Old Man Odor: Causes, Tea Remedy & 5 Doctor Tips

Is the old smell inevitable due to aging? Some doctors pointed out that after reaching the age of 40, the body will easily develop a smell commonly known as “old man’s smell“. This smell does not occur in every elderly person, and drinking a kind of tea can reduce this smell. Doctors teach 5 methods to help reduce the impact of this smell.

After the age of 40, it is easy to have an “old age”

Family medicine doctor Li Sixian shared on his Facebook page that some people have a so-called “old man’s smell”, which is technically called “2-Nonenal”. It smells a bit like greasy smell, but this phenomenon is not common to all elderly people, but only to some specific individuals.

Causes of “old person smell”

The “old man’s smell” is mainly caused by the “Omega-7 oil” secreted by the skin. When these oils oxidize, 2-nonenal is formed. The skin naturally secretes oil to protect itself from external damage. Usually, antioxidants appear during the oxidation process of these oils to resist oxidative reactions and maintain balance. However, as we age, the secretion of antioxidants decreases and the composition of sebum changes, and around the age of 40, this odor begins to show.

Odor concentrated area

The “old man’s smell” mainly accumulates in areas where sebum is secreted more and is difficult to clean. The sebaceous glands in these areas are dense and secrete more fatty acids, so oxidation reactions are more likely to occur. like:

• scalp
• behind the ear
• armpit
• chest
• nape of neck
• back

Although “old man’s smell” will accumulate in certain parts, some people may think that it can be solved by taking more baths and using soap, but Dr. Li pointed out that the truth is not that simple. 2-Nonenal is a fat-soluble substance and cannot be completely removed by just washing with water. Even soap may not be effective enough, and over-cleansing can dry out the skin, damage the skin barrier, and cause further distress.

5 tips to reduce odor

Dr. Li pointed out that although “old man smell” is closely related to aging, there are still some methods that can help reduce the impact of this smell:

1. Supplement antioxidants:

• Regular supplements of vitamin C, vitamin D, polyphenols and lipoic acid can help reduce the oxidation of fatty acids.
• Green tea is also very effective in boosting antioxidant capacity.

2. Promote perspiration and metabolism:

• Regular exercise, steam baths or saunas can discharge old secretions from sebaceous glands and reduce the accumulation of 2-nonenal.

3. Protect skin flora:

• Don’t overuse cleaning products, and protect the skin’s flora appropriately, which is helpful for skin metabolism.

4. Consider red light therapy:

• Red light therapy may help stimulate your skin’s metabolism, and while this needs more evidence to support, it’s worth a try.

5. Use natural essential oils:

• If you still find the smell unpleasant, you can cover it with natural essential oils such as tea tree, rosemary or peppermint essential oils. These essential oils not only have a fresh aroma, but also have antibacterial and antioxidant effects.

Dr. Li reminds that the “old person smell” is not caused by poor hygiene habits, but a natural phenomenon in the aging process. We should not be biased against people who smell like this. Everyone will grow old, this is a common issue for all human beings. Rather than avoiding it, it would be wise to use science to understand and improve this phenomenon.