Why do we break wind and how do you treat bad breath? Experts reveal what causes our bodies' most embarrassing quirks (and how to treat them)
- On average, we produce between 500ml and two litres of gas each day
- The amount of water you drink can affect how your breath smells
- Lack of protein, iron and complex carbohydrates can result in hair loss
- One of the leading cause of excess sweating is drinking too much water
Ask almost anyone and there'll be something about their bodies that they aren't happy with.
From wanting away a few pounds to wishing hair would shape differently, there are many minor gripes many of us would prefer to be different.
But what about the really embarrassing body problems, like sweating so much you need to change clothes or breath so bad you can clear a room?
Here, leading experts reveal exactly what's behind our taboo bodily quirks - and what you can do about the irksome symptoms.
From the bacteria lurking in the deepest crevices in our mouths to extremely ripe smelling feet, they explain the root cause of the problems and offer their top tips in how to beat them...
Our bodies can be host to a number of embarrassing symptoms or conditions we would rather avoid. Here we ask the experts how to avoid them - or best deal with them if they do arise...
YELLOW TEETH
No matter how great you look, if your smile reveals two rows of yellow teeth it is never a good look.
The good news is, you can prevent this if you're prepared to cut out the occasional chicken vindaloo or glasses of red wine.
Dr Uchenna Okoye, clinical director at London Smiling Dental Group,and smile director for Oral-B, says the primary cause is down to lifestyle.
'The stuff you eat and drink can stain the teeth and smoking is the worst. Anything that would stain a white T-shirt will stain your teeth,' she says.
'Everyone thinks coffee is worse but it's tea. If you leave tea in the cup for 20 minutes and then come back, the inside of the cup is really stained.
Teeth are stained by what we eat and drink so avoiding certain substances can obviously help. But as Dr Uchenna Okoye says, 'if you feel life's too short' then teeth whitening strips can help bring back your natural shine'
'People often don't realise with herbal teas is what you see in your cup is what you're doing to your teeth.
'Life's too short not to enjoy it but there are things you can do to manage it.
'There's new white strips in the UK which we have just got which are a bit like having sticky tape around your teeth for an hour a day for two weeks.'
Food and drink like red wine are known to stain teeth
Whitening strips are small pieces of a flexible plastic called polyethylene which are coated in a whitening gel that contains hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide.
The strips mould around your teeth while the peroxide gel seeps into the teeth to lighten them.
Or, she recommends using strawberries and bicarbonate of soda, as the combination acts as a natural tooth whitener.
She advises taking eight strawberries, the riper and softer the better, and half a teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda and creating a paste.
Put a piece of cotton in between the teeth to bite on, smear the paste over the teeth and rub it a little to whiten the teeth, she said.
The bicarbonate of soda is abrasive and can remove the stains that are caused by drinking coffee, tea and smoking.
It clears the debris on the surface of the teeth to make the teeth appear whiter and brighter.
Strawberries contain ascorbic acid, a gentle acid which can also remove surface stains and make teeth shine.
Hard cheeses will also keep teeth white as well as healthy.
BAD BREATH
We've all had those mornings when we wake up with breath that could make a flower wilt.
The good news is, it's perfectly natural first thing, the problem can be what do you do if you have it all of the time?
A third of people are unaware a strict diet or an intense workout can have can cause bad breath, according to research by CB12 - a brand of dental products that claims to keep breath fresh for 12 hours.
Bad breath is caused by plaque bacteria which release unpleasant smells from sulphur compounds
Dr Luke Thorley, a dentist and spokesperson for CB12, said over-exercising leads to dehydration.
This exacerbates bad breath as it means less saliva is formed to clean the mouth of plaque.
‘Skipping breakfast could be another unpleasant breath trigger, as eating first thing helps stimulate saliva that has been depleted while we sleep - hence the term “morning breath”’, he told MailOnline.
And any diets which cause the body to break down fat also cause a phenomenon known in nutrition circles as ‘camel breath’, he adds.
‘If you’re following a low carbohydrate diet such as Atkins your body may be in a state of ketosis (a metabolic state where most of the body's energy supply comes from ketone bodies in the blood) resulting in an unpleasant mouth odour.’
And any action that causes dehydration, or changes the pH balance of the mouth, can cause bacteria to thrive.
