TREATMENT OF ARMPIT ODOUR

We, people, typically think of ourselves as people. It can be jarring to remember that we’re also mammals who, like most other mammalian species, unconsciously send odour signals to each other carrying information about our gender, our health, our reproductive state, our mood, and even our potential to be a compatible mate. If the idea that your secretions say something about you creeps you out, then you won’t welcome the news that the revealing scent signals we emit may actually be the end-products of microbial fermentations carried out in our bodies’ damp, low-oxygen creases. A recent study of scent signals in hyenas presents the best evidence to date that bacteria are responsible for producing pheromones in a mammalian species. The implication of these results is that the bacteria in our underarms may have a surprisingly complex role in our social lives.

That microbes are actually the makers of mammalian pheromones is an idea that dates back to the 1970s when several scientists proposed the “fermentation hypothesis.” Their idea was that, because scent glands are typically found in warm, damp, low-oxygen areas of the body, microbes that thrive in those areas ferment the body’s nutrient-rich secretions into the odorous chemical signals used by most mammals to communicate. 

Certain conditions favour the growth of bacteria in the armpit and other region in the body, The armpit hair encourage more sweat and also harbor dirt which favour the activities of the bacteria thereby generating armpit odour.

• bathe regularly and always shave the armpit hair to reduce the bacteria loads in the region and prevent the offensive odour. 
• Avoid much spraying of deodorant to the armpit especially when there is limited supply of oxygen to the area.
• Clean the armpit regularlly with tissue or clean towel.
  
• Alum is a very effective armpit odor treatment. Think of it as a concentrated, crystal form of deodorant (aluminum chloride). Along with taming armpit odor, it actually stops your armpits from getting sweaty in the first place. You can rub Alum crystal directly into your armpits after drying from a bath or shower. Just be careful when you apply Alum. Occasionally it can have jagged edges and irritate the skin. Try to pick out smooth crystals at the pharmacy.
• Applying malt vinegar or Apple Cider Vinegar on the armpits at night as part is another awesome armpit odor treatment. Do this after drying off from a shower. Make sure to allow the vinegar to air dry. In the morning, you can apply your regular deodorant as you normally would.