The odor of wet dog after showering is unappealing, and the smell can be a sign that your skin isn’t properly cared for. When asked why they smell like wet dogs after taking a bath, many people say their soap is too harsh, but they could be doing it wrong. Natural antibacterial soap is gentle enough to wash off dirt and oil while still being effective at fighting bacteria. This article explains the reason why you smell like a wet dog after taking your shower and ways to get rid of the dog smell.
Why Do I Smell Like a Wet Dog After My Shower?
The natural scent of hair comes from sebaceous glands. The sebum makes its way onto the visible hair shaft and down the length of the hair as you brush it, which is why you smell like a wet dog when you shower.
The stench of a wet dog might be heightened by hot water. The problem with hot water is that it removes oil from your scalp and causes your sebaceous glands to overwork. When this occurs, your scalp gets extremely greasy, and a terrible smell follows.
A healthy scalp will smell pleasant, almost sweet. But if you don’t clean your hair regularly, the sebum will build up and create an unpleasant odor. Wet dog smell happens when the natural oils in your hair are washed away by water and detergents. So if you want to avoid that stinky smell, make sure to shampoo regularly.
Let’s take a look at 5 reasons why you might likely smell like a wet dog after taking your bathe.
5 Possible Reasons Why You Smell Like Dog After Taking A Shower
1. You Have Untreated Dandruff
If you’re noticing a bad smell coming from your hair, the most likely cause is untreated dandruff. The smell may be caused by a build-up of sweat, dead skin cells, and bacteria on the scalp. This can occur when the scalp’s natural oils mix with sweat and sebum (the oily secretion of the sebaceous gland).
The cause is unknown; doctors do not know what causes this smell. However, it is more common in people who have oily scalps or suffer from dandruff. Smelly hair can be caused by the oils in your scalp picking up other smells. If you’re prone to sweating, then that might be a contributing factor for your smelly hair.
Antibacterial liquid body wash and sulfur-containing soaps are recommended solutions for smelly hair. If it’s caused by bacteria or fungi, an antibacterial agent can prevent the growth of those organisms. Sulfur reduces scalp oiliness and prevents the “food” that would otherwise support bacterial or fungal growth.
The most obvious and troubling reason is that your house smells like a dog. And we all know how unpleasant that can be! Your shower or tub may not be able to handle the amount of water you’re using, causing it to overflow, which could have caused this issue.
You might have used too much body soap or shampoo, as these products can cause an unpleasant odor in the air afterwards. In fact, some people are so sensitive to the smell that they avoid using these products altogether.
Too many people share bathrooms at work and school with no ventilation; they could be sharing germs with you that made you smell like a dog afterwards. To avoid this, make sure you’re taking precautions like showering immediately after working out and keeping your distance from others when you’re sick.
2. You Probably Sweat A lot
It is possible that you have a medical condition such as hyperhidrosis. It is also possible that your body produces excessive amounts of sweat, which in turn makes the skin cells produce more odor-causing chemicals. This could make you smell like a wet dog after a shower.
All people sweat, so no one will notice unless there’s something unusual about the smell. Stress sweat smells different than usual sweat. Stress sweat comes from the apocrine gland, which is found in areas like the armpits and groin. The cause of stress sweat is due to a combination of human and biological factors, such as hormone or emotional stress. Showering can cause your body to produce sweat that smells bad. Dealing with constant sweating is not healthy for the body. ZeroSweat Antiperspirant is a hypoallergenic product that prevents bacterial proliferation and eliminates unpleasant aromas from perspiration
3. Mold Growth In Your House
Mold growth in your house is a common reason why you may smell like a wet dog after taking a shower. Mold spores can grow on the surfaces of moist areas and when they are disturbed, they can release a musty odor.
Mold can grow almost anywhere there is moisture and organic material. It is important to keep your house well-ventilated and dry in order to discourage mold growth.
4. Hot Water
You may have noticed that when you take a hot shower, your skin feels tight. The reason for this is that the heat in the water causes blood vessels to shrink and close off. This causes the moisture in your skin to dry up, which leads to a more intense dog smell.
Washing your hair with hot water can lead to dryness, breakage, and brittle hair. Using only lukewarm or normal water will get rid of the bad smell.