Therefore, flying on a plane, drinking coffee or alcohol can all cause bad breath.
Dr Okoye adds the unpleasant affliction is caused by a plaque bacteria.
The bacteria combine with saliva to break down food particles and proteins which releases an unpleasant-smelling gas of sulphur compounds.
If you don't brush and floss your teeth regularly, any food trapped between your teeth will be broken down by the bacteria, causing bad breath.
'See your dentist and make sure you don't have any cavities they can hide in and build up,' she said.
'Make sure you plaque levels are low by using an electric toothbrush - which is like using a vacuum rather than a dustpan and brush.
'Thirdly, the amount of water you drink can affect your breath. Your saliva helps to fight bacteria and washes away plaque.
An electric toothbrush can be a good way of looking after teeth and bad breath at bay
'If you're not producing enough and your saliva is thick, then you should drink more water.'
But what's the best way to treat it?
‘If you’re caught short the best thing to do is to get some toothpaste and rub it along the teeth with a cloth,’ Dr Okoye said.
‘Physically rubbing with something abrasive will reduce the bacterial load and that will help.’
Avoiding strong-tasting foods like garlic, onions, spicy dishes and coffee will prevent the breath smelling of them.
Chewing on crunchy, raw foods like carrots and apples also clear plaque and stimulate the production of saliva.
‘Sour foods are saliva-inducing,’ Dr Okoye said.
Spices like cinnamon, cardamom and cloves and herbs like parsely, fennel and dill also improve bad breath as they contain compounds that kill the odour-causing bacteria.
HAIR LOSS AND BALDNESS
Both women and men appear to lose their hair as it gradually gets thinner with every cycle. But other factors like contraceptive pills and diet and lifestyle can also lead to hair loss, experts say
There is nothing unusual about losing hair - we all shed an average of 100 hairs a day.
About 80 per cent are lost when washing or brushing hair, while the rest will simply drift away throughout the day.
Androgenetic alopecia, or male pattern baldness, is the most common form of hair loss in men and women.
It often progresses to baldness and affects about half of men over 50, but can start in their late teens.
Male-pattern baldness is hereditary, which means it runs in families and is linked to male hormones
Male-pattern baldness is hereditary, which means it runs in families.
It's thought to be caused by oversensitive hair follicles, linked to having too much of a certain male hormone.
As well as affecting men, it can sometimes affect women. During female-pattern baldness, hair usually only thins on top of the head.
But trichologist, Anabel Kingsley, daughter of leading scalp and hair authority Philip Kingsley, said hair loss is natural over time.
'In women, hair follicles are sensitive to normal levels of male hormones. This causes the hair follicles to gradually shrink.
'With every hair cycle, the hair grows back slightly finer and shorter so you might notice a gradual loss of length.
'There is still the same amount of hair on the scalp, it's just they are finer.'
She said the problem cannot be completely fixed but it can be slowed. If you're a woman of childbearing age you can take certain types of contraceptive pills to avoid the risk of hair less.
Ms Kingsley says this is because certain types of birth control can have an effect on androgens - or male hormones in women's bodies - and can cause hair loss if follicles are sensitive to them.
'These include pills containing Norethisterone, Levonorgestrel, Gestodene and Ethynodiol Diacetate with Microgynon one of the most popular brands. This can be remedied by changing to a 'less androgenic' one such as Dianette or Yasmin which can actually help with hormonal hair fall, although speaking to your GP is obviously advisable. '
Other reasons for hair loss can be down to a lack of protein, iron and complex carbohydrates which can be helped by adjusting diet and lifestyle.
Women, in particular can be prone to iron deficiency, but upping red meat intake or taking a supplement can bring levels up to what they should be.
BREAKING WIND
Flatulence is a subject that many people find far too embarrassing to talk about, even with their doctor.
The Mail's GP, Dr Martin Scurr, says the perception was not helped by the schoolboy humour and general ribaldry that discussion about intestinal gas provokes.
'Most people who complain about excessive gas do not actually produce more than average, they are just more aware of it,' he said.
'On average, people produce between 500ml and two litres daily, passing it via the rectum ten to 20 times a day.'
