By Priya Suri

We've all worried about these problems at some point: Do I smell? What will people say if I remove my shoes? Is deodorant enough to mask my body odour?

We have to first realise that most body odour is caused by sweat.

Our body has two types of sweat glands, eccrine and apocrine.

Eccrine glands are located all over the body but the highest concentrations are found on the forehead, palms of the hands and soles of the feet. These glands produce more sweat when a person is hot, stressed or nervous.

Apocrine glands produce sweat when they become activated after puberty. They are located in areas where there is hair, such as the underarms, in the genital areas and around the nipples.

Dr Wong Su-Ni, consultant dermatologist at Pacific Specialist Practice, said that sweat itself is odourless but when left on the skin, it is decomposed by bacteria to create an unpleasant smell.

'Decomposition of dead skin when feet are wrapped in tight socks and shoes can also cause an odour which is similar to the smell when a cyst is squeezed,' she said.

Consuming foods such as garlic and spices can contribute to stronger smelling sweat, she added.

Fortunately, there are several ways to prevent body odour.

One way is to reduce the amount of bacteria on the body by using an anti-bacterial body wash.

To reduce sweat production, wear cotton clothes and breathable shoes or sandals to keep the skin cool, and apply roll-on antiperspirant.

These measures may not be enough for the 20 per cent of Singaporeans who suffer from excessive sweating or hyperhidrosis, said Dr Peter Goh, director and consultant surgeon at Starcap Medical.

He was among the first in the world to pioneer needlescopic thoracic surgery in the early 1990s.

This minimally invasive surgery involves making 3mm holes in the skin. Through these holes, the nerves that control sweating can either be cut or clipped using a titanium clip, the latter having the advantage of being reversible.

'Patients may experience some form of compensatory sweating, where the body sweats more in parts that have not had surgery but this is tolerable for most,' DrGoh said.

Needlescopic thoracic surgery can be performed on the palms, armpits and face. It is not recommended for the feet as this would result in a more complicated surgery.

For those with feet that sweat excessively, Dr Goh recommends Botox injections which cause weakening of muscles.

He said the effects of Botox can last for six to eight months. Botox can also be injected into the armpits and palms instead of surgery.

This story was first published in Mind Your Body, The Straits Times, on August 6, 2008.