A body odor that may be difficult for you to notice. Women over the age of 50 should be especially careful! We will explain the causes of odor due to aging and new habits to shut out odors by dividing them into the body, scalp, and mouth.
Table of contents
- Yoshika Sekine taught me
- After the age of 50, female hormones decrease and it is easy to smell
- Body odor generation mechanism
- Body odor countermeasure 1: If you sweat, wipe it with a wet towel
- Body odor countermeasures 2: Sometimes you sweat a lot
- Body odor countermeasure 3: Frequent exfoliation of heels
- Body odor countermeasures 4: Wash your body with your hands instead of towels
- Body odor countermeasure 5: Rinse your back for 5 minutes in the morning shower
- The latest information on body odor!
Yoshika Sekine taught me
Professor, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Tokai University. He is a part-time lecturer at Keio University Graduate School. He specializes in Environmental and Health Chemistry. He is also a leading researcher on the analysis of skin gases and their communication function. He is active in television, magazines, etc., including “The class I want to take in the world” and “Close-up Gendai”.
After the age of 50, female hormones decrease and it is easy to smell
Body odor is a concern during the sweaty season. You might think, “I’m fine because I take a bath every day,” but sometimes that’s not enough! Women over the age of 50, in particular, need to be careful.
“The main source of body odor is the gas that is released when bacteria indigenous to the skin decompose sweat and sebum,” says odor researcher Yoshika Sekine. We all have sweat and sebum, but as we age, our bodies change, making it easier for bacteria to produce gas, she says.
“Originally, the salt contained in sweat is absorbed to some extent by the sweat glands before it reaches the surface of the body, resulting in dry sweat. Sticky sweat doesn’t dry out easily and takes longer to be broken down by normal bacteria, so more gas is produced.”
Also, you need to pay attention to sebum. “Sebum tends to oxidize as we age, producing a unique odorous gas. It is often thought that this is a phenomenon that affects only men, but it is the same for women. Especially after menopause, when female hormones decrease, the odor tends to become stronger.”
Such body odor can be prevented by taking care of sweat and sebum, but there is a misunderstanding about the method. Let’s take the right measures during the sweaty season.
Body odor generation mechanism
Sebum is secreted from the sebaceous glands behind the pores. Both sebum and sweat are almost odorless when they are secreted, but when they are decomposed or oxidized by bacteria indigenous to the skin, they produce odorous gases. Dirt becomes food for indigenous bacteria.
From here, we will introduce five care methods to prevent odor caused by aging.
Body odor countermeasure 1: If you sweat, wipe it with a wet towel
If your skin dries out while your body temperature is still high, you will sweat even more to lower your body temperature, creating a vicious cycle. A wet towel keeps your skin moderately moist while wiping away sweat, which lowers your body temperature and makes it harder for you to sweat.
Body odor countermeasures 2: Sometimes you sweat a lot
People tend to think that it’s fine as long as they don’t sweat, but if they don’t sweat all the time, the function of their sweat glands will gradually decline and they will become sticky. It is also important to sweat moderately, such as soaking in a bath or exercising.
Body odor countermeasure 3: Frequent exfoliation of heels
The soles of the feet are prone to sweating, and the thick keratin that feeds the indigenous bacteria is an environment where smelly gas is likely to occur. Prevent gas by taking care of your skin frequently so that dead skin cells do not accumulate.
Body odor countermeasures 4: Wash your body with your hands instead of towels
It is important to remove the dirt that feeds the resident bacteria. It is recommended to gently wash your hands with soap bubbles instead of scrubbing.
Body odor countermeasure 5: Rinse your back for 5 minutes in the morning shower
During the season when you are wearing light clothing and body odor tends to escape, it is recommended that you take a shower in the morning to wash off the sweat and sebum even if you take a bath at night. You don’t need to use soap, just pour hot water on your back from the back of your neck, which has a lot of sebum, for about 5 minutes.
The latest information on body odor!
In recent years, there has been progress in research on body odor, which was not known until now. I’d like to introduce two interesting new information.
Stress can also cause body odor!
When stressed, the concentration of ammonia in the blood rises, and a smelly gas called “fatigue odor” is released. Constipation and muscle fatigue can also cause fatigue odor, so be careful.
Blackcurrant yogurt is recommended for repelling odors
Foods with high antioxidant properties, such as cassis, help prevent aging odors, while yogurts, which increase bifidobacteria in the intestines, prevent fatigue odors. Both have the effect of regaining the sweet scent peculiar to young women.
During the sweaty season, unpleasant body odors are difficult to notice, and difficult for those around you to point out. Let’s get through the summer with early measures.
