It's officially not weird to check out your own butthole. In fact,
doctors recommend it as a way to get to know more about one of your
most intimate body parts. But if a new level of familiarity has left
you uncomfortably acquainted with the way your anus smells, you might
be having a few less-than-pleasant thoughts. Fear not—if you're
wondering, why does my butt smell, and how do I stop my bum from
smelling, an anal surgeon can explain everything you need to know.
Here's a fun fact: Evan Goldstein, DO, anal surgeon and founder of
Future Method, explains that as far as odors go, your anus smell is
similar to your armpit. "They're both hard-to-reach areas, there's not
a lot of air, there's hair, and there's moisture," he says. "So all of
those things combined with sweat glands in the area can affect the
smell." Body parts that aren't exposed to air are more likely to have
a scent (if you think about the B.O. hot spots on your body, they all
have that in common), and it just so happens that both the armpit and
butt area are hotspots for pheromones, your body's natural scent.
Of course, there's one big factor that makes the anus smell different
than an armpit: Poop comes out of it. "When you think about smell
[from the butt], everyone's minds go right to poop," says Dr.
Goldstein. So it's understandable (though unnecessary) if you're
feeling a bit squeamish while asking, How do I stop my bum from
smelling? If it's a hygiene issue that you're worried about, Dr.
Goldstein recommends either using a bidet or taking a shower post-poop
to maintain the freshest scent and best overall butt health.
If you want to use those showers for the sake of an exceptional
smelling derriere, consider opting for a body or butt scrub to slough
off dead skin cell buildup and debris—but be careful with any other
products you apply to the area in the name of eliminating anal smell.
"A lot of people augment smell with different oils or lotions, and I
am all for that," says Dr. Goldstein. He's a huge proponent of a
nighttime shower combined with regular use of a gentle exfoliant. "The
purpose of a body scrub is to create a really good environment for
healthy tissue, but also for a really good lingering smell."
Outside of the shower (read: on the day-to-day), you'll want to be
sure to keep the area as dry as possible, which is where your
underwear choice comes into play. "Moisture can be trapped if you're
wearing older underwear," says Dr. Goldstein, who stresses that
aeration is key for a better smelling anal area. "The purpose of many
of the newer pairs of underwear is aeration, which allows things to
dry— especially if you're sweating," he says. Dryness is important
because moisture can lead to a buildup of bacteria or fungus... which
will not smell great. Change your breathable underwear frequently,
especially post-gym. Or better yet—consider going commando. "Some
people don't wear underwear at all, and the aeration is better,
especially during summer months where there's so much moisture in that
area that this smell may dissipate."
And, while this might sound like a given, it's perfectly reasonable to
evaluate your hygiene habits to make sure you're cleaning yourself
correctly. For instance, you should wipe front to back using several
wads of toilet paper if necessary, but resist the urge to use wet
wipes, Dr. Goldstein previously told Well+Good. "People tend to use
wet wipes and then pull up their pants, so what happens is that the
moisture sits there," said Dr. Goldstein. "The moisture just festers,
and it causes a change in bacteria and leads to irritation." This is
basically the opposite of what you're after.
And, if you're noticing a sudden change in how your bum smells—if
there's a fishy or foul-smelling order accompanied by discharge—or if
you're dealing with other issues like pain, fever, and
gastrointestinal issues, you might need to chat with a doctor to rule
out hemorrhoids, inflammatory bowel disease, or other health
conditions.
Never even considered how your butt smells? Fair. Butts aren't
supposed to smell like daisies, and doing nothing for the sake of
bettering your anal smell is a-okay too. "There are so many different
camps of people," says Dr. Goldstein. "Some people don't use
deodorant, and they love their natural scent. A lot of people like to
be able to smell their partner and understand their natural smell." In
other words: To each their own.
https://www.wellandgood.com/why-anus-smells/