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The Doctors Book of Home Remedies II: Body Odor

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Body Odor

Back when our ancestors were walking on their knuckles, when there were no Johnny Mathis records or candlelight dinners to help set the mood, most folks had a nice, natural ripeness that may have turned on their dinner companions more than it turned them off.

How times change. These days, that same natural body odor can leave you lonelier than ol' Uncle Ugh before his end-of-month bath night. Of course, the smell-good departments of pharmacies and supermarkets are well stocked with a scented array of deodorants, which kill the bacteria that cause the odor or mask the smell that the bacteria create.

But many people get irritations from deodorants and antiperspirants. The aluminum salts and other drying agents may be too strong for the sensitive glands in the armpits, says William Epstein, M.D., professor of dermatology at the University of California, San Francisco, School of Medicine. Luckily for you (and for everyone around you), there are other ways to banish body odor--sans deodorant. Among the most effective ways:

Don't stink with zinc. Some people find that body odor problems can be remedied simply by consuming more zinc, says Morton Scribner, M.D., a dermatologist in Arcadia, California. He suggests that you boost intake with a daily supplement of 25 to 50 milligrams of zinc. Or steer toward zinc-rich foods such as oysters, lean beef, king crab and wheat germ.

"Roll on" some baking soda. "Sodium bicarbonate, better known as baking soda, kills the odor-causing bacteria and absorbs moisture," says Arthur Jacknowitz, Pharm.D., professor and chairman of clinical pharmacy at West Virginia University School of Pharmacy in Morgantown. "Many people find that baking soda is just as effective as a deodorant." Simply sprinkle a generous amount into your bath and soak yourself, or mix it with a little talcum powder and apply it directly to underarms.

When to See the Doctor

When deodorants can't do the job and washing seems like a waste, you may have a body odor problem that requires some heavy artillery-namely, your doctor's expertise.

"If you've done everything you can and nothing seems to help, then you really need to see a dermatologist who specializes in body odor problems," advises George Preti, Ph.D., a researcher at the Morrell Chemical Senses Center in Philadelphia. "You may have an underlying condition that requires certain antibiotics to kill the bacteria, or your doctor may prescribe a special soap."

Clean yourself the way doctors do. Surgeons scrub with antibacterial soap before an operation in order to kill bacteria. These soaps are "great for people with problem body odor or a tendency to get irritated from deodorants," says John E, Romano, M.D., a dermatologist and clinical assistant professor of medicine at The New York Hospital--Cornell Medical Center in New York City. And they're available over the counter at most drugstores. "Just ask the pharmacist for a surgical 'scrub' soap, then wash with it to kill the bacteria that cause body odors," says Dr. Romano. Scrub soap is very effective, yet gentle enough to use in the groin and underarm areas, he adds.

Do don some Domeboro. Another over-the-counter product that's an effective alternative to deodorant is Domeboro, says D'Anne Kleinsmith, M.D., a cosmetic dermatologist at William Beaumont Hospital near Detroit. Domeboro is a powder that you mix in cool or lukewarm water and apply to your problem areas. "It will relieve odor and wetness in those areas--whether it's your underarms, groin or feet or under your breasts," says Dr. Kleinsmith.

Shave excess hair under your arms. "The presence of hair increases body odor, because it serves as a collection site for secretions, debris and bacteria," says Dr. Jacknowitz. "Shaving your armpits is one way to reduce body odor problems. However, antiperspirants should not be used on newly shaved skin."

Hold the spices. Extracts of proteins and oils from certain foods and spices remain in your body's excretions and secretions for hours after you eat them. These extracts can impart an odor. Fish, cumin, curry and garlic lead the list. "So if you have body odor problems, you'll have more problems if you eat a lot of these foods," says Dr. Kleinsmith.

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