Dr Scurr said the bad smells are down to the food we eat such as cabbage and even avocado
He said there are two sources of intestinal gas: the air that you swallow - which is increased if you eat quickly, chew gum or smoke - and the gases produced by the action of bacteria in the large intestine.
Swallowed air is mostly released by belching, whereas the gas produced by bacteria is expelled via the back passage.
'Most of the bacteria in the large intestine are essential for health and have a role in digesting carbohydrates that are not fully digested by enzymes in the small intestine further up.
'One of the main culprits for gas production is a carbohydrate called raffinose, found in foods such as cabbage and broccoli.
Foods like onion and avocado can irritate the gut
'Foods that contain FODMAPS (carbohydrates that are poorly absorbed), such as onions and avocados, can irritate the gut and cause gas production, too.'
More than 90 per cent of expelled gas is comprised of methane, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, oxygen, and hydrogen which do not have an odour.
The smelly culprits are traces of other gases which contain compounds such as sulphur or ammonia.
Dr Scurr advises anyone who thinks they may have a problem to see a specialised dietitian to adopt a low-FODMAP diet.
'This is known to be effective in patients with irritable bowel syndrome, but may also prove helpful for easing your symptoms.
'Some people do value charcoal tablets or capsules - charcoal has microscopic pores that act as sponges to absorb gas, which are then lost from the gut when the charcoal residue is passed.'
CONSTANTLY RUNNY NOSE
Most people will experience cases of the sniffles in winter but for some people a constantly runny nose can be all year round.
If that is the case, Dr Scurr believes it could be down to 'chronic rhinitis' - essentially long-lasting swelling in your nasal passages.
It is most often triggered by an allergy to something present in inhaled air, such as dust, pollen or animal dander.
People who have constantly runny noses could be suffering from chronic rhinitis, swelling in the nasal passage
'This triggers swelling in the nasal passages and the production of excess mucus. As well as a runny nose with clear discharge, it can also cause sneezing, nasal congestion, or itching. Less common is chronic non-allergic rhinitis.
'People with this also have a constant runny nose, but there is no identifiable allergy causing the symptoms and usually no noticeable itching and sneezing. Here, the symptoms are brought on by irritation to the nasal passages.
'The lining of these passages is spongy and wet, and in some people it is overly sensitive, so that strong smells - such as perfume, cigarette smoke, traffic exhaust fumes, variations in temperature and even certain foods and alcohol - can cause the nose to run.
'It is not an allergy so much as an excessive response to an irritant.'
Allergies, including to pollen, could be the reason behind a constantly runny nose
He suggests an antihistamine nasal spray such as azelastine (trade name Rhinolast) which can be bought without prescription from a chemist.
'For those with allergic rhinitis, a puff of this in each nostril twice daily can have a magical benefit, as it suppresses the allergic response and rapidly both dries up the watery discharge and stops the other symptoms,' he explains.
Patients with chronic non-allergic rhinitis generally respond less well to any medication, but azelastine can help as it does not just work on the allergic symptoms, but also has an anti-inflammatory effect.
'If this doesn't help, it may be worthwhile trying a steroid nasal spray as this can also help reduce the swelling in your nasal passages that causes the discharge.
'Beclomethasone nasal spray, an over-the-counter treatment, might help - seek the advice of your pharmacist.'
WOMEN WHO HAVE EXCESS HAIR ON THE UPPER LIP
Many women have been concerned about excess hair at one time or another - in fact, it ranks just behind weight gain for body dissatisfaction.
It is estimated that one in ten females suffer from excess facial and body hair so what exactly causes it?
Dr Rina Davison, an endocrinologist from Whipps Cross University Hospital, London, with a special interest in excess hair, says Polycystic Ovaries Syndrome (PCOS) is the main cause of excess hair in women and is estimated to affect 10 to 15 per cent of them.
With PCOS, the ovaries don't work properly and are covered in small cysts. As a result, eggs are released erratically or not at all, causing irregular or missed periods, and often reduced fertility and acne.
One of the most common symptoms is a high level of male hormones (androgens), which leads to hair growth.
All women produce androgens. However, sometimes women produce higher levels, or they may have normal levels, but their hair follicles are more sensitive to androgens.
