Hot, sunny days and hot flushes – if that isn’t enough to cause excessive sweating, there’s the other menopausal symptoms that are added to the mix, making beautiful sunny, summer days feel unbearable. Fluctuating hormones mean that our bodies are impacted by not being able to regulate our body temperature quite so easily which makes us sweat more. Bacteria then forms which can lead to odour in areas of our body including the mouth, feet and armpits. Of course there are also the hot flushes, anxiety and other emotional and psychological factors that make us sweat more.
This might make you feel more self-conscious but one thing to remember is during the menopause, our sense of smell is heightened so although you are probably worrying about strong body odour, others may not be able to smell anything!
As with most menopausal symptoms, let’s not sit back and let this stop us from being strong women and carrying on with our daily lives. So, what changes can we make to help?
Drink more (water!)
We mention this one quite a lot on our blog but that is because water really does make a difference to so much in our body. Dehydration can mean your sweat will be more concentrated and smell more so keep drinking water regularly. If you struggle to remember, there’s plenty of apps out there to ping you a reminder during the day. Alternatively, keep a large jug or bottle with you all day as a reminder.
Ditch those antiperspirants
You have probably read numerous articles on how antiperspirants block our armpits and stop the sweat from getting out. This will have a negative effect on your body trying to regulate its temperature so try and avoid antiperspirants and reach for something natural instead. They will stop the bacteria and minimise the bad odour but will allow your body to release the sweat as and when it needs. You can also try a natural foot deodorant too to help with foot odour.
Don’t forget, if you’re feeling flushed, Promensil Cooling Spray is specifically formulated to offer instant relief from the discomfort of hot flushes and night sweats. This gentle, proven and patented formula draws heat away from the skin, quickly and effectively reducing skin temperature and redness.
Eat well
Minerals such as zinc and magnesium are essential to our biological well-being. Zinc is part of our bodily fluids so if you sweat you are losing your zinc supply which can mean more body odour and bad breath. Magnesium can help you balance your metabolism and manage excessive sweating. Supplements can help you top these up as well as a diet rich in foods containing vitamins and minerals.
Try and avoid things like caffeine and alcohol which can affect the smell of odour and intensify menopause symptoms.
Cotton on…
Avoid tight fitting fabrics and opt for cotton clothes and underwear to give you some breathing space. It’s not a bad idea to keep some spares with you especially in the summer so you can change into something fresh if you are feeling anxious or worried.
Natural oils
We are all about the natural approach to menopause here at Promensil. Natural oils such as lavender, peppermint or pine can help fight bacteria and have a nice smell. You could add some oils to your bath or there are rollers available which you could keep in your bag for when you are out and about.
The main thing to remember here is, lifestyle changes can help with many menopause symptoms and there’s always something or someone to help so don’t feel like you are suffering alone and reach out.