Dear Friends
Long before the first commercialdeodorant—called Mum—was invented in 1888, the ancient Egyptians tried to mask underarm odour with a blend of spices and oils, including cinnamon and citrus oils. We may not like tosweat, but it’s biologically essential, says Dr. Mark Lupin, a dermatologist in Victoria, and clinical instructor in the department of dermatology and skin science at the University of British Columbia. “It’s our main way of regulating body temperature,” he explains. We emit sweat to cool down, though stressful situations, hormonal changes and certain medical conditions can trigger an increased production of fluid.
Still, sweat itself doesn’t smell. “It’s an odourless saltwater solution,” says Dr. Nowell Solish, an assistant professor of dermatology at the University of Toronto and a founding board member of the International Hyperhidrosis Society. The smelly culprit is bacteria found on the skin’s surface. We all have two types of sweat glands: eccrine (which are found all over the body, and release just wetness), and apocrine (which are concentrated around the underarms, genitals, nipples and belly button). The latter type are associated with body odour because they release proteins and lipids that smell bad when broken down by bacteria—and the armpits provide an especially ’ moisture-rich environment, so they’re the perfect breeding ground for bacteria.
Still, sweat itself doesn’t smell. “It’s an odourless saltwater solution,” says Dr. Nowell Solish, an assistant professor of dermatology at the University of Toronto and a founding board member of the International Hyperhidrosis Society. The smelly culprit is bacteria found on the skin’s surface. We all have two types of sweat glands: eccrine (which are found all over the body, and release just wetness), and apocrine (which are concentrated around the underarms, genitals, nipples and belly button). The latter type are associated with body odour because they release proteins and lipids that smell bad when broken down by bacteria—and the armpits provide an especially ’ moisture-rich environment, so they’re the perfect breeding ground for bacteria.
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