One in 10 females are estimated to suffer from excess facial and body hair, according to a recent survey. It is often caused by Polycystic Ovaries Syndrome, where the ovaries don't work properly
'If excess hair is due to a hormonal imbalance, then it tends to occur in areas such as the chin, upper lip, sideburns, chest and inner thighs,' said Dr Davison.
'These are areas of the skin that are more sensitive to testosterone. The hair is also likely to be coarse and dark.'
Given the implications for fertility, women worried about excess hair should see their GP, advises Steve Franks, professor of reproductive endocrinology at Imperial College, London and an endocrinologist at St Mary's and Hammersmith Hospitals, London.
'There may be other problems to investigate,' he suggests. 'Often, excess hair is a symptom of PCOS, but it also can be indicative of less common, but potentially more serious, hormonal disorders, or tumours of the ovary or adrenal gland - the two parts of the body that produce testosterone.
'Many, if not most, GPs will take the problem seriously and refer to an endocrinologist if appropriate.
'Women should not be afraid to ask for a referral to a specialist.'
The alarm bells should ring for a GP if a woman comes in with a growth of facial hair that has developed within the past six months, he adds.
DANDRUFF
We've all taken a sly look at our shoulders, especially while wearing a dark top or suit, to check for any unsightly snow showers on our shoulders.
Most people will experience dandruff at some point in their lives with typical flare-ups caused by anything from stress to washing your hair either too little or too often.
Dandruff is caused when the natural cycle of skin renewal is speeded up.
This leads to patches of dead skin forming on the surface of the scalp, which come away into the hair, resulting in the flaking.
The most common type of dandruff is 'pityriasis' which is a relatively common skin condition.
Most people will experience dandruff at some point in their lives with shampooing too often, one of its causes
Scalp skin shedding becomes noticeable when there is an imbalance of bacteria on your scalp, or if you are not washing your hair often enough.
Our skin is covered in bacteria and skin secretions, sweat and sebum, usually form a protective layer that prevents bacteria from multiplying on your scalp.
But illness, stress, hormone changes and diet can alter the barrier's make-up which allows bacteria to reproduce, leading to flake-shedding.
'It's a highly embarrassing problem,' said Dr Daron Seukeran. 'But can be quite easily treated with a tar-based shampoo or the likes of Head and Shoulders are effective for some.
'In some patients it continues to persist and there's more to it - like psoriasis, eczema and fungal conditions can contribute towards scaling.
'There are different over the counter shampoos that can help and are well worth a try. But if the problems persist, then visit your GP.'
SWEATING
Humans are the smallest animals that sweat and, as with other species, it is the body's natural way of cooling down.
But unlike animals, unsightly wet patches under the arms - or perspiration dripping from our forehead - can be an embarrassing problem we'd all rather avoid.
According to Professor Mark Whiteley, a consultant vascular Surgeon at The Whiteley Clinic, London, the problem - and therefore solution - is often very simple.
A leading expert in excessive sweating, known medically as hyperhidrosis, he says the culprit might be right under your nose - drinking too much water.
Excessive sweating is often cause by drinking too much water, expert Professor Mark Whitely says
In fact, he says this is the leading cause of too much perspiration.
'You should ask are you drinking out of habit or because you are thirsty?' he says.
'There are companies that charge money to buy water and say you have to drink two or three litres a day when you don't need it.
'If you read medical books or ask a doctor you need two litres a day - and half of that comes through food.
'You have normal, healthy people who are eating well but because someone has told them they need water, they're having four to five litres a day.
'Most people only need to drink a litre of water a day.
He adds that a good way of checking if you are drinking the right amount of water is by checking your urine colour.
If it is dark yellow, you're not drinking enough, if there's no colour, not enough - with light yellow the benchmark for perfect pee.
However, some cases of hyperhidrosis can arise from medical reasons and can be triggered by factors like the menopause.
People who go to the gym a lot also tend to sweat - even while not exercising - as the body is used to having to cool itself down.
It can also occur in people who take antidepressants as well as illegal drug use such as cocaine and steroids.
However, Professor Whiteley says there are people who suffer from hyperhidrosis which is not linked to their fluid intake, who will require treatment beyond cutting down on liquids.
It is normal to sweat in heat when exercising, or in stressful situations, he said.
Usually people in these situations sweat all over the body.
