It's Friday morning, you're running late, and your favorite aloha shirt is still in the laundry basket. Not a problem: a quick shake and -- voilà -- it's as good as new. Who will know?
Not a good idea, cautions Micki Ly, M.D., a Maui dermatologist. You may think your unwashed shirt doesn't stink, but your co-workers may beg to differ.
"Most body odor is caused by sweat," says Ly. "Sweat sticks to your clothes, so not wearing clean clothes can cause body odor."
We all sweat, although some people sweat more than others. Sweating is how the body cools itself during exercise and hot weather, when we're nervous, and when we have a fever.
"Your skin is home to millions of sweat glands," says Ly. "In Hawai'i, those sweat glands get a real workout."
Experts predict that an average Honolulu resident walking one hour on a typical day produces more than three cups of sweat.
Two kinds of glands contribute to sweat and body odor, says Ly. Most sweat comes from the eccrine glands, which do not tend to produce odor. Body odor comes from a special type of sweat produced by the apocrine glands, which are found mostly on areas such as the scalp, underarms, and other parts of the body.
"Although sweat is actually odorless, it's the bacteria that live off sweat on your body that create the bad smell," says Ly. "Body odor is a combination of sweat and bacteria."
To get rid of body odor, you need to get rid of the bacteria on your skin by carefully washing from head to toe with soap and water. You don't necessarily have to use a deodorant soap or an antibacterial soap. Any soap used regularly will slow the growth of bacteria.
But combating body odor doesn't stop at bathing. It also includes wearing clean clothes. As a rule, you should change your clothes at least once a day.
Natural fabrics, such as cotton, absorb perspiration better than synthetic materials, leaving the absorbed sweat free to evaporate. Wearing layers of loose-fitting clothes allows air to circulate.
To combat foot odor, wear clean cotton socks, which let feet breathe and stay drier. Also, alternate the shoes you wear so they'll have time to air out and dry.
You can also use an antiperspirant, which slows down sweating, or a deodorant, which kills bacteria or slows down bacterial growth and adds a pleasant scent. Most antiperspirants also contain deodorant to help reduce odor.
While the solution to body odor can be as simple as improving your hygiene, some odors might indicate other health problems.
Some body odors might signal liver dysfunction, kidney disease, diabetes, digestive problems, inadequate nutrition, metabolic disorders or yeast infections, says Ly.
If you have a problem with sweating or body odor, or if you notice a sudden change in your body odor, you should consult your doctor.
It's good to know that most body odors can be controlled by soap and water, deodorant, and a clean aloha shirt.
Now, we can all breathe a little easier.
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