Why do our underarm smell? Is this because of sweat or the bacteria living in our underarm
Why do our underarm smell? Is this because of sweat or the bacteria living in our underarm
Armpit smell, comes from bacteria feeding on sweat, but not just any sweat. There are actually two types of glands that produce sweat on humans;
– Eccrine Glands – these are regular sweat glands all over the body that produce a sterile, mainly salty solution.
– Apocrine glands – these glands are found in the breasts, eyelids, ears, and hairy areas like your groin and armpits. These glands produce a milky fluid that most commonly occurs when you’re under stress.
Both types of sweat are odourless, and the odour is only created by bacteria feeding on sweat. But as you now know, not all sweat is not equal.
Regular eccrine sweat is very salty, which makes it hard for bacteria to feed on and thrive.
Apocrine sweat however is high in proteins and a veritable smorgasbord for smelly armpit bacteria, who thrive on the milky sweat produced by these glands.
Most regular deodorants use harsh antibacterial chemicals like triclosan, or parabens to attempt to manage the amount of bacteria in your sensitive areas. Also often included in antiperspirants are potentially harmful chemicals derived from aluminium, whose role is to block sweat glands and reduce that amount of tasty-to-bacteria sweat.
Armpit smell, comes from bacteria feeding on sweat, but not just any sweat. There are actually two types of glands that produce sweat on humans;
– Eccrine Glands – these are regular sweat glands all over the body that produce a sterile, mainly salty solution.
– Apocrine glands – these glands are found in the breasts, eyelids, ears, and hairy areas like your groin and armpits. These glands produce a milky fluid that most commonly occurs when you’re under stress.
Both types of sweat are odourless, and the odour is only created by bacteria feeding on sweat. But as you now know, not all sweat is not equal.
Regular eccrine sweat is very salty, which makes it hard for bacteria to feed on and thrive.
Apocrine sweat however is high in proteins and a veritable smorgasbord for smelly armpit bacteria, who thrive on the milky sweat produced by these glands.
Most regular deodorants use harsh antibacterial chemicals like triclosan, or parabens to attempt to manage the amount of bacteria in your sensitive areas. Also often included in antiperspirants are potentially harmful chemicals derived from aluminium, whose role is to block sweat glands and reduce that amount of tasty-to-bacteria sweat.