But some people are ‘wired differently’ meaning they sweat the same volume, but it is concentrated in one area, usually the armpits or the groin, Professor Whiteley explained.
They may also experience sweating in situations when most people wouldn’t, such as watching television or walking down the street.
‘That’s socially very embarrassing, and so they seek treatment,’ he said.
People who go to the gym a lot also tend to sweat - even while not exercising - as the body is used to having to cool itself down
Hyperhidrosis affects men and women equally, he said, although women find it more of a problem.
It can be caused by stress, a high-protein diet, or some people might react to over the counter medicines and begin to sweat in a certain area of their body.
Professor Whiteley says he advises cutting fluid intake, trying to relax and reduce stress, stopping any over the counter medication that the person has started taking recently and using spray or roll on deodorants for the problem.
If all of these avenues have been exhausted, and the person still has a problem with sweating, he will suggest a treatment such as Botox injections to the armpits, which temporarily stop the sweat glands producing sweat.
For the most severe cases, he recommends Laser Sweat Ablation surgery, which removes most of the sweat glands completely.
He says he turns down four out of five people who seek the Laser Sweat Ablation surgery, but for some people with severe hyperhidrosis, it can be an appropriate treatment.
BODY ODOUR
Bromhidrosis or 'body odour' is a medical condition characterised by the skin giving off an unpleasant or even offensive smell.
When it is severe, it can be a very socially debilitating problem that is often not very well understood by those people who do not suffer from it.
Rather than being caused by a lack of hygiene, sufferers can omit an unpleasant odour even when they have just washed.
Body odour mainly comes from the apocrine glands - which are mainly found in hairy areas of the body, such as the armpits and genital area; apocrine glands develop during puberty and release scented chemicals called pheromones.
However, it's the apocrine glands that are mainly responsible for body odour, because the sweat they produce contains high levels of protein, which bacteria find easy to break down.
People who sweat excessively from their apocrine glands, or have a lot of bacteria on their skin, tend to have worse body odour.
Body odour is caused by bacteria on the skin and can be a socially debilitating problem for many
The unpleasant odour is produced by bacteria on the skin that break down the sweat into acids.
Professor Mark Whiteley said: 'When people say they sweat too much it can either be hyperhidrosis or bromhidrosis, which is the smelly stuff.
'Usually it's one or the other but some people are unlucky enough to have both.'
He adds there is a lot of misinformation about bromhidrosis and body odour, with many people thinking that it is due to being 'dirty' or not washing properly.
True bromhidrosis or body odour starts when a person reaches puberty and continues through their reproductive life until menopause.
Regular washing, changing of clothes and using deodorants are all recommended to keep bacteria at bay and in very severe cases of, surgery or treatment with Botox may be possible options.
INCONTINENCE
Though few discuss the subject even with their closest friends, around half of all women suffer from a dysfunctional bladder at some point.
There are two main types of incontinence — an overactive bladder and stress incontinence.
Normally when the bladder has filled to its capacity of around 400 ml, a signal is sent to the brain telling it to empty.
Women with an overactive bladder feel the urge to go before the bladder is full. Around one in five women over the age of 40 is affected.
An overactive bladder can cause a range of problems, including urinary frequency, nocturia (needing the lavatory at night), urgency and urge incontinence (feeling you only just make it to the loo in time, or even getting ‘caught short’).
Coughing or sneezing can be an embarrassing feature of anyone with stress incontinence
Patients with stress incontinence leak urine when they laugh, run, sneeze or cough — this is triggered by weakening of the muscles supporting the bladder, which can happen in pregnancy and childbirth.
This makes up 50 per cent of all incontinence cases, although a large number of women have both stress incontinence and an overactive bladder.
The most common cause of stress incontinence is weakness of the pelvic floor muscles that support the base of the bladder.
Overstretching and damage to the muscles during childbirth is often to blame, and women who have long labours, big babies or forceps deliveries are at particular risk.
Many new mothers have some stress incontinence, but this often then improves, and then makes an unwelcome re-appearance many years later.
Toning up the muscles with pelvic floor exercises can often bring about a dramatic improvement.
Losing weight or avoiding substances that inflame the bladder, such as cigarettes and caffeine, can make a big difference.
