As we get older, the passing of the years begins to show on our bodies.. Start with loose gray haira small crow’s foot, a creaking sound in the knee every time we bend over… No one can beat time, and ailments become more and more noticeable as we approach the so-called “third age”.
Young, adult and elderly people are condemned to never being able to possess more than two of the three elements of the “vital triad”: time-money-health. Each stage of earthly existence has its advantages and disadvantages, and For some people it is always difficult to accept that they are leaving a phase behind. and gradually moving into the next one.
If not, see the “Peter Pan complex”, the famous “midlife crisis” or the refusal of some “millennials” to accept that they are almost as far away from Lamine Yamal as they are from Luis de la Fuente, for example. And it is no longer just because of the wrinkles, skin spots or that we lose some mental acuity as we age, Another thing that people who are getting older notice is the dreaded “old age smell”.
It is actually a completely natural occurrence and there is nothing wrong with it, but For those who have a complex about aging, here we bring you an explanation of this phenomenon and some tips to hide it.But it is not advisable to obsess: Most elderly people have learned to accept themselves And, since they no longer care as much about the opinions of others, they live much more freely and happily.
The scientific explanation behind the ‘old man smell’
Indeed, this kind of aroma is a real thing, but It has nothing to do with poor hygiene or illness.. It has a direct connection with the natural chemistry of the human body and hormonal changes.
Although the changes that lead a person to generate this kind of odors are more noticeable after the age of 60they really began to develop in the 1930s in the majority of the population.
As we get older, our bodies stop producing as many antioxidants, while producing more lipids. (fats) in the skin. This is an irreversible and inevitable process, which will increase over the years.
The skin then slowly breaks down, and accumulates more fatty acids that are very complex to eliminate.Therefore, it is important to maintain good skin health and a balanced diet in the years before old age to alleviate this effect.
The molecule of aging
The origin of the odor that we produce as we age has been identified by science, and is almost entirely due to a specific hormone, the molecule 2-noneal.
This substance begins to be produced naturally by human skin when it oxidizes.and is responsible for generating a strong and unpleasant aroma. As we have already mentioned before, from about the age of 30 we all generate this type of compound, but The skin of the elderly produces it in a much more exaggerated quantity compared to that of young people..
However, old age is not the only factor that favors the presence of the 2-noneal molecule, It also occurs to a greater extent in diabetic people, with certain levels of obesity or in nursing mothers..
How to avoid the smell of old age
The tips we will give below not only serve to reduce this type of odor, but also almost all aromas produced by skin and sweat.
- Shaving your armpits and bikini lineThese are areas where the greatest amount of sweat is produced and, in this way, we make it evaporate faster.
- Surgery. Certain types of surgical procedures may remove sweat glands from specific areas of the skin to prevent them from producing sweat, but this practice impairs the body’s thermal regulation.
- Reduce foods rich in sulfurThese contribute to the skin generating bad odors, such as cabbage, broccoli, onions, raspberries…
- Using several changes in the same dayAlthough it may be uncomfortable, this prevents sweat from accumulating on your clothes, especially in summer.