Does Your Penis Smell?

Eliminate the odors lurking down below — for your partner's sake

Your groin is the perfect incubator for unpleasant smells: It’s hot, humid, and tucked beneath layers of stink-trapping clothing. 

“Sweat and moisture mix with the natural bacteria on your skin to cause body odor,” explains Kelley Pagliai Redbord, M.D., a dermatologist at George Washington University. Specifically, your groin contains a number of apocrine glands that release secretions which, when mixed with sweat, can lead to some alarming scents, she adds.

Even if you’ve never caught a whiff of something nasty—or heard complaints from female companions—chances are good there are unsightly smells lurking underneath your underwear. Along with turning her off from oral sex, one smelly encounter could earn you a bad reputation with your partner and her pals. 

Here, Redbord and other experts offer tips to remove and prevent those unwanted aromas: 

Consider a new haircut. Pubic hair traps dampness and odors, and also makes it difficult for the underlying skin to stay cool and dry, Redbord says. You don’t have to shave yourself bare. But pruning your hedges with a beard trimmer can help keep gross odors at bay, she says. 

Wash like you mean it. You’ve already lost the war if you fail to clean out the bad-smelling gunk that accumulates in the many folds and clefts that comprise your groin area, says Tobias Köhler, M.D., a urologist at Southern Illinois University. He says elbow grease and attention to detail are the most important parts of washing. “Don’t just wipe some soap on the area,” he warns. “Use some pressure and get into all those crevices.” An antibacterial soap could also help if all else fails, Redbord says. And if you're uncircumcised, be sure to clean below your foreskin, she stresses. 

Dry out. “Reduce moisture, and you’ll reduce body odor,” Redbord promises. To do that, she says it’s necessary to fully dry out your junk before dressing—especially during the summer when you’re hot all the time. “Consider using a blow dryer to get the area completely dry,” she suggests. (Now you’ll get to be that guy at the gym.) Damp towels or washcloths also accumulate bacteria, so they could contribute to your problem, Redbord adds. Make sure you’re using clean, dry linens every time you step out of the shower. 

Put on the finishing touches. Cotton is breathable, and so sporting cotton briefs and clothing can help keep your package stink-free, Redbord says. In the middle of the summer when the temps and humidity skyrocket, a swipe of underarm deodorant on the underside of your scrotum can also help target the area of your worst odor, she adds.

Source : MensHealth