Why soaping up every day didn’t help... Baek Ji-yeon: “To get rid of old-age odor, you need to wash ‘here’” [Health Talk]

[Financial News] Many middle-aged and older adults worry about a musty smell they have never noticed before lingering on their pillows or shirt collars as they age. Broadcaster Baek Ji-yeon recently spoke about the importance of managing body odor after age 40, drawing attention to the medical causes of and ways to manage changes in body odor among middle-aged and older adults, often referred to as “old-age odor.”
On her YouTube channel “Jigeum Baek Ji-yeon,” Baek Ji-yeon said, “No matter how stylishly you dress, it’s no use if you have an unpleasant odor. Managing odor is one of the most important aspects of personal care,” adding, “I hear that after age 40, the skin secretes a particular substance. Along with maintaining cleanliness, it’s essential to care for bedding and clothing that come into contact with the body.”

According to the medical community, changes in body odor that appear around age 40 are not simply caused by failing to wash frequently. The main cause is a natural chemical and metabolic change that occurs as the body ages.
The most well-known substance responsible is “2-nonenaldehyde (2-Nonenal).” From around age 40, unsaturated fatty acids in sebum oxidize into lipid peroxides at a faster rate, while the body’s antioxidant functions and metabolic capacity—which break down and eliminate harmful substances from the skin and body—gradually decline. In this process, waste from the sebaceous glands and sweat combine with oxygen in the air and oxidize, producing a distinctive rancid odor, like greasy, stale smells or musty, mold-like odors.
Especially during the transition into menopause, hormonal imbalances disrupt the balance of sebum production, and the skin’s dead-cell renewal cycle lengthens. As a result, oxidized dead skin and sebum remain on the skin longer, intensifying the odor.

The problem is that nonenaldehyde, the main culprit behind the odor, is a fat-soluble substance that does not dissolve easily in water. Because it clings deep inside the skin’s pores, a quick shower that simply pours water over the body is not enough to wash it away easily. That is why experts agree that the areas cleansed and the bathing methods used need to be tailored to effectively reduce body odor.
First, focus on areas where sebaceous glands are concentrated. The glands that cause odor are not evenly distributed across the body; they cluster in specific areas. It is especially important to take care when washing areas with active sebum production, such as behind the ears, the nape of the neck, the collarbones, the center of the chest and the armpits. The area behind the ears is considered the source where distinctive body odor is strongest, as sebaceous glands and lymph glands are clustered there. When showering, therefore, lather up plenty of soap or body wash and scrub these areas clean.
In addition to regular showers, periodic bathing can also help considerably. Once or twice a week, soaking in warm water in a tub for a full-body bath or taking a foot bath opens closed pores, allowing hardened oxidized sebum, dead skin and waste products to be expelled more easily.
It is also important not to neglect bad breath, which tends to worsen with age. As aging progresses, the salivary glands produce less saliva, making the mouth more prone to dryness—a decisive factor in worsening breath odor. As Baek Ji-yeon has said she chews sugar-free gum during public appearances, regularly drinking water to moisten the mouth and naturally stimulating saliva production by chewing gum or brushing thoroughly are effective ways to prevent bad breath.

Avoid indiscriminately spraying strong perfume on your body to cover up body odor. If the smell of sweat and oxidized sebum mixes with the artificial scent of perfume, it can create an even more unpleasant, nauseating odor. As Baek advised, rather than spraying perfume directly on the upper body or the skin at the nape of the neck, it is more effective to lightly spray it on lower garments—such as the inside hems of pants or skirts—or around shoes, so the scent wafts gently upward from below.
Caring for clothing and bedding that come into direct contact with the body is also key. Nonenal transferred from the skin seeps deep into fabric fibers and continues to emit an odor over time.
Wash pillowcases, underwear and shirts in warm water at least once or twice a week. Adding a small amount of vinegar or baking soda to the final rinse can help neutralize oxidized sebum in the fabric. Hanging items in the sun for UV disinfection and drying is also highly effective at removing lingering odors.

Dietary changes are also needed to bring about fundamental improvements in the body. Excessive consumption of