5. Hormonal Imbalance
It’s no secret that our hormones can have a significant impact on our everyday lives. For women, this is especially true when it comes to things like body odor. Many women report that their smell changes during ovulation, for example, or when they’re pregnant or menstruating.
However, it’s also possible for men to experience hormonal fluctuations that change their body odor. If you’re experiencing any strange smells along with other symptoms like burning pain when urinating, then you should schedule a visit with your doctor.
How To Get Rid of Wet Dog Smell After A Bath
Use The Right Soap When Showering
When showering, it’s important to use the right soap. Sulfate-free shampoos are a must for the scalp, as they won’t leave buildup as a regular shampoo would. Look for products that say “antibacterial” on the packaging to get rid of smells and bad bacteria in general.
Use Essential Oils
There are many ways to get rid of wet dog smell after a bath. You can use essential oils, organic European duvet covers and sheets, or spray-on pet odor neutralizers. Essential oils are a great way to get rid of smells because they are natural and effective. Organic European duvet covers and sheets are perfect for this because they help reduce pet odors in the bedroom. Spray-on pet odor neutralizers also work well to eliminate smells.
Use Clarifying Shampoo When Bathing
Adding a clarifying shampoo and clarifying rinse to your bathing routine will help remove any unwanted wet dog smells. A charcoal hair mask or DIY scrub with sugar can also be effective in cleaning the scalp and removing bad smells. Be sure to use sulfate-free cleansers if they are to avoid stripping natural oils from your hair follicles, leaving you with dry, brittle strands.
Treat Dandruff
Dandruff is a common scalp condition that causes flakes of skin to appear on the hair and scalp. It is not contagious and can be treated with over-the-counter or prescription shampoos.
The underlying cause of dandruff must be diagnosed by a medical professional. Personal hygiene, like daily baths or showers with antibacterial soap, can help prevent unpleasant body odor.
Shaving the underarms helps reduce sweat and stops bacteria from interacting with it to produce body smell. Regularly wash your clothing to avoid bacteria and reduce the smell.
Wear loose-fitting cotton clothing that allows your skin to breathe so it doesn’t reek of sweat. Use antiperspirant, which helps stop sweating by pulling moisture back into the glands instead of out onto the surface of the body
Dry Your Hair Thoroughly After Shower
Drying your hair thoroughly after showering is important to keep your hair looking and feeling its best. One way to achieve this is by using The Absorber towel, which helps absorb water quickly and prevent the growth of bacteria.
Excess hair products can make your dog’s fur smell bad, similar to oily skin. If you use these products regularly, it may be necessary to shampoo your dog more often.
Wet dog smell is an issue that occurs after bacteria (or fungus) becomes present on the scalp. It is important to dry the scalp completely after bathing in order to remove all of the moisture. This will help reduce the amount of bacteria or fungus on the head and minimize wet dog smell.
Antibiotics cannot cure wet dog smell on the scalp but can treat and/or cure infections on other body parts such as ears, skin, and paws. Wet dog smell occurs when hair acts as a reservoir for bacteria or fungus; therefore, it is important to keep the hair clean and free from debris buildup.
Sulfur-based shampoos are effective at removing bacteria and other organisms from hair; they are also affordable and easy to find at most stores. A sulfur-containing shampoo can help remove the smell of your dog in your hair.
The way to stop a wet dog smell is by using bleach-containing shampoo. If the bacteria or fungus are not eliminated, then the wet dog smell will continue.
How To Prevent Wet Dog Smells When Shower In the Future
1. Do Not Use Toilet Soap To Bathe
It is important to use the right kind of soap when bathing. Soap that is meant for toilets should not be used to bathe. It can cause skin irritation and dryness. The best way to avoid wet dog smell is by using antibacterial soap, benzoyl peroxide, or other treatments as prescribed by a doctor.
2. Try To Wash Your Hair Regularly
Wet dog smells are caused by a skin bacteria called Brevibacterium. The smell is worse when the person has not bathed in several days, and it can happen to anyone. The bacteria is transferred to people’s skin when they come into contact with an animal, especially dogs.
To prevent wet dog smells in the future, try washing your hair regularly and avoid touching animals.
3. Always Cover Your Hair Outside
When one steps out of the shower and into a hot humid room, bacteria in your hair can react with sweat to create unpleasant odors. To prevent this, simply towel dry and cover your hair before stepping out of the shower.
