Body Odour in children : know its causes, tips and home remedies

Sweating during summer causes embarrassment and complicates self-hygiene. Normally, sweat is odorless, but when it comes into contact with bacteria on the surface, it emits an unpleasant odor. As a parent, you will soon notice that your adorable kid is no longer smelling like rainbows and rose petals. This article provides some tips on dealing with body odor in summer.

Tips To Deal With Body Odor In Summer

Summer is the season when we sweat more. Sweating serves a purpose. Sweat tends to cool the body down. Sweating facilitates the flushing of dirt, toxins, and other impurities from the body. During summer, however, sweating can produce unpleasant odors. A child's clothes, especially synthetic materials, tend to smell bad when sweat can't dry up easily or gets trapped in them. To get rid of body odor in children during summer, there are a few tips to consider. 

There are three things to keep in mind when it comes to dealing with body odor in the summer:

Cleanliness

To reduce bacteria build-up, encourage them to take a bath or shower every morning. Children should be taught to thoroughly wash their armpits, genitals, and feet. Taking a shower or bath after playing sports or any other outdoor or indoor game is also recommended. It is important to dry off before wearing clothes, as sweat attracts moisture easily, leaving an unpleasant smell behind.

Clothing

Children should wear light, natural fiber clothing such as cotton, silk, or jute that is not too tight during summer. Unlike cotton, synthetic polymer clothes do not permit air to pass through them, making the air difficult to reach internal areas like armpits and groins. Cotton clothing is breathable, which keeps the child’s underarms and other areas dry and free of moisture. This reduces bacterial growth and hence the body odor. Ensure kids are wearing fresh, clean, dry clothes every day. 

Food

Body odor is directly related to what one eats. Sulfur-containing foods like broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower can make one smell bad. Strong, spicy curries can also contribute to bad odors.

Make sure you drink lots of fluids to help your body flush out the smelly components of food. To remove body odor, it's a good idea to make kids drink cooling beverages like water, coconut water, etc. Furthermore, encouraging them to eat salads is a great idea, as green vegetables act as natural deodorizers.

Other tips that help to combat body odor in children during summer are:

• Combine two drops of tea tree oil with two tablespoons of rose water. Use cotton wool to apply under the arms of children.

• Baking soda is an excellent means to deal with body odor in summer. You can apply a paste made with baking soda and water to trouble spots like the underarms.

• During the summer, the children's heads and hair will be more sweaty and odorous. For odor removal from hair, add half a cup of rose water and half a lemon to a mug of water and use it as a last rinse.

• The slices of the potato can also be used to rub on areas where odors tend to form.

• By balancing the pH level of the skin, vinegar creates an antibacterial environment. It is therefore one of the most effective ways to reduce body odor. A little vinegar can be splashed on the areas where sweating is most intense. The vinegar will effectively eliminate unpleasant odors.

• Tea tree oil has a strong antiseptic nature. Its antibacterial properties, in addition to its sweet smell, enable it to be used successfully as a deodorant.

• Ayurveda recommends sandalwood and rosewater paste to combat summer body odor. It is safe for all ages of children. The cooling nature of both of these ingredients and their antiseptic properties can prevent summer problems like prickly heat. The smell of sandalwood lasts for a long time and masks odors. Additionally, this paste relieves irritation.

• Indian households have access to powerful antibacterial plants such as neem and tulsi. You can make a paste from these leaves and apply it to a child's body before showering. Do this three times a week.

• The bathing water of a child can be flavored with certain things to combat body odor during the summer.

• Adding rosewater to bathwater is always a good idea. It's a natural coolant and also smells good.

• Adding some crushed mint leaves also gives a good result.

• Add a few drops of lime water

• Add colognes to bathwater. Alternatively, add a few drops of eau de cologne to the water and use it as a final rinse. This cools the skin as well.

• Lavender oil

• Rose oil

The summer has now reached its peak, and we are all tired from the heat. Summer body odor in children can be managed by following many of the above-mentioned tips.  

Feel free to add more tips to it if you have any.