How to avoid excessive sweating under the armpits and get rid of body odor? There is the deodorant, but also other tips. We reveal them to you.
Sweating is a normal physiological phenomenon, which affects everyone. It helps regulate and maintain the body temperature at 37 ° C. Every human being is expected to evacuate approximately 1 liter of sweat per day. This figure can go up to 10 liters depending on the degree of stress, the outside temperature or the physical activity exercised.
The problem with this sweating is that the odor released is often smelly or even annoying. The sweat in itself does not smell anything, it is its prolonged contact with the skin which gives it this foul smell. In fact, the millions of micro bacteria that grow on the wet areas of our body, feed on this sweat thus creating bad smells. Here are some solutions to combat this predicament.
Dress and ventilate
One of the first things to do when you start sweating is to cool your body. Fans or fans can do the trick. In order to improve the ventilation of your body, the best solution is to dress according to the outside temperature. Light, loose-fitting clothing provides better ventilation and therefore better regulation of body temperature.
Prefer cotton, wool or linen and avoid synthetic materials as much as possible, which tend to contain the heat between your skin and the fabric.
Have impeccable hygiene
It is said quite often enough that hygiene is extremely important. It attacks the problem of unpleasant odors at the source, by suppressing the bacteria responsible for them. Here are some tips for optimal hygiene:
- take a shower once a day. Taking a shower after a sports activity helps limit the proliferation of bacteria
- wash your hands regularly, before each meal and after using the toilet
- dry your skin well, bacteria grow faster in wet areas
- If hygiene is not enough, shave or epilate. Indeed, the hairs are also nests for bacteria!
Eat well
Some foods give even stronger odors to sweat. This is the case with garlic, onions, and spices. Others such as citrus fruits limit the development of bacteria. True ecological remedy, you just have to pass a half lemon or a mandarin under the arm to neutralize bad odors.
Another piece of advice: don’t drink too cold or too hot. This upsets the body, which tends to give the opposite result to that sought. Prefer lukewarm drinks instead. This advice absolutely does not apply, of course, for beer. Coffee, alcohol, and tobacco also promote perspiration. It is therefore advisable to limit them in the event of extreme heat.
Use deodorant or antiperspirant
The deodorant does not fight against sweating but, as the name suggests, against bad odors. Choose sticks that last longer than sprays.
Antiperspirants, on the other hand, aim to limit sweating. They tighten the pores of the skin and prevent the evacuation of heat. They are much more effective than deodorants. Unfortunately, like many effective products, they have their dark side.
Many controversies would give antiperspirants risks of cancer, because of the substances they contain. The French Health Safety Agency (Afssaps) published a report in October 2011 on the assessment of the risk linked to the use of aluminum in cosmetic products.
The organization recommends there a restriction of the aluminum concentration to 0.6% in deodorant and antiperspirant products and not to use it on shaved or shaved skin which may present micro-lesions, as a precautionary principle. Indeed, it has not been possible to draw up a list of the health risks linked to the use of aluminum salts, but it is not excluded that it could have a relationship with certain cancers and Alzheimer’s disease.
The manufacturers do not apply the Afssaps recommendation for the moment, you just have to be vigilant about the composition of the products. We recall at the same time that the alum stone, often cited as a natural deodorant, is composed of potassium alum or … 100% aluminum salt.
Relax
Stress is an element that promotes sweating. If you are prone to this kind of situation, learn to manage your emotions. Calm down and relax!
Opt for more radical solutions
If these tips still do not work for you and excessive sweating becomes disabling (this is known as sweating), rather radical solutions can be considered.
Iontophoresis: Useful against excessive sweating of the feet or hands, iontophoresis consists of ionizing your skin by means of weak electrical impulses. All you have to do is immerse your hands or feet in a basin of ionized water which will send small electric currents for 20 minutes, three times a week. It is the least expensive and least risky solution. Unfortunately, any prolonged discontinuation of treatment again leads to sweating.
Botox: And yes, botox does not only have anti-wrinkle “virtues”, but it is also used to block the effects of perspiration on the skin. Without wanting to discourage some people, the injections are rather painful and only work for a few months. The cost of the operation is not covered by social security.
Surgery: Irreversible operation, surgery is reserved for the most serious cases. This method consists of cutting the nerves controlling the sweating of the armpits. This process is very controversial and can be risky, causing in particular sweating of another part of the body.
