Absence of smell in children is a problem that does come as a shock to most mothers and fathers. In this article the reasons for the early development of body odor have been discussed in detail including hormonal factors, diet, and others. In this episode, we will focus on the best practices, strategies of prevention, and home remedies that can assist parents and children in dealing with this not always easy part of one’s life.
Table of Content:
- Body Odor in Children
- How To Get Rid of Body Odor
- Body Odor Causes
- Home Remedies For Body Odor
- References
Body Odor in Children:
Thus, body odor is not always connected with puberty and adulthood, and children can also suffer from it occasionally. FO Calder says that there are three main types of bromhidrosis and body odor in children causes discomfort to the parents as well as the children who develop it. First of all, it has to be noted that body odor is normal and Note that body odor is completely normal, however if the appearance compromises this factor earlier in comparison to normal, then it is advisable to pay attention to it.
Normal body odor is said to begin in early childhood and becomes apparent when a child is in the final stage of early puberty , considered to be between the ages of 8 and 13. Nevertheless, some children may probably develop body odor at an earlier age, it may be as early as five or six years of age. This particular development of body odor occurs at a very tender age, a phenomenon known as precocious puberty which may be as a result of genetics, diet or even the environment.
Due to the bacterial growth on the skin, sweating forms body odor. Sweat on its own is colorless and smell-less but bacteria metabolize proteins and lipids in sweat producing an unpleasant smell. In children, this process can be aggravated by violations of personal hygiene, some diseases, or hormonal fluctuations.
How To Get Rid of Body Odor:
The treatment of body odor in kids involves a number of steps that range from exercising good hygiene and washing, change in diet the kid takes and sometimes taking the child to see a doctor. Here are some effective strategies to help eliminate or reduce body odor in children:
- Encourage Regular Bathing:
- Use Appropriate Deodorants:
- Wear Clean, Breathable Clothing:
- Practice Good Foot Hygiene:
- Maintain a Balanced Diet:
- Stay Hydrated:
- Manage Stress:
The child needs to learn how to take a shower or even bath daily and ensure to wash problematic areas like the underarms, received, and feet. Wash with a gentle soap which is mildly antiseptic in nature to reduce the instances of bacteria that cause body odor.
Incorporate the use of a nice, mild non-drink deodorant in preadolescent children and adolescents. Avoid the use of antiperspirants especially those that may contain chemicals that may be a bit strong for the tender skin of children as this may be advised by a pediatrician.
Wash and iron your child’s clothes and get new clothes in the morning so that your child should wear clean clothes to school. Select fabrics that are comfortable and allow the skin to breathe and absorb sweat such as cotton.
Take your child and ensure that he wears clean socks in the morning and change shoes, wearing one while the other is drying.
It is accurate to suggest that regularly taking balanced foods mainly fruits, vegetables, and whole grain foods helps in preventing odors in the body Eating healthy foods that include fruits, vegetables, and whole grain foods have the potentiality of reducing body odors.
Drinking sufficient amounts of water also serves to wash toxins out of the system and thin sweat, possibly lowering its smell.
Educate your child on ways to prevent stress Since stress can lead to sweating and thus worsening of body odor, it is important to teach your child ways of managing stress.
Body Odor Causes:
Evaluating the potential causes of body odor in children is very important in order to decrease its prevalence. Certain causes are said to be inherent and children grow out of them whereas others may be symptomatic of other health problems. Here are some common causes of body odor in children:
- Hormonal Changes:
- Poor Hygiene:
- Diet:
- Medical Conditions:
- Trimethylaminuria:
- Hyperhidrosis:
- Phenylketonuria:
- Medications:
- Environmental Factors:
- Genetics:
During puberty children are transferred into production of hormones that can cause sweating and body odor.
Normally, body odor is caused by bacteria which, when not washed often enough or when areas that perspire are not washed well enough, then come to be present.
The foods that can alter the smell of the body especially those foods rich in sulfurated elements like garlic and onions. Also,consumption of foods rich in chemicals and low in fiber-rich foods such as fruits and vegetables may as well augment the intensity of body odor.
Medical conditions that affect children can elicit body odor in kids. These include:
A metabolic disease that chiefly hampers the ability of the human body to metabolize specific types of chemical compounds and ends up excreting them with a corresponding smell like that of fish.
The meaning of hyperhidrosis includes one of the conditions in which an individual sweats a lot.
A very painful disease that results from the lack of gasses that effectively remove bad smell in the body head of affected individuals.
Some drugs that children may take will change the chemical makeup of the body which causes change in the smell.
At times the odors of the environment or some of the chemicals used may penetrate through the skin of the individual and are descended through sweating.
It can also be said that some children may have a genetic inclination to having a more robust body smell.
Knowing these causes can assist the parent as well as the health care givers to have a better approach to the problem of body odor in children.
Home Remedies For Body Odor:
While medical interventions may be necessary in some cases, there are several home remedies that can help manage body odor in children naturally:
- Apple Cider Vinegar:
- Lemon Juice:
- Baking Soda Paste:
- Herbal Baths:
- Essential Oils:
- Witch Hazel:
- Dietary Adjustments:
For a pure water with apple cider vinegar solution [Water and apple cider vinegar should be mixed in a 1:[One to 1 ratio of the solution]. Before taking their bath, this mixture should be applied on areas that easily produce sweat and other unwanted smells using a cotton wool.
Bad odor resulting from bacteria may be eliminated since lemon juice is acidic in nature. Rub fresh lemon juice gently on the armpits and wash after the juice has dried.
Mix water and baking soda to get a paste. This should be done on the armpits and any other region that has bacterial build up before a couple of minutes then washed off using water.
Coat the petals of these flowers with olive oil, and then give the bath water to your child, you may also add herbs such as rosemary, sage or mint. It is worthy to note that the supposed herbs are natural antibiotics which might help in combating odor.
Put 1-2 tbsp. works best taking one or two drops of tea tree, lavender, or eucalyptus oil in a cup of water and then dipping your fingers in the solution. These oils are anti bacterial in nature that would help in minimizing the stinking bacteria.
Apply witch hazel on the body part that makes you sweat a lot or have an oily skin tone as an astringent. It aids in the decrease of bacterial count and moderation of sweating.
Green foods should be incorporated in the child’s diet frequently with Spinach, Kale and any other green vegetable. It must also be noted that chlorophyll contains the capacity to deodorize
Nevertheless, these home remedies are helpful, but they should not be the only way to deal with the problem, and people should also adhere to principles of hygiene and contain a healthy diet and lifestyle. However, if an unpleasant smell from the body continues or is accompanied by other signs, it is recommended to contact a pediatrician.
All in all, sweat smell in kids is not life threatening as most of the cases can be treated through regular cleaning, balanced diet and other tested remedies.
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References:
- https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/gradeschool/puberty/Pages/Body-Odor-in-Children.aspx
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/symptoms/body-odor/basics/causes/sym-20050704
- https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/17865-body-odor
- https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/body-odour-bo/
- https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/body-odor.html
- https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003218.htm
- https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/skin-care-secrets/smell/control-body-odor
- https://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/puberty/conditioninfo/precocious
