Health

Body Blues

It's impossible not to get hot and sweaty while going about your day. The best you can do to keep comfortable is wear loose clothes, stay in air-conditioning and hope the rain will bring down the temperature outside.

But when you are standing with a colleague or speaking to a relative at home and you notice them hold their breath, wrinkle their nose or turn away from you, you realise that your attempts to stay cool and sweat-free didn't stop body odour (B.O) from clinging to you.

Many guys and girls alike deal with B.O., which is the smell of bacteria on the body. An individual's body odour is influenced by diet, lifestyle, gender genetics, health and medications. Some of the common causes for body odour are: poor hygiene, sweating, alcohol, smoking, a diet that includes refined foods such as cakes, breads, sugar, sodas and chips etc, prolonged illness, diseases, stress, skin problems, weak or slow metabolism and eating meat.

B.O. is a major turnoff for most people, and sometimes it can be a challenge to get rid of it. If you want to smell as fresh as a pansy without much hassle, the Star has compiled some simple solutions.

Shower every day. Showering often is and important part of keeping away body odour. Shower every morning or night, depending on your schedule. Use a powerful soap like Irish Spring or Dove all over your body and in the areas that are likely to get B.O. These areas include the armpits, feet, back, neck, and private areas.

If you want to do it, shave your underarms. The hair under your armpits will trap in sweat and bacteria, causing the smell to intensify.

Use Deodorant. After stepping out of the shower and drying off, use a good deodorant. Sometimes it is more effective to use a heavy duty roll on deodorant and then a strong spray kind. Put on both kinds for five to ten seconds. It is also important to put on some more deodorant right before and after working out.

Care for Your Feet. If you have foot odour, spray some deodorant on the bottoms of your feet before putting your socks on. This will keep your feet dry and fresh all day long. Also try putting dryer sheets in your shoes to freshen them.

Use a good smelling cologne/perfume. Don't try to use good smelling things to cover up your B.O. Perfumes or colognes are only effective if you are clean when you put them on.

Make sure your clothing is washed after one wearing. Wearing fresh clothes every day ensures you don't carry around an old smell that will only make you dirtier and smeller as the day goes on. Wearing loose clothes will also keep from your clothes sticking you when you sweat.

Always have an extra shirt with you. The worst possible case is being away from home with a stinky, sweaty shirt on. It doesn't hurt to have an extra in your bag- better to smell clean than to have the reputation for stinking.

 

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