A 10 per cent loss in weight can give a 50 per cent improvement in incontinence symptoms.
But if these won’t help, doctors can offer a range of treatments on the NHS or privately.
Drugs for an an overactive bladder include anti-cholinergic drugs to strengthen the sphincter - the muscles supporting the bladder — reducing the urgency, frequency and number of leaks.
Botox injections, where small doses of botulinum toxin is injected into the bladder, paralysing the bladder muscle so it doesn’t contract so readily, is being offered privately.
Surgeons are now using nerve stimulation to tackle incontinence with the most common procedure to implant an electrode and stimulator permanently in the back, close to the sacral nerve - which runs through the lower back to the bladder and helps to control the bladder.
It’s thought stimulating the nerve may reduce the faulty signals from the brain that cause the bladder to empty.
For stress incontinence, pelvic floor exercises are the most recommended which can be very effective when done correctly.
SMELLY FEET
There are about 250,000 sweat glands in your feet, so it should come as little surprise that they sweat more than other parts of the body.
When this becomes a particular problem is when feet start to smell.
Smelly feet are caused by bacteria on the skin which breaks down the sweat producing the smell.
Just to add to the difficulties of being a teenager, those over-active hormones raging round the body can be a leading cause.
However, according to the Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists (SCP) another cause of sweaty feet is stress on the foot.
Following a foot care routine can help stop feet from smelling but if this fails, foot deodorant, or even normal deodorant can help to stop unwanted aromas
This could be because the bones in your feet are not aligned properly or maybe if you have just been on your feet all day.
Your sweat glands also respond to emotional, mental or physical stress so upheavals or stress in your life could also be triggering your sweaty feet.
It might sound obvious but a daily foot care routine is an excellent way to get rid of any unwanted whiffs.
Washing feet with anti-bacterial soap will help keep your feet smelling of roses as it combats the bacteria which causes foot odour.
However you should avoid soaking them as this could destroy their natural oils.
Always dry them thoroughly, especially between the toes, to avoid getting athletes foot - a fungal infection which can cause foot itching, burning, pain, and scaling as well as unwanted odour.
Hard skin on your feet should be removed with pumice stone once a week.
If the skin is very hard or painful, make an appointment to see a chiropodist in case it could be corns.
When your feet are completely dry, apply a moisturising cream all over the foot but avoid going between the toes, again to discourage athletes foot.
If this doesn't work, a foot deodorant or even ordinary deodorant can be a great way of stopping the stink.
ACNE
Acne can be caused by any number of factors but it is a myth that one of them is bad hygiene.
It is usually a result of excess oil production called sebum which can block the sebaceous glands and ducts, leading to inflammation.
This allows for the overgrowth of bacteria normally found on skin, Propionibacterium acnes - or P. acnes - which produce irritating chemical substances that further fuel the inflammation.
Acne is caused by excess oil production, or sebum, which causes ducts to get blocked and inflamed
Dead skin cells cannot be shed properly which then block the openings to the hair follicles. The sebaceous glands enlarge, forming a spot or pimple.
Dr Daron Seukeran, a consultant dermatologist at James Cook University Hospital, Middlesborough, said it typically occurred at a
'It affects youngsters at a very difficult time and can have a really significant psychological impact,' he said.
'One of the concerns is that if it's not dealt with properly, they can have years of suffering.'
Dr Serukeran said there are various treatments for acne, depending on how severe it is.
For mild acne, a doctor may recommend treatment with a non-prescription medication that contains benzoyl peroxide.
'It will reduce the inflammation and dry up the spots,' he said.
'You can also use topical antibiotics which can be prescribed by your GP.
'The problem is, for some people with particularly bad acne, topical treatment isn't enough and they need an antibiotic.
'With these, you are often taking them for four months to get the response that's required which is why people sometimes give up but they shouldn't. They don't just beat the infection but are anti-inflammatory as well.'
If these treatments don't work, the final referral is likely to be a dermatologist at a hospital, who are able to prescribe more powerful drugs to suppress oil production.
'The majority of patients will be in their teens but I have seen children as young as eight and nine that can have acne,' said Dr Seukeran.
'There's also late onset acne in people aged over 25 who get it for the first time. They are often the patients that require specialist intervention.
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