Dr. Manjeet Arora

Penis Odor: Attacking Off-Site Causes

Whoa! When pungent and persistent penis odor strikes, it means a guy can count on embarrassment. Whether it's from the distasteful wrinkled nose on his hoped-for bedmate as he removes his trousers or the way in which all the guys move across the locker room when he strips down for the shower, it's sure to leave him feeling self-conscious. Good and proper penis care is one of the best ways to fight penis odor. But sometimes contributing "off-site" factors - that is, causes that may not be directly related to the penis itself - may be at play.

When that's the case, a guy needs to identify those off-site causes and take steps to address them. They may not be the sole cause of the penis odor, but fixing them can help.

Mattresses

Sometimes the state of a guy's mattress can worsen a penis odor situation. This is especially true for guys living in college dorms or in pre-furnished apartments. There often is no way of knowing just how old their mattress is, what kind of hygienic state previous owners enjoyed, or what kind of action and activity this mattress saw - let alone when was the last time it was cleaned.

But whether it is a guy's own mattress or one which has seen many owners, if it's rank with stank, it needs attention. After all, the penis spends a lot of time every night in contact with that bed - especially if a guy sleeps nude - and that odor can rub off on the member.

Start with the sheets, of course. Be sure they are cleaned and changed regularly. If sheets are too far gone, replace them with new ones if possible. If the mattress itself reeks, air it out for as long as possible - preferably outdoors in sunshine. Sprinkle it liberally with baking soda, and if possible, cover it with a mattress cover.

Clothes

Yes, it's fun (and easy) to wear the same pants a few days in a row - and if really desperate, the same pair of underwear as was worn yesterday. But regularly cleaning clothes can really help dampen penis odor. If odors seem stubborn after washing, try hanging the clothes on a clothesline in the sunshine; airing them out in this way may get rid of some of the stubborn odor. Otherwise, the odor that clings to the clothes will also cling to the penis.

Diet

We are what we eat, as the saying goes. What goes into the body has an influence on what comes out of the body - including sweat. So if a guy's regular diet contains a lot of foods with a strong odor, so may his sweat - and so may his penis, which picks up sweat throughout the day. Everybody's body metabolizes in a different way, so it's hard to know which foods can produce an especially strong sweat in any person. But in general, foods with a strong smell themselves, such as garlic, onions and asparagus, tend to produce odiferous sweat situations.

Other people

One of the more enjoyable off-site causes of penis odor comes from having sex with another person. If the vagina into which the penis is inserted has an especially strong aroma, it's likely to attach itself to the penis as well. Using condoms and washing soon after sex can do a lot to fix this issue.

Penis odor, whether due to "off-site" sources or poor penis care, is more easily addressed if a person regularly uses a superior penis health crème (health professionals recommend Man 1 Man Oil, which is clinically proven mild and safe for skin). The selected crème should definitely include vitamin A, which is blessed with anti-bacterial properties that help fight penis odor. But it should also contain a powerful antioxidant, something like alpha lipoic acid. By strengthening the penis skin, alpha lipoic acid can help make it more resistant to lingering odors.