Has your body odor ever smelled so bad that you feared someone else would notice besides you? Well then, you are not alone. Everyone suffers from body odor. Most body odor is insignificant enough that it can be easily controlled by proper hygiene and an over-the-counter deodorant/antiperspirant.

However, this is not always the case. Sometimes, extra help is needed to control body odor. For instance, if regular showering and application of antiperspirant do not help your body odor, there are many other helpful ways to control body odor. There are no real cures for body odor, since it is a naturally occurring phenomena in all human beings since the caveman days.

Sweat is odorless. It is only when sweat reaches the skin's surface that it interacts with the bacteria on the skin's surface. The bacteria is what produces the odor when they multiply in the hot and wet conditions. The bacteria particularly loves the sweat from the underarms and groin areas, because this sweat is thicker and contains fat.

There are many causes of body odor. It is important to know what is causing your body odor in order to control it. Some causes are sweating, strong medicines, alcohol, smoking, illness/disease, stress, skin problems, gastrointestinal problems, weak metabolism, fungal infection, bacterial growth, poor hygiene, hereditary factors, certain foods, menopause, low levels of male hormones, hypoglycemia or low blood sugar, fever, and over active thyroid or hyperthyroidism.

Try using an antibacterial or pine soap in the shower instead of your normal soap or body wash. The antibacterial soap will eliminate some of the odor-causing bacteria on your skin, while the pine soap will make you smell like the great outdoors for hours. Pine soap is used by hunters to mask their “human” odor.

Use an antiperspirant under your arms. If this is not enough, you may want to try an antibiotic under your arms to eliminate the bacteria. Try using a body powder on other sweat-prone areas to keep them dry and the bacteria away. Also, change and wash your clothes daily. After every use, wash your clothes. If you find this is not enough, consider changing your clothes mid-day.

You can also try staying away from the situations that are making you hot or avoiding certain foods that are making your body odor rancid. For example, stay out of the sun and go into the shade if being outdoors in the summertime makes you stinky. Remember, if your body odor changes abruptly and lasts for more than a few days, consult your doctor, it could be a sign of an underlying disease.