Can antiperspirants contribute to penis odor?

Sexual partners wax and wane on a number of factors that vary from person to person and from couple to couple. One factor that tends to be very important is how hygienic the other partner is, or appears to be. Clearly, visible signs of proper hygiene are important, but other senses can come into play when assessing a partner’s hygiene levels, including the sense of smell. In such cases, a very unpleasant or unpleasant penis odor can cause a partner to withdraw, concerned not only about hygiene but also what penis odor might convey about the state of their partner’s penis health. This is one of the reasons why men need to know if they have a penis odor problem and what might be contributing to it. Interestingly, and perhaps counterintuitively, the use of antiperspirants in some cases can make things worse.

The sweat factor

While it’s true that there can be other causes of penile odor, such as a urinary tract infection or fungal condition, sweat is often a big culprit in producing pungent penile odor. When a man sweats, he mixes with bacteria and releases a variety of scents, some of which are definitely not attractive.

And the penis is positioned in such a way that it can be like a magnet for sweat. For starters, unless a man goes masculine, his penis sits under a thick layer of pubic hair that serves to insulate the penis and balls, increasing heat. Plus, resting between or on top of your thighs adds another layer of body heat. And when the penis is erect, the entry of blood into the penis also adds more heat.

But that’s not where things stop. Most men wear underwear and pants, forming a double layer of clothing, which means that area stays twice as hot as many other parts of the body. With all this, is it any wonder that men tend to sweat in the crotch and that odor tends to accumulate there?

Antiperspirants

But still, why should antiperspirants contribute in any way to an unwanted penis odor situation? After all, antiperspirants are designed to STOP sweat. And also, most men use antiperspirants under their arms, not on or around their penis.

This is all true, but with a little reflection one can see how antiperspirants could increase penile stench.

Both deodorants and antiperspirants help kill bacteria that combine with sweat to create odor. But antiperspirants also help block sweat pores so that sweat has a much harder time even leaving the body in the areas where it’s applied.

Yes, the antiperspirant is not applied to the penis or the surrounding areas. But if it is worn under the arms, it does not mean that the sweat has been destroyed; it simply means that the sweat that is produced can no longer easily leave the body through the armpits. Instead, it needs to find another way out of the body, so it travels to other areas that aren’t cushioned by antiperspirants, like the penis. Therefore, more sweat leaves the body through the penis, increasing the possibility of a musty penile odor.

None of this is to say that a man should stop using antiperspirants, but if he does use them, they should do an even better job of blocking penis odor. For example, he must wash very well and he may need to do it more often.

Another great way to use antiperspirants and still combat penis odor is to apply a top penis health cream daily. (Health professionals recommend Man 1 Man Oil, which is clinically proven gentle and safe for skin). The cream should contain vitamin A, which has antibacterial properties that can help reduce lingering penile odors. The cream should also include a powerful antioxidant, such as alpha lipoic acid. By fighting excess free radicals that can cause oxidative stress to penile skin, Alpha Lipoic Acid strengthens the skin so it can better respond to efforts to combat excess odour.