Best Home Remedies For Smelly Armpits

Introduction

Let’s face it – nobody likes unpleasant body odour, especially when it’s coming from your armpits! Whether it’s caused by heat, stress, or just a long day, unpleasant body odour can be embarrassing. The culprit? The interaction of sweat and bacteria on your skin usually creates the unpleasant odour we all want to avoid. But don’t worry; before you reach for that harsh deodorant, let’s try some natural, gentle remedies that’ll leave you feeling fresh all day. Here are some effective home remedies to combat smelly armpits naturally. 

Friendly Reminder: The information shared here is for educational purposes only and the reader should consult a registered medical practitioner before implementing any changes to their health routine.

What Causes Smelly Armpits?

When we sweat, the fat, salt and water in the sweat mix with the bacteria already on our skin, resulting in the smell of the armpits. The food we eat, hormones and medications can play a role in the armpit odour. It may happen with anyone, but some people are more susceptible to developing body odour than others. Some of the factors which might lead to smelly armpits are: 

• Your genes may make you more prone to developing smelly armpits
• If you are stressed or anxious 
• Exercising  
• Hot weather 
• If your weight exceeds the standard weight recommendation 
• Hair is a breeding ground for bacteria, providing an area for sweat and bacteria to interact. So, armpit hair might be a cause of smelly armpits.

Medical Conditions that May Cause Smelly Armpits

Certain underlying medical conditions might also lead to the development of a peculiar armpit odour: 

• Gout 
• Infectious diseases 
• Liver and kidney diseases 
• Diabetes (causing diabetic ketoacidosis) 
• Menopause 
• Thyroid diseases
  

Certain Foods that May Cause Smelly Armpits

• Sulphur-containing foods such as onions, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, red meat and garlic  
• Other foods that trigger body odour include caffeine, alcohol, hot sauce, and other spicy foods, such as curry or cumin

Symptoms of Smelly Armpits

As mentioned above, smelly armpits, i.e., odour from armpits, can occur for many reasons. It is a symptom that can indicate an underlying medical condition or be due to certain external conditions, like hot weather. 

Home Remedies for Smelly Armpits

Smelly armpits pose an inconvenience during your daily activities. You might think, “How to eliminate the underarm smell?” To answer your question, we have a few home remedies for smelly armpits that you should try to eliminate the underarm smell. They are as follows: 

1. Green Tea

Green tea might help block pores on your skin and reduce sweating. To do this, soak a few green tea bags in warm water when making tea. Then, remove the tea bags and put them under your armpits for a few minutes when they reach room temperature. Consistent use of this remedy is a good smelly armpit remedy.  

2. Lemon Juice

Lemon juice contains citric acid, which kills bacteria. You can juice and mix a lemon with water to remedy smelly underarms. Then, put the lemon juice in a spray bottle and spray it on your underarms. If you do not have a spray bottle, apply this mixture to your armpits. 

3. Baking Soda

Baking soda may balance the skin’s natural acids, reducing the smell of armpits. Mix a small amount of baking soda with water to form a semi-solid paste. Apply the paste to your armpits and allow it to dry. After it dries, wash it off.

4. Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar has acid, which helps destroy bacteria effectively. Thus, it might be used as a home remedy for smelly armpits. To use it, dilute a few drops of apple cider vinegar in water. Then, put the diluted water in a spray bottle and spray it on your underarms. Alternatively, apply the mixture to your underarms using a cotton swab.    

5. Turmeric 

Turmeric might help kill bacteria that react with sweat and cause a foul odour. This can be used as one of the home remedies for smelly underarms. You can use turmeric powder to make a paste which is not too liquid. Apply this prepared mixture to the underarms and leave it for some time. You can then rinse it off. Using this regularly is a good remedy for an underarm smell. 

6. Antibacterial Soaps 

Maintaining good personal hygiene may reduce body odour. Antibacterial soaps help reduce the number of bacteria on your skin, thus decreasing the chances of developing body odour. While bathing, focus on your armpits and give them a good scrub to reduce the bacterial load. This might be one of the simplest home remedies for smelly armpits. 

7. Clothing

Wearing loose-fitting cotton clothes might help reduce body odour. Clothes that absorb moisture from the body, known as moisture-wicking fabric, can also be helpful. Bras and underwear made of this fabric might help. Washing clothes regularly and wearing clean clothes may also be a good way to reduce the underarm smell.

8. Lifestyle Modifications

Lifestyle modifications like decreasing the intake or avoiding foods that cause body odour, like caffeine, alcohol, onions, garlic, etc., may help to manage body odour and smelly underarms. Removing underarm hair could also be helpful, as hair acts as a breeding ground for bacteria. You can remove underarm hair by either shaving or waxing it. These little changes reduce the underarm smell.  

Though studies show the benefits of herbs and home remedies for smelly armpits, these are insufficient. Further studies are needed to establish the true extent of these benefits for human health. Thus, they should be taken cautiously and never used as a substitute for medical treatment.

When to Seek Medical Help? 

Increased sweating can mean something more in the following situations, and therefore, you should visit
a doctor:  

• If you experience unusual sweating while sleeping 
• If your skin is constantly damp with sweat 
• Body odour, which is a little fruity, can be an indicator of diabetes
• If you experience a sudden change in body odour or notice increased sweating 
• When the body odour is bleach-like, it can indicate liver or kidney disease
• If you are sweating even when you are not in a warm setting or physically active 
• If you experience infections in the body areas more prone to sweating 
• If you are sweating so much that it affects your daily activities like using a computer, holding a pen, or turning a doorknob

You must not rely solely on home remedies to manage smelly armpits. If the symptoms don’t improve, consult a doctor for advice.

Embracing home remedies and practising good hygiene can effectively address armpit odour, but for those with hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating), sweating can cause discomfort and self-consciousness in public. Many patients complain of extreme stress and discomfort due to excessive sweating. Seek guidance from a medical professional to explore potential treatment options. Botox injections can work wonders in some instances.

Dr. Arpit Verma, MBBS, MD (Pharmacology)

Conclusion

Dealing with smelly underarms can be a hassle. Whether from food, hormones, or just sweating too much, foul odour can creep up when you least expect it. But don’t stress! Natural remedies like apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, and baking soda may help freshen you up quickly. However, you should check in with a doctor if you’re dealing with frequent infections or unexplained sweating.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Disclaimer: The information provided here is for educational/awareness purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional and should not be relied upon to diagnose or treat any medical condition. The reader should consult a registered medical practitioner to determine the appropriateness of the information and before consuming any medication. PharmEasy does not provide any guarantee or warranty (express or implied) regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of the information; and disclaims any liability arising thereof.

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