Let’s talk about body odor.
There are two major types of sweat glands in the body. The eccrine sweat glands which is found on most parts of the skin, the palms and the soles is involved in regulating heat. The apocrine sweat glands which is found mainly in the armpits, genital area, breasts, eyelids and ears produce secretions that act as pheromones.
Some terms to understand before we move on
Bromhidrosis or Osmihidrosis – Refers to body odor
Hyperhidrosis – Excessive secretion of sweat from the sweat glands
Chromhidrosis – Colored sweat.
So for the purpose of this discussion, we’re talking about the first one called Bromhidrosis.
The apocrine glands I mentioned earlier are not active till puberty. Note that when sweat is secreted from any part of the body, it is odorless until bacteria acts on it.
The sweat glands mostly associated with body odor is the apocrine glands (although it can occur rarely with the other eccrine glands) located in those areas I mentioned earlier. Body odor is more common in males and usually occurs after puberty. Studies have shown that the people that have true body odor probably have larger and more active apocrine glands.
I say true body odor because some people are just plain dirty that’s why they have a false body odor. One shirt for 3 days, bathing only when they have visitors or when they have a date, they’re fighting with deodorants and perfumes and are generally lackadaisical about hygiene.
So when someone has both hyperhidrosis and body odor together….they augment the effect of each other. Excess sweat secretion can occur with medical conditions like hyperthyroidism, anxiety disorders amongst others
How then do you manage body odor?
Whether it is a true body odor or ‘afowofa’ type of body odor….the key is to improve personal hygiene. Change clothes frequently, use antiperspirant containing aluminium hexachloride rather than just deodorants, use perfumes.
In some cases especially those associated with excessive sweat secretion, use of botox may be considered and surgery has been used especially in cases of axillary (armpit) hyperhidrosis.
IMPROVE YOUR PERSONAL HYGIENE. Most cases of body odor are actually not true ones.
“He who has health, has hope; and he who has hope, has everything.”
--- THOMAS CARLYLE ---
Body odor….or not?
08.12.2020 /