*Welcome to the OutUK series looking at gay men and their health brought to you in association with the NHS* website.**
	Each week we'll tackle a different topic in our A to Z of Gay Health. We'll have features and advice on everything from relationships, sexual health, mental and physical conditions and how to stay fit. You can follow any of links provided below for more information direct from the NHS website, or view any of our Previous A to Z Features.

You should also know that OutUK has produced a special report about: Coronavirus Covid-19.

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This Week - O : Odour

How to treat body odour yourself

Do

wash your armpits, groin and feet at least twice a day with soap and dry thoroughly
use antiperspirants and deodorants
change and wash your clothes regularly
wear natural fabrics like cotton, wool and silk
wear moisture-wicking socks, changing them at least twice a day
avoid wearing tight clothing and manmade fabrics

Don't

do not eat too much strong smelling or spicy food
do not drink too much alcohol

A pharmacist can help with sweating and body odour

You can ask a pharmacist about:

stronger antiperspirants
armpit or sweat shields to protect your clothing
foot powders for sweaty feet
soap substitutes that are gentler on your skin

Find a pharmacy

See a GP if:

You have body odour that has not got better after treating it yourself and:

it's affecting your self-esteem
you notice a change in how it usually smells
you suddenly begin to sweat much more than usual

Treatments from a GP

If you have severe body odour and sweating, a GP may suggest:

stronger, prescription antiperspirants
medicines to treat excessive sweating
injections to reduce the amount of sweat
surgery to cut the nerves that trigger sweating or remove the sweat glands

Injections to reduce the amount of sweat sometimes only work for a short period of time (2 to 6 months) and may not be available on the NHS.

Surgery is often only recommended if body odour and sweating are very severe. This is because it can cause further problems, such as sweating in other parts of your body.

Read more about treating excessive sweating.

Causes of body odour

Things that can make body odour worse include:

exercise
hot weather
hormonal changes
being overweight
having a condition like diabetes, kidney disease or liver disease
certain types of medicine, such as antidepressants

Often the cause of body odour is unknown, but it may be linked to excessive sweating and smelly feet.

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We'll have more information and advice next week on another topic in our A to Z of Gay Health. We have covered many subjects in this series and you can catch up with all of our Previous A to Z Features. If you want to find out more about this week's subject you can visit the Original article on the NHS website. If you are worried by any aspect of your health make sure you go and see your doctor or book an appointment at your local clinic.
Photos: LightFieldStudios and one of VladOrlov, Stockcube, darak77, ajr_images or rawpixel.com.