Dr. Olanrewaju Falodun, a consultant dermatologist at the National Hospital in Abuja, on Tuesday says the general perception that some people were born with body odour is wrong.
Dr. Falodun told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that body odour was caused by the process of bacteria breaking down in the sweat, and the sweat causing the odour.
“There are two types of sweat glands in the body. These are the eccrine gland which is found all over the body, and the apocrine gland which is found primarily in the ancillary (armpit) and genital areas.
“The two sweat glands are usually connected to hair follicles, and much of the thing we call body odour is as a result of the apocrine gland.
“The glands do not mature or start functioning until when a person reaches the age of puberty, and that is why the real issues about odour are more pronounced after puberty,” he said.
Mr. Falodun says obesity also triggers body odour in people who are overweight, as the sweat is trapped between the folds of skin.
The dermatologist however says body odour can be prevented, as long as the person diligently maintained cleanliness of the body.
Mr. Falodun also added that the use of anti-perspirants and deodorants should also be a routine.
“Deodorants work by masking the smell of sweat with fragrance, while anti-perspirants reduce the amount of sweat the body produces,’’ he said.
The dermatologist also noted that it was also essential to wash clothes thoroughly, particularly clothing that comes into contact with sweaty areas such as socks, underwear and shirts.
“Wash the body with soap daily, particularly the armpits, groin and feet, where there are many sweat-producing glands.
“Washing removes sweat and reduces the number of bacteria which act upon them,’’ Mr. Falodun says.
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