At what age does body odor (BO) begin? Will an intestinal problem or eating too much fatty foods and meat cause BO?

The apocrine glands (which are responsible for BO) normally become active at puberty or somewhere between the ages of 12 and 18. The same hormones that change a boy into a man and a girl to a woman cause the apocrine glands to grow and function later. That's why kids and older people (who have low hormone levels) rarely have BO.

In the absence of any medical disorder, your problem could be due to active apocrine glands or a recent diet of onions and other spicy foods. Treatment depends on the cause. Correct your diet or use a good antiperspirant-deodorant.

How can one prevent BO? Will surgery stop BO?

Surgery can kill the sweat glands in the armpits and stop BO. But this is not recommended by most doctors. To prevent BO, follow these simple tips:

Bathe or shower at least once a day or as often as necessary after exercise/work that makes you sweat.

Keep cool with a fan or air-conditioner so that you don't sweat much.

Wipe away sweat with a damp towel when you are unable to bathe.

Wear light clothing. Avoid nylon and other fabrics that trap heat and moisture.

Change clothes, particularly underwear daily. If that doesn't help, you can use a deodorant (which kills bacteria) or an antiperspirant-deodorant (which performs the same function and reduces sweat at the same time).

All antiperspirants work by closing the skin pores that produce sweat. The most effective ingredient is aluminum chloride that reduces sweat by 55 to 70 percent followed by aluminum zirconium which blocks sweat by 35 to 50 percent.

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