Body odour, wet armpits and damp palms can be a turn-off. Here's how to keep cool and dry in sticky situations
At the right time and on the right guy, sweat can be very sexy. But a man in a suit with soggy armpits and a wet handshake can be a real turn-off - particularly when the sweaty look is accompanied by odour.
Perspiration is caused by overactive sweat glands. Triggers range from anxiety, heat and rigorous physical activity to symptoms of an overactive thyroid and low blood sugar. Our bodies have two types of sweat glands - eccrine sweat glands and apocrine sweat glands.
The former are located throughout the body, while apocrine sweat glands are embedded in our armpits, groin, hands and feet.
Sweat is a mixture of sodium chloride and urea, although apocrine glands release an oilier substance than eccrine glands. Mixed together and with dirt, toxins and other substances, the secretions can create unpleasant body odour (BO).
Regular showers and a good dose of a strong deodorant or antiperspirant should keep unpleasant smells at bay.
Quick fixes for times when jumping into a shower is not an option include using absorbent powders on the underarm and groin areas, wearing clothes made out of natural fibres (which absorb sweat and allow skin to breathe), and keeping a cotton cloth handy to mop away stray beads of perspiration.