BETADINE® Health Answers

The sun hits differently nowadays: as soon as the skies clear up, the temperature also rises. And when it's hot out, there's sure to be sweat right after.

While sweating is your body's way of cooling itself, it sometimes leads to a confidence-crushing problem: body odor (B.O.). 

So if you've ever been conscious about how you smell, it might be time to go beyond quick fixes and explore definitive solutions — like using an antiseptic skin cleanser.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Body odor is caused by the interaction of sweat and skin bacteria.

• When using an antiseptic skin cleanser on the affected areas, it serves as a skin disinfectant that manages bacterial overgrowth to combat the smell.

What Causes Body Odor?

If you want to reduce unpleasant body odor, it’s important to understand its root cause. Contrary to popular belief, sweat is actually odorless.

The smell begins when sweat mixes with the natural bacteria on your skin, which eat up the components in the sweat and release compounds commonly associated with bad B.O.^1-2,4-5

Areas like the armpits are the perfect habitat for these odor-causing microbes as they’re warm, moist, and have numerous hair follicles where bacteria can cling. 

Simply using deodorant may not be enough, as this may not be sufficient in killing odor-causing bacteria.^{1, 4, 5}

That’s why a thorough, anti-bacterial approach helps provide a more long-term solution and leads to improved hygiene.

How to Get Rid of Body Odor

A proven way to deal with body odor is to address the source: bacteria. While deodorants offer odor absorbers and odor-masking agents, a thorough bathing routine with the inclusion and use of an antiseptic cleanser is key.

Antiseptics — also known as antimicrobials — are chemical agents that reduce germs and the risk of infection when applied to the skin. When you use an antiseptic skin cleanser to wash the areas where body odor is the strongest, it kills the responsible bacteria.^{3, 6, 7}

What Antiseptic Helps Address Body Odor?

In a laboratory study by Tan et al, researchers tested different types of antiseptics — from chlorhexidine gluconate to alcohol (70% ethanol) — for their antimicrobial activity in different scenarios, from skin cleansing to oral use.³ 

They learned that while other antiseptics lost their effectiveness at a certain concentration, povidone iodine was one agent that could kill various bacteria and fungi, regardless of whether it had a high or low concentration.³

Using a povidone iodine skin cleanser, then, helps target a wide array of microbes that regular cleansers and soaps cannot.⁷ 

One such cleanser is the POVIDONE-IODINE (BETADINE®) Skin Cleanser. Here are some of its key benefits:  

• Targeting the Root Cause: Unlike perfume-based deodorants that mask body odor and may not target the bacterial root cause, this povidone iodine antiseptic cleanser kills 99.99% of odor-causing bacteria (based on in-vitro data of tested germs).

• Total Body Use: It can be used beyond the armpits, helping to cleanse other areas prone to sweat and odor.

• Deep Cleansing: It is an antiseptic skin cleanser that washes away bacterial overgrowth.

An Easy Way to Help Keep Your Armpits Smelling Fresh

Between hot sunny days and constant downpours, it’s becoming harder to tell when B.O. could strike again. Sticking to a cleanser that doesn’t just get you clean, but also protects you from disease-causing germs then becomes a game changer.

You can level up your hygiene (vs washing with regular soap) by using POVIDONE-IODINE (BETADINE®) Skin Cleanser to remove offensive odor of the underarms, feet, and body. Here’s the best way to use it:

1. Cleanse First: Before applying any deodorant or antiperspirant, thoroughly wash your body, paying special attention to areas like the armpits, and feet, using the POVIDONE-IODINE (BETADINE®) Skin Cleanser.

2. Lather and Wait: Let it lather on wet skin and allow it to stay on for about one to three minutes before rinsing. This contact time allows the povidone iodine antiseptic to work its powers.

3. Rinse Off and Dry Completely: After rinsing off the cleanser thoroughly, ensure your skin is completely dry before getting dressed, as moisture encourages bacterial growth.

^{Not recommended for continuous daily use throughout the year. If symptoms persist, consult your doctor. ASC I0013P010926B}

1. DrKaran.Doctor Explains How To Stop Body Odour!. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/shorts/r1S5SXvCggs. Published May 26, 2024. Accessed October 22, 2025.

2. Doctorly. DERMATOLOGISTS ELIMINATE BODY ODOR [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Ap-YO55VvUM. Published February 11, 2024. Accessed October 22, 2025.

3. Tan et al. Comparative in vitro evaluation of the antimicrobial activities of povidone-iodine and other commercially available antiseptics against clinically relevant pathogens. GMS Hyg Infect Control. 2021;16:Doc05. doi:10.3205/dgkh000376.

4. Felman, Adam. "Body Odor: Causes, Prevention, and Treatments." Medical News Today, MediLexicon International, www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/173478. Accessed 11 Dec. 2025.

5. Khanna, Kanika. "Microbial Origins of Body Odor." ASM.Org, American Society of Microbiology, 30 Dec. 2021, asm.org/articles/2021/december/microbial-origins-of-body-odor. Accessed 11 Dec. 2025.

6. Ripa, S., et al. "Clinical applications of Povidone-Iodine as a topical antimicrobial." Handbook of Topical Antimicrobials Industrial Applications. Industrial applications in consumer products and Pharmaceuticals, CRC Press, 2002, Print ISBN: 978-0-8247-0788-0.

7. Eggers M, Koburger-Janssen T, Ward LS, Newby C, Müller S. Bactericidal and Virucidal Activity of Povidone-Iodine and Chlorhexidine Gluconate Cleansers in an In Vivo Hand Hygiene Clinical Simulation Study. Infect Dis Ther. 2018;7(2):237-251. doi:10.1007/s40121-018-0205-1.

8. Image source: Shutterstock