As you grow up, your body changes. But one of these only your nose knows - it's your personal scent. You smell differently these days than you did a few years ago, and sometimes you can be downright rank, right? What's to blame for all this smelliness? It's your old pal, sweat.
During puberty, hormones that are busy changing you into an adult also up the output of your sweat glands. You sweat more all over, but the places affected most are under your arms and around your genitals.
When bacteria combine with a certain kind of sweat, they grow, multiply, and produce lots of waste products and those smell bad.
Here are some tips to help you keep smelling your personal best:
- Wash daily with an antibacterial soap.
- Wash your clothes regularly. The same bacteria from your skin can also live on sweaty clothes.
- Use a deodorant or anti-perspirant.
- Dust with talcum powder or cornstarch after bathing. These products absorb sweat to keep you drier and prevent bacteria from growing.
- Cut your caffeine intake. Cola, coffee, tea, chocolate, and other foods and drinks with caffeine make apocrine sweat glands more active.
- Eat a balanced diet and drink lots of water. What you eat can actually affect how you smell! You'll be less stinky if you eat plenty of fruits and vegetables. And drinking lots of water (eight glasses a day) keeps eccrine glands active to dilute the scent.
There's more to learn at this pretty cool web site.
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