When you think of body odor, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? Probably sweat? Well, there’s another culprit that can contribute to B.O., and that’s sebum.

What is sebum and why do you need It?

Sebum is an oily substance produced by the sebaceous glands in our skin. It forms a thin film on the surface of the skin, which primary functions are:

• Moisturize the skin,
• Protect it from infections and pollutants, 
• Support healthy flora.

Now wait a minute, how does sebum, this oily substance that we all want to get rid of so much, protects healthy flora?

Sebum contains a combination of lipids and fatty acids that possess antimicrobial properties and help to inhibit the growth of certain bacteria and fungi on the surface of the skin.

The presence of sebum on the skin creates an environment that is unfavorable for harmful microorganisms, thus it keeps the skin microbiome in balance, preventing the overgrowth of potentially harmful bacteria or fungi.

Besides, sebum pH ranges from 4.5 to 6.0, so it is naturally slightly acidic, and harmful bacteria can’t grow in an acidic environment, while it is beneficial for “good” bacteria.

How is sebum produced?

We have sweat glands that produce sweat, and sebaceous glands, that produce sebum. Just like with sweat glands, sebaceous glands function differently depending on the person. 

Sebum production is primarily regulated by hormones, particularly androgens such as testosterone (so-called male hormones). Other factors that influence sebaceous glands’ function include genetics, lifestyle, and diet.

In general, the oiliest body parts are the scalp and face, chest, back, and upper arm. But we also have sebaceous glands on the neck, ears, and groin. Sebum, produced in all these areas, can contribute to body odor and inflammations on the skin under certain conditions.

Why Does Sebum Stink?

If you read this you probably already know that bacteria, not sweat, not sebum, but BACTERIA are responsible for body odor. You don’t? Read these 7 facts about stubborn body odor then. 

So, why does your sebum smell so bad? As sebum accumulates on the skin’s surface, bacteria consume it, digest, and release volatile organic compounds, which have this unpleasant smell. The sebum odor can be particularly noticeable in areas where sebum production is higher, like on the scalp or back. By the way, the presence of hair in these areas contributes to the odor, as hair is great in keeping the scent.

If your skin smells like cheese, you probably have an overgrowth of certain types of bacteria, like Corynebacterium and Propionibacterium species. 

Just like any other bacteria, they consume and break down the lipids present in your sebum and release byproducts, which have an odor resembling that of cheese.

So, in regards to body odor, it doesn’t matter if you have oiliy skin. What matters is the balance of your skin microbiome and the amount of odor-causing bacteria on your skin.

How to get rid of sebum smell?

We have billions of bacteria on the skin, but most of them (around 85%) are beneficial, they live peacefully, do not produce B.O., and do not trigger any infections. Smelly oily skin means bacterial imbalance. 

So to prevent sebum odor, you need to support beneficial bacteria and limit the growth of stinky ones. But how do you keep only the good bacteria? When you use soap in a shower, or shampoo your hair, you remove all of them, right?

Here are some tricks.

1. Be mindful about showering. Overcleaning strips the skin of natural oils, which can trigger the sebaceous glands to produce more sebum to compensate for the loss. Sebaceous glands become overactive, making more oil than your skin needs. And the more sebum – the more food for bacteria. 

At the same time, if you do not clean your skin properly, sebum combined with dead skin cells will block pores. These blocked pores also trap bacteria, leading to inflammation. Eventually, the pores rupture, releasing bacteria, sebum, and dead skin cells into nearby tissues. This is also how acne appears.

What you can do here is choose gentle body washes that feed your skin bacteria with the good stuff. In WASH we use amino acid-based surfactants, that gently clean the skin, leaving it naturally moisturized. We also add a prebiotic blend, which is food for beneficial bacteria. Good bacteria grow and suppress opportunistic ones. Vuala, in 10 days your oily body odor is naturally gone, skin is supple, soft, and clean.

If you want to learn more about what soaps can do to your skin, check out this post about how to choose a soap.

2.  Exfoliate the skin. Exfoliation helps remove dead skin cells and unclogs pores, reducing the chances of sebum buildup. You can use loofah for mechanical exfoliation, or a product with acids for chemical exfoliation. Check out this post about how to fight body odor with AHA and BHA. 

3. Acidify the skin. Odor-causing bacteria thrive in alkaline environment, while our skin and sebum are naturally acidic. An increased pH promotes infections, skin problems, and body odor. WASH will also rebalance the pH of the skin, causing no irritation. It has a pH close to neutral, but its overall formulation, including prebiotics and amino-acid-based cleansers, allows it to restore natural skin pH and reduce sebum odor. It is formulated for intimate areas but works great anywhere on the body.

4. Keep a healthy diet. Don’t overlook this one. Foods with a high glycemic index, such as sugary and processed carbohydrates (pastries, sweet desserts, sodas, etc.), cause spikes in insulin levels, leading to an increase in androgen production, which in turn stimulates sebum production. Saturated fats and unhealthy oils may also promote sebum production. While diets rich in omega-3 fatty acids (seafood, nuts, etc.), antioxidants, and vitamin A help normalize sebum production and reduce inflammation in the skin. 

In some cases, excessive sebum production and sebum odor may be caused by medical conditions and hormonal changes. If your sebum odor and inflammations on the skin persist, we recommend talking to a doctor. 

Why do my clothes have sebum smell?

Sebum from your skin leaves greasy stains on regular or gym clothes, towels, and bed linings.

The fabrics of your clothes rub against your oily skin. The sebum stains may appear as greasy marks or patches on the fabric. They are more noticeable on light-colored fabrics or fabrics with a smooth texture, such as silk or satin. 

Along with sebum (and also sweat), bacteria transfer to your clothes. Together they form a bacterial biofilm – a sticky layer of bacteria that are hard to remove with a regular laundry detergent. So even your freshly washed clothes may start to smell as soon as you put them on because bacteria are heated up with the warmth of your body and they start to stink again.

But wait, don’t through away that gym shirt or pillowcase.

How to get rid of greasy smell on clothes?

Apart from the obvious – washing your clothes and towels, and changing bed lining regularly – there are other ways. 

Of course, these greasy stains and bacterial biofilm won’t be removed with regular washing. 

That’s why we made this laundry odor eliminator – ENZYMES. Enzymes attach to biofilm and break it into smaller pieces, like puzzles. You simply rub a small amount of the enzyme solution into the seams of the clothing and let it sit for at least 30 minutes before washing. That’s it, the odor is gone.

Summary:

1. Sebum has many benefits for the skin: moisturizing, protecting, and supporting healthy flora.
2. If your sebum has a strong odor, and it’s not due to medical conditions, it means your skin microbiome is out of balance.
3. To reduce and prevent sebum odor support healthy bacteria, rebalance skin oH, exfoliate the skin, and keep a healthy diet.
4. Sebum from your body gets to your clothes along with odor-causing bacteria. Together they form bacterial biofilm.
5. To remove bacterial biofilm and grease stains from the clothes use enzyme-based products, as regular laundry detergents won’t work.