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Underarm Odor in Children

Children are going through puberty much earlier than they did in the past. The result is that among other bodily changes, children are experiencing underarm odor at a much earlier age. This is often due to the changes in hormones, and is a great opportunity to teach your child about her body and how to care for it.

  1. Cause of Body Odor in Children

    • Many people assume that body odor is caused by sweat, but the fact of the matter is that sweat is considered odorless. What causes the scent is the mix of the sweat with the bacteria that is naturally occurring on the skin. The interaction with the bacteria is why every person has an underarm odor that is just a bit different, and the odor of some is stronger than the odor of others. Around the age of puberty, children will likely begin to have more underarm odor in direct correlation with the hormones that their bodies are producing.

    Eliminating Illness as a Cause

    • If your child is not yet going through puberty, you may want to meet with your doctor to ensure that the underarm odor is not being caused by an illness or condition. Those who are insulin dependent often report an underarm odor that is different or more noticeable at an earlier age than others. Other health problems that could affect underarm odor include low blood sugar, parasites, metabolic dysfunction or emotional stress. Some medications will also cause excessive sweating and a change in odor.

    Teaching Good Hygiene

    • If your child is experiencing body odor, and you have, along with your doctor, ruled out all medical problems, it is a good time to talk about personal hygiene. Talk about the importance of bathing every day, as this is the best way to control body odor. Teach your children that the scent is caused by bacteria, and removing the bacteria with soap and water is a simple fix. Explain to your child that showering needs to be a process of truly getting clean, not just allowing for the water to run over his body. Ask them to pay special attention to their underarms, groin and genital regions to help control body odor.

    Wearing Antiperspirant

    • Teach the difference between deodorant and antiperspirant. A deodorant is simply a perfume that will help to mask the smell of sweat. An antiperspirant is different in that it helps to control how much you sweat, while also adding a bit of perfume into the mix. Antiperspirant should be applied at least once a day, preferably after showering and toweling off. On hot and sweaty days, antiperspirants may need to be reapplied once or more.

    Laundry

    • With underarm odor should come a conversation about laundry. Talk to children about the oils and smells that are left on clothing after wear. Make it clear to children that if they sweat in clothes, they need to be washed before being worn again, or they may smell, making social situations uncomfortable for them and others.

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