Penis Odor and Sweat: Not a Beautiful Relationship

Phew! Sometimes a guy doesn’t realize how much penis odor he’s packing until he peels that layer of underwear off and is struck by how much smell wafts up to his nose. (And when he imagines what that must smell like to a partner offering to give him oral sex, he is legitimately horrified.) Of course, sometimes he doesn’t smell a thing – but that doesn’t mean he’s penis odor–free. Penis odor has to reach a certain level for a guy to notice it himself, but that means other people have noticed long before he did. Since sweat is basically the major factor in this common penis health issue, reducing sweat is one way of battling rank penis odor.

Here are a few sweat-related tips on helping to control or reduce unwanted penis odor:

- Be hygienic. This should go without saying, but shower frequently, especially if it is hot and/or one engages in physical activities that produce sweat. Change into fresh clothes daily, if not more often – again, if one sweats heavily, changing underwear more often will help. Consider shaving the crotch if sweat is really problematic, as this can help reduce sweat and sweat retention a little bit.

- Watch the overhang. Men with a bit of a belly, and especially those who are obese and have a significant overhang, need to pay special attention to washing the underside of that overhang. This is true for all men but even moreso for hairy-bellied men. The underside of the belly fold can trap sweat and create a truly rank smell. While it is not directly on the penis, it contributes to overall odor in the crotch region.

- Remember the penis pals. By the same token, be sure that the balls are washed as thoroughly as the penis itself. They are not immune to sweat. And, of equal importance but too often neglected, the perineum – the area between the balls and the butt – should be included in a thorough washing routine.

- Get more antioxidants. Surprisingly, antioxidants – which are amino acids typically found in the body – can help prevent sweat from creating a stink. When the skin is deficient in antioxidants, our natural oils break down faster, and aromas that are naturally held within them are released by the presence of sweat. Even worse, these particular aromas are more persistent and harder to get rid of than the normal variety.

- Use an antiperspirant on it. Sweaty gents most likely already apply an antiperspirant under their arms, but if penis odor is a real problem, they may want to consult with a doctor about using something directly on the penis and balls. There are antiperspirants manufactured specifically for the groin, which take into consideration the special sensitiveness of penis skin.

- Consider padding. He-men of the world may balk at this, but one special trick for helping reduce penis odor caused by sweat is to wear maxi pads. Designed for women to help stanch blood flow, maxi pads can be worn in the front of one’s briefs. They can help absorb excess moisture and odor and can be disposed of after a few hours of sweating (and replaced by another, if needed). This can be an especially wise choice if a guy can’t change underwear and is sweating heavily.

Fighting sweat that causes penis odor is one way to overcome this common problem. Another thing that is a big help is regularly using a superior penis health creme (health professionals recommend Man 1 Man Oil, which is clinically proven mild and safe for skin). Be sure that the crème selected has both vitamin A and alpha lipoic acid. Why? Well, vitamin A has well-known antibacterial properties that can help eliminate some of the bacteria that results in persistent penis odor. Alpha lipoic acid is a potent antioxidant and, as mentioned above, antioxidants help produce natural oils and keep them from creating odor by breaking down.

Itchy Penis and Summer Sweat: Could it be a Fungal Infection?

It’s an understandable equation: Summer=heat=sweat=jock itch. Sure, it’s a little more complicated than that, but this simple equation pretty much says it all. With the summer months here and the temperature rising every day, guys are getting hotter and sweatier. And once heat and sweat increase, so does the opportunity for an itchy penis to make its unwelcome presence known. Now, on the scale of penis health issues, jock itch is no crisis, being more of an annoyance than anything else. But as annoyances go, it’s pretty darn annoying.

So if summer sweat is here, what can a guy do to keep jock itch at bay or under control? First, it helps to know a little about what jock itch is.

A fungus

Jock itch isn’t just an itch that appears out of nowhere; it’s actually the result of a fungal infection. Like all fungi, jock itch is attracted to places that are dark and moist; sound like any crotches you know?

Jock itch presents as a red or pink rash on or around the penis, balls and anus. And as the name implies, it can itch like crazy. And although any guy can get it, people with certain conditions, such as diabetes or obesity, are more prone to jock itch than are others.

Sweat

Because jock itch thrives in a moist environment, it pays to take steps to combat summer sweat. Here are a few ways to do that.

- Wash frequently . Even if a guy tends to shower every day, he may want to consider stepping up his penis washing during the summer - and especially if he is an active person who spends a lot of time engaged in sweaty activities. This doesn’t necessarily mean showering more often, but it does mean a guy may want to give a sponge bath or two just to the genitals during the course of a hot day.

- Change clothes (at least underwear) as necessary. Keeping the personal basement as dry as possible means stripping off those underpants that are dripping with sweat - and those trousers as well, if they’re damp from the heat. It doesn’t really help top wash the penis and then put it back in a sweaty pair of briefs.

- Choose clothing carefully. If the day is going to be hot, take a few extra minutes to plan the wardrobe accordingly. In general, loose boxers are cooler than tight briefs. Trousers made of lightweight breathable material, like cotton, are cooler than those made of heavy fabrics or synthetic fabrics. And for the most part, darker clothes "hold" the heat more than lighter colors do. Also, looser trousers are less likely to rub against the skin and create irritation.

- Keep clothes clean. Yes, sometimes it’s tempting to wear that pair of pants for one more day - but in the summer, fungus is more likely to have grown overnight than in the winter.

- Be careful in locker rooms. The fungus that causes jock itch also causes athlete’s foot - so be careful when in the locker room or sauna. Don’t borrow a friend’s towel, which maybe infected. And put down your own towel before sitting on a bench or in the sauna; someone’s athlete’s foot may recently have been there.

If a guy does come down with jock itch, there are numerous over-the-counter options he can use. Sometimes a case will be stubborn and require the help of a doctor.

Keeping sweat and jock itch under control are all part of good penis care. So is the daily use of a top notch penis health creme (health professionals recommend Man 1 Man Oil, which is clinically proven mild and safe for skin). Seek out a crème that includes a combination of hydrating agents, such as shea butter and vitamin E, to help preserve the natural oils that keep skin smooth, even when sweat is wreaking havoc on the skin. The best crème will also include vitamin B5, also called pantothenic acid, which is required for cell metabolism and the maintenance of healthy penile tissue.

Penis Odor and Sweat: Finding the Right Balance

Phew! When a guy removes his pants and is struck by his own penis odor, that’s a sign that the stench is off the bench. With summer and the official sweat season practically here, guys need to start thinking about ways they can reduce that nasty penis odor situation that all too often arises. Practicing proper penis care is a good first step, but sometimes a guy needs to take a look at the "big picture" as well.

Sweat

Sweat is simply a fact of life, especially during the hot days (and nights) of summer. Sweat around the penis and balls is what primarily causes penis odor. The sweat carries with it bacteria, and that bacteria leads to an unwanted aroma. Curiously, although there is a distinct odor when a man sweats, the odor tends to increase in pungency after the sweat has dried and the bacteria is "freed" from the bonds of sweat.

To help eliminate some of that strong penis odor, it helps if a guy can decrease the sweat around the penis. There are several ways to do this that involve the penile area specifically, such as shaving the pubic hair and wearing loose-fitting boxers rather than tight briefs. But there are some things that involve the rest of the body that a guy should consider as well.

Use deodorant rather than antiperspirant

This may seem counterintuitive; after all, antiperspirant is intended to decrease sweat under the armpits, right? Well, yes and no. Antiperspirant doesn’t actually eliminate sweat so much as it displaces it.

When antiperspirant goes to work, it creates a layer of gel under the arms that essentially blocks the sweat pores. The pits still sweat just as much as always; it just doesn’t get released from under the arms. Instead, it gets transferred around the body, coming out in places that lack antiperspirant - like the penis.

Using a deodorant, which masks the odor rather than rerouting the sweat, can help keep more sweat from being sent to the penis and balls.

Cool the wrists and the neck

There are certain points on the body that have an "extra" reaction to heat and cold - and the wrists and the neck are two of them. When these body parts get hot, they spread a message throughout the body to sweat - and that message reaches the groin as well. Applying a little ice or a nice, cold washcloth to these points can likewise send a message to the body telling it to cool down a little. When sweat is becoming a problem, act on the wrists and neck.

Drink water

Wait, add water to the body, which can then come out as sweat? Yes, because a well hydrated body keeps the body temperature lower; a dehydrated person may actually sweat more (until the dehydration reaches a critical level, that is.)

Consider a little starch

Adding starch top shirts makes them less likely to stick to the body, which in turn allows air to circulate beneath the shirt and keep the body cooler.

Or go shirtless

When it’s socially acceptable, wear as little clothing as possible. That keeps the body cooler, producing less overall sweat - including in the crotch.

While other factors can contribute to penis odor, keeping total body heat and sweat to a minimum can make a big difference. So can using a top level penis health crème (health professionals recommend Man1 Man Oil, which is clinically proven mild and safe for skin) on a daily basis. In order to get the full benefit, select a crème that lists vitamin A among its ingredients. Also called retinol, vitamin A is celebrated for its antibacterial properties, which target odor-causing bacteria from sweat and other sources. It also helps if the crème contains moisturizing agents like Shea butter and vitamin E, which can keep essential oils from being "sweated out" of the penis.