In this fast-paced, get-it-done-now society, it’s no wonder that stress is a huge problem. And the range of stress triggers is incredibly wide, meaning that people today can get stressed out about anything. As has been well documented, all that stress has consequences, including damaging overall health. But it’s unlikely that most men think about how stress can be a factor in a nasty penis odor. Yes, it’s true: stress can indeed be a penis health concern, especially when talking about rank penis odor.
A stressed nation
Just how prevalent is stress? According to one 2014 survey by the American Institute of Stress, 77% of people regularly experience physical symptoms that are related to stress – and 73% experience psychological symptoms because of stress. A third of the population reports that they are living at an extreme stress level, and almost half felt that their level of stress had increased over the past five years. The top five causes of stress were reported to be job pressure, money, health, relationships and poor nutrition.
Clearly, stressing out is far too common an occurrence in modern day life.
Sweat
One of the most common byproducts of stress is sweat. Sweat, of course, is a perfectly normal body function helpful in cooling the body off when temperatures are really high. But that sweat, or the sweat that comes from a good physical workout, is different from sweat caused by stress. And unfortunately, stress sweat smells worse.
Why should this be? Because there are two different types of glands that create sweat. The “good” sweat from going to the gym or walking on a hot summer day is produced by what are called eccrine glands.
But the apocrine glands, which are basically located under the arms and in the crotch, are the ones that get activated when a guys is feeling stressed. Sweat from eccrine glands is mostly water, but sweat from apocrine glands has a lot of fat, lipids and proteins in it. And those ingredients are high on the list for attracting bacteria. When the bacteria feed on them, they release ammonia and fatty acids, which have strong, unpleasant smell.
Penis odor
Since apocrine glands are located in the crotch, that means stress is going to create or add to a penis odor situation. Penis odor is also exacerbated because of the heat generated by wearing both underwear and trousers.
Stress relief
Working to reduce stress can help to reduce sweat and consequently penis odor. There are numerous stress reduction strategies available. A few examples include:
– Don’t keep feelings bottled up. It helps to “let it all out” when dealing with stress. For some people, this may mean scheduling appointments with a mental health professional; for others, regular venting time with a buddy can do wonders.
– Get physical. Often physical exertion can decrease stress. Making time to go to the gym, go out jogging or staying at home and working out in private can do wonders. And for many people, yoga in particular can be an excellent way to deal with stress.
– Find a hobby. Doing something enjoyable can take a guy’s mind off stressful situations. If a hobby is too much of a commitment, go to a movie (especially a comedy) or binge watch a favorite TV series.
– Masturbate. Yes, a guy’s favorite pastime can help reduce stress by releasing “feel good” hormones.
Sometimes just reducing stress can’t get rid of stubborn penis odor, so regular use of a top notch penis health crème (health professionals recommend Man1 Man Oil, which is clinically proven mild and safe for skin) is in order. Look for a crème with vitamin A, as this vitamin’s anti-bacterial properties are expert at fighting persistent penis odor. It also helps to find a crème with alpha lipoic acid, as this potent antioxidant can help strengthen penis skin and make it more resilient.