From the POV of a board-certified dermatologist, I embrace the notion that body odor prevention is not only about underarms. Whole-body deodorants are gaining great appeal for good reason. But not all body parts develop odor. When was the last time your knee was smelly?  Certain parts of the body are in need of odor control and others not as much. Here is what you should know before you go from focusing your deodorant solely on underarms to the broader world of full-body deodorants. Really, deodorant for the WHOLE body?

Some Body Parts Smell More Than Others

Indeed, odors can be found in lots of hiding places.

The body is like a climate map with arid parts and tropical parts. The moist skin folds where air flow is minimal, where skin-rubs-on-skin and remains damp all day, are the tropics of your body map. These also happen to be the places that harbor odor-causing bacteria. Dry skin areas like the elbows, backs of hands, knees and shins are more desert-like on the body map and generally do not produce odor unless there is a skin infection. Traditional deodorants have always focused on armpits. For some, body odor lurks elsewhere. Even with dedicated personal hygiene and using what you think is effective deodorant, body odor can find its way in the parts of the body where dampness prevails and cooling air flow lacks. 

The Stinky Seven: Body Parts That Can Have Odor

Before listing the seven most odorous skin sites, let's figure what these specific places have that lead them to produce putrid odors. You will find:

• Apocrine glands are a type of sweat glands that are located around the nipple, the pubic region "private parts" , and armpits and they contribute secretions that  certain bacteria feast on to cause odor
• Sweat production or retained moisture in skin folds and areas that are covered by clothing all day and can't "breathe"
• Hair follicles, sebum oil and sebaceous glands
• Bacterial growth of odor-causing microbes that can proliferate more so within the body’s skin folds

1. Underarm area : Armpits with sweat glands known as apocrine glands, are the most common body part that you think about applying regular deodorants to daily.
2. Belly buttons: These are tiny hiding spots for bacteria and yeast and rarely do you think of cleaning this area or even paying attention to it.
3. Buttock crease and other private areas like the genital region, pubic area and perineum: These are typically covered all day by two layers of clothes and these crevices can invite lingering moisture and bacteria proliferation.
4. Between toes and feet: Being in socks and shoes all day long, these parts need to come up for air...they get no aeration and can stay dark and damp for hours.
5. Scalp and behind ears:  Uniquely oily and also prone to sweat, these areas can harbor yeast and bacteria which cause odor. Increased chances if using hair care products that build up layers on the skin of the scalp.
6. Breasts/Under boob area: Under and between breasts is at high risk for "skin-rubbing-on-skin" all day. Add the friction from your bra or sports bra. Sprinkle in sweat and this can be a set up for body odor.
7. Inner thighs and groin folds: Both women and men may discover thigh crease issues with potential for rashes, jock itch/fungus. Such a rash may  get your notice with an unpleasant smell along with skin that is itchy, inflamed, discolored and texturally changing.

NOTE: These above areas are delicate skin parts and are prone to developing rash and can be a source of yeast infection as well as bacterial infection, see your doctor if you have a change in the skin or notice ongoing odors.

Yes, You Can Use Whole Body Deodorants To The Smelly Parts But Not Everywhere

These above-mentioned smelly parts are also the sensitive skin areas so it is important to use gentle skin care while also combating body odor. So if you choose a whole body deo, look for gentle ingredients. I advise my patients not to use antiperspirant all over their bodies. Why? If the product label says "antiperspirant" it means it has aluminum salts as the active ingredient. Antiperspirant blocks sweat, unlike deodorants, without aluminum that simply counteract odor. I do not want my patients trying to block sweat on the whole body both because it would be an overuse of chemicals and also because sweating is part of body temperature regulation which is an important skin function.   

It is no surprise that when you are trying to tackle body odor you are probably using an antiperspirant that has an aluminum compound family of ingredients. These block sweat ducts and maintain a drier skin surface. But simply keeping skin dry may not be the answer to body odor. It's not excessive sweating which leads to odor. The underlying cause is a perturbation in the skin barrier function which can be caused by several factors such as:

pH balance is off, friction, bacterial overgrowth (disruption of the skin microbiome), yeast infection to name a few. This upset in the delicate balance of the skin's natural defenses leads to selective growth of odor causing bacteria species to the detriment of odor neutralizing microbes. The result: body odor.

Recommendations For Whole Body Freshness:

Q: After applying deodorant to my underarms, is it a good idea to apply odor protection skin care to the whole rest of the body?

A: No. After ensuring your skin has been gently cleansed and dried,  it is ok to apply whole body deodorant if the product is designed for all parts, but only when necessary and only to body odor parts. Don't overdo it.

• Don't use harsh soaps that are alkaline based or meant for greasy hands, not delicate parts. 
• Don't over cleanse the skin or use antibacterial body wash repeatedly (unless prescribed by a dermatologist). More washing and more soap doesn't mean less body odor.
• Be kind to the skin barrier by not using antibacterial cleansers or scrubbing aggressively as this can be counter productive in the long run.
• Pay attention to skin pH. When it is not balanced you will notice skin irritation or armpit rash.  Look for gentle unscented body wash that is pH balancing.
• Take brief cool or tepid water showers with soap free cleansers. Pat skin dry and consider using a fan or hair dryer/blow dryer on the cool setting especially in the summer months to air dry the skin folds. These skin folds can trap moisture all day.
• Try not to allow damp or tight fitting clothing to remain on you all day. When possible, take off damp duds and put on dry clothes and let the skin air out.
• Get a clean start. Avoid coating the skin day in and day out with residue leaving ingredients which suffocate the top layer of skin. Seek clean ingredients that don't leave residue, like Surface Deep Anti-Odorant
• Do not think stronger fragrances are best. It might be just the opposite. They may contain ingredients or other skin irritants like alcohol, which can inflame the skin and cause allergic contact dermatitis with repeated use.

Bottom Line About Whole-Body Deodorants:

Whole-Body Deodorants are a great option but take the name with a grain of salt. You don't need to apply them everywhere. Certainly make sure the natural deodorant brand you choose is free of harsh ingredients and comes in a cream formula or other soothing format so that parts of your body that are being deodorized for the first time do not end up with any unnecessary irritation on sensitive areas.

Best Deodorant With A Glycolic Acid Proprietary Formula Invented by a dermatologist:

Surface Deep Anti-Odorant Spray and Wipes.

The above is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be medical advice nor a substitute for medical care from your doctor.