Introduction 

Have you ever felt like throwing up or spitting in public because someone passed by you and the person smelt offensive? Maybe you haven’t but, if you did, you would know that it is an unpleasant experience. That is what happens when someone has a bad body odor and doesn’t do anything about it. Everyone has a body odor, the characteristic scent produced by the body, it can either be good or bad.  

Causes of Body Odor 

Generally, whenever people hear body odor what comes to mind first is an awful smell but that’s not the truth. Body odor is a natural process by the body to regulate temperature through sweating. As the body produces sweat and the bacteria on the skin interact with it, a characteristic smell is produced. While sweat is naturally odorless, its contact with bacteria on the skin produces a noticeable smell.  Aside from this, hormonal fluctuations during puberty, pregnancy, & menopause boost sweat production, increasing body odor. So teenagers who are at the peak of puberty tend to experience a stronger smell. Diet and nutrition also cause body odor, foods like onion, garlic, & spicy foods can affect body odor. Personal hygiene and physical activity can influence the way a person smells such that someone who doesn’t bathe regularly, brush regularly, & wear neat clothes will smell awful. After engaging in physical activities during the day, the body produces sweat and if it’s not washed off before going to bed, the body develops a bad odor over time. 

Impacts of Body Odor

Can we talk about the social implications that are associated with strong body odor? In today’s context, those with strong body odor tend to be stigmatized as though they are going about a contagious disease. This tends to affect their self-confidence, social interactions, and sense of cleanliness. Naturally, when the brain cells receive signals of an awful smell from a person, the next thing is to move away from the smell. This alone can cause personal embarrassment or social discomfort for the person in public settings. Also, nobody wants to have a conversation with someone who has a bad breath or body odor because it can be very uncomfortable. Recruiters such as HR personnel won’t want to hire anyone who smells awful because it can be indicative of poor hygiene or a bad omen! The fear of these companies also losing potential customers or investors because one of their staff has a bad body odor, is another reason why they won’t want such a person on their team. 

The Rapid Development of Deodorants

Have you noticed that new brands that produce deodorants are springing up? This is a reflection of how much society values sweet scents and will do everything to mask or reduce bad body odors. The smell of sweet scent is seen as a normal part of human existence, the more reason people detest bad odor. That is why there is some sort of strong emphasis on using products like antiperspirants, deodorants, body sprays, and perfumes to mask unpleasant odors. In fact, there are a few people who have gotten job offers because they had a sweet scent when they walked into the interview room. This is how powerful deodorants can be! Whether you have a bad body odor or otherwise, apply deodorants before you step out daily, you never can tell who is going to compliment that scent. 

Prevention of Bad Body Odor

Although body odor is a natural one, some people have a bad body odor which has affected their self-perception and social anxiety, especially in social gatherings. Personal hygiene is the first step to preventing bad body odor, from regular bathing to wearing clean clothes and applying deodorants. If possible, take your bath twice daily, especially if you’re engaged in a stressful physical activity. It has been observed that the body sweats more when there is intense physical activity which in turn produces strong body odor. Products such as deodorant are meant to compliment your scent and not mask your odor because it doesn’t reduce the odor permanently. Instead, prioritize regular personal care routines to reduce the bacteria that cause bad odor. 

Conclusion 

Body odor is a natural process peculiar to everyone but can be good or bad depending on how well you take care of your health. If you have noticed that your body odor isn’t scenting nice or normal, consider working on your hygiene.  

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