Body odour (BO)

• wash your armpits, groin and feet at least twice a day with soap and dry thoroughly

• use antiperspirants and deodorants

• change and wash your clothes regularly

• wear natural fabrics like cotton, wool and silk

• wear moisture-wicking socks, changing them at least twice a day

• avoid wearing tight clothing and manmade fabrics

• do not eat too much strong smelling or spicy food

• do not drink too much alcohol

You can ask a pharmacist about:

• stronger antiperspirants
• armpit or sweat shields to protect your clothing
• foot powders for sweaty feet
• soap substitutes that are gentler on your skin

You have body odour that has not got better after treating it yourself and:

• it's affecting your self-esteem
• you notice a change in how it usually smells
• you suddenly begin to sweat much more than usual

If you have severe body odour and sweating, a GP may suggest:

• stronger, prescription antiperspirants
• medicines to treat excessive sweating
• injections to reduce the amount of sweat
• surgery to cut the nerves that trigger sweating or remove the sweat glands

Injections to reduce the amount of sweat sometimes only work for a short period of time (2 to 6 months) and may not be available on the NHS.

Surgery is often only recommended if body odour and sweating are very severe. This is because it can cause further problems, such as sweating in other parts of your body.

Things that can make body odour worse include:

• exercise
• hot weather
• hormonal changes
• being overweight
• having a condition like diabetes, kidney disease or liver disease
• certain types of medicine, such as antidepressants

Often the cause of body odour is unknown, but it may be linked to excessive sweating and smelly feet.

Exercise, hot weather, hormonal changes and being overweight can make body odour worse. Some conditions and medicines can also cause body odour.

You can treat body odour yourself by washing with soap at least twice a day and using antiperspirants and deodorants.

Treatments for severe body odour and sweating include stronger antiperspirants, injections in your armpits and surgery to remove the sweat glands.