KUALA LUMPUR: Body odour, or BO, as it is commonly known, may be an issue that draws chuckles from some.
But those afflicted by the condition are not amused.
Neither are those around them.
Human reaction to body odour ranges from mild to the extreme.
There have been reports of married couples who sought divorce after being unable to tolerate their partner’s body odour!
And astronaut-hopefuls in China may be busy trying to smell their nicest, as a pre-requisite to become one is not to be afflicted with body odour. Imagine that.
For Hasrul Omar, 33, his experience befriending someone with body odour was an amusing one.
He said his friend was one who loved to play sports.
Unfortunately, the past time has only exacerbated the latter’s condition.
His body odour was so overwhelming that it drove friends away.
“As a friend, I sympathised with him. I thought long and hard on how to approach him about the matter. In the end, I decided to address the matter directly as my friend is a frank person by nature.
“Apparently, being honest about it was much easier than I had initially thought. However, he chided me for not coming up to him about it earlier. Now the story has become joke among us friends,” said Hasrul.
On the other hand, 27-year-old Marini Zulkifli, does not find the direct approach to be suitable when it comes to dealing with women afflicted by body odour.
She says women are more delicate creatures, so the matter should be handled delicately, if at all.
Thus, she settled with holding her breath every time she has to deal with a female colleague with bad body odour.
“I’m not sure what the cause is. Maybe she doesn’t bathe in the morning, or maybe she dislikes wearing deodorant. She’s a friendly person, but her body odour has caused many to talk behind her back,” said Marini.
Marini says other colleagues have come up with suggestions on how to bring up the matter to her beleaguered colleague.
Some even suggested buying the latter a perfume and deodorant set.
“But no one was willing to do so as we were afraid we might embarrass her. It might be easier to address the matter if it concerned a man, but a woman will find the issue hugely embarrassing.”
Indeed, body odour is an embarrassing problem.
If an afflicted person is lucky, somebody may come up to them and be tactful in pointing it out.
If they aren’t, they will continue with their daily routines, oblivious to how much discomfort they inflict on those around them.
“What a beautiful face! But it’s a pity she has body odour!” is a phrase we commonly hear about women with such condition.
But men are just as affected by the condition as women are.
That is why there have been more commercials of late showcasing deodorant formulated especially for men.Men generally have stronger body odour compared to women.
But be it men or women, the culprits of body odour are usually the same.
Sweat, or perspiration, is the salty liquid that oozes out of the pores in our skin and is one of the usual suspects triggering this condition.
Two types of glands produce sweat, the ‘eccrine’ glands and the ‘apocrine’ glands.
The eccrine glands are dispersed throughout the body but are concentrated in the armpits, palms of the hands, soles of the feet, and the forehead.
When the body is overheated – from hot weather, physical exertion, or fever – the eccrine glands help regulate body temperature by expelling a solution of water and salts that cools the skin.
The apocrine glands are concentrated in the armpits and around the groin.
These glands develop during puberty and respond to such conditions as sexual arousal, nervousness, and anger, as well as to heat and exertion.
The sweat they produce is rich in fats and proteins that attract bacteria and produce a strong odour.
It is this characteristic smell that makes others want to run away from those emitting them.
Diet can also contribute to the problem.
Some foods such as Bombay onions, garlic and spicy dishes can aggravate the condition, as will the unhealthy habit of smoking.
Optimum personal hygiene is important in keeping the problem at bay.
Generally, using deodorant and anti-perspirant is the way to go.
Deodorant contains antiseptic that can prevent bacteria from spreading while anti-perspirant usually contains ingredients that can reduce sweat production.
Rexona’s Shower Clean, formulated especially for women, addresses the problem with its proprietary body-responsive technology that extends the feeling of shower fresh, keeping underarms constantly dry and protected all day.
Rexona’s Brand Manager, Tanya Teng, says that the company is cognizant of the importance for women to feel energised and focused to accomplish their goals.
“In our hot and humid climate, it’s easy to break into a sweat right after you step out of the house. Therefore, we are continuously trying to find ways to enhance the quality of our products so that women can enjoy the feeling of freshness and protection all the time,” she says.
Rexona has also launched a special product for men to combat body odour called Rexona Men, last December.
Whether you have body odour or not you need to practice good hygiene.
Bathing with soap three times a day is not sufficient for sufferers of body odour.
Prevent the discomfort of those around you by wearing a deodorant and an anti-perspirant.
Those with sensitive skin may also try alum (tawas) or mineral stones.
Whichever of them you choose, keep yourself and those around you comfortable by wearing it at all times, during work or play, while in a crowded LRT, working out at the gym or while just relaxing at home. — Bernama