval and can be used by dermatologists to treat excessive sweating in the armpits. This machine emits electromagnetic energy, which destroys the sweat glands. It takes a couple of sessions to completely get rid of the sweat glands, and then they are gone for good.

This device can only treat the underarms because this area of the body has enough underlying fat to protect itself, unlike hands and feet where there isn’t enough fat. This treatment is relatively new and there is little information about its long-term effect and duration of the results. A dermatologist will be the best person to guide you about the best treatment for your concern.

Maintaining a hygienic lifestyle that includes showering after strenuous activities, using an antiperspirant and a deodorant as well as an antibacterial soap, wearing loose clothing made of cotton, avoid adding fabric softener to your laundry, increase your water intake and avoid sulphur-rich foods such as cauliflower and onion and garlic. 

Sweaty smelly armpits should not take away from your personality or affect your performance at work. Help is at hand - all you need is to seek expert consultation.

Disclaimer: The above content is for informational purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for the advice of a qualified physician or doctor. The Company does not vouch for or endorse any of the above content, and disclaims any and all warranties, express or implied, relating to the same.