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Our bodies perspire to cool the skin and to release toxins from the body and bloodstream. If we are stressed, we tend to perspire more. The interaction of body chemicals and natural body oils can create a strong musk-like or rancid odor. Body odor that is extremely bad can be a sign of a more serious health problem. Irregularities in organ function, bowel function, infection, poor metabolism, menopause, obesity, nerve damage and digestion, can all contribute to an offensive body odor. Women sometimes find that body odor becomes a problem when they are pregnant or after a baby is born. This can be due to a change in body chemistry. If our bodies are not functioning properly, a strong, offensive odor may exist. If this is the case, no deodorant or anti-perspirant will correct the problem.
Severe body odor can be very embarrassing. It can cause depression, low self-esteem and anti-social behavior. People who have never experienced this problem usually cannot understand. They believe that a person who has an offensive body odor doesn?t practice good personal hygiene. Nothing could be further from the truth. Many people shower everyday, and sometimes more, and still have problems with body odor.
Hyperhidrosis, is a condition that causes an offensive body odor. Though this problem is more common than it used to be, many health care professionals are not aware that it exists.
If you have Hyperhidrosis, your clothing may be ruined by perspiration. White clothing may turn yellow under the arms. Colored clothing may turn white, or look like it has been bleached. You will perspire excessively all of the time, even when the weather is cool or freezing.
Hyperhidrosis is caused when nerves controlling the sweat glands become overactive. The condition can be diagnosed by your doctor. Tests may be ordered first, to rule out other diseases.
If Hyperhidrosis is suspected, the ?Minor Test? can be used as a diagnostic tool. A weak solution of iodine is applied to the area where excessive sweating is thought to occur. Powered starch is then dusted over the iodine. If Hyperhidosis is present, the sweat will cause the iodine/starch mixture to turn dark blue.
Gravimetry is a test that measures how much a person sweats. This test requires blotting paper to be put on the area where excessive sweating is thought to occur. The paper soaks up the sweat. The paper is then weighed to find out how much sweat has been absorbed. This test will tell the attending physician if the patient is sweating excessively.
Once your doctor has a proper diagnosis, Hyperhidosis is treatable. Oral medications can often alleviate the problem. Applying aluminum chloride hexahydrate may help. Injections can be used to stop the signal from the nerves to the sweat glands. In very severe cases, surgery may be necessary to cut the nerves that cause the excessive sweating.
If your doctor is one of the health care professionals who isn?t familiar with Hyperhidosis, a holistic healer or naturopath may be able to help.
There are a few home remedies you might like to try. Be sure to eat a high fibre diet. If the problem is intestinal, this will help. Fibre cleans the walls of the intestines, making your body healthier.
Take a Cod Liver Oil capsule once daily, or purchase the new Cod Liver Oil liquid that doesn?t taste like fish. (Remember that awful stuff our parents used to give us? Well now there is Cod Liver Oil with no fish taste or smell. It is available at most health food stores.) Cod Liver Oil lubricates the intestines and assists fibre to keep intestinal walls clean. Eat raw mushrooms. If the problem happens to be candida, a fungus, the mushrooms or a mushroom tea may give some relief.
Sage tea helps to minimize how much the body perspires. Give it a try.
Cypress, lavender and other essential oils added to bath water may or may not help.
Try carrying baby wipes. If you find that you?re perspiring excessively, take a bathroom break and use the wipes to clean your underarms. This can be done several times a day without anyone being the wiser. You might want to carry deodorant in your purse or inner coat pocket so you can use it after you?ve used the baby wipe.
Be careful of your diet. Garlic can be secreted through the sweat glands, as can other spicy foods. If you think that certain foods could be the cause of excessive body odor, remove it from your diet for a time and monitor the results.
Certain medications can also cause excessive body odor. If you think medication may be the cause of your problem, talk to your friendly neighborhood pharmacist. He/she often knows more about the effects of medication on your body better than your doctor. Pharmacists are trained to know things about medications that doctors are not.
Use deodorant instead of anti-perspirants. Anti-prespirants can clog underarm pores. If you are having problems with excessive body odor, never use deodorants with fragrance added. This can make the problem worse if the fragrance doesn?t agree with your body chemistry. (This can also be a factor with perfume, or anything else that contains fragrance.) Citronella Grass is a great natural deodorant, as is a bit of vinegar.
If nothing seems to work for you, insist that your doctor send you to an internist. Don?t take no for an answer. If you are practicing proper hygiene, which means showering daily and using deodorant, you should not have a problem with excessive body odor. Therefore, there must be an underlying problem, which needs immediate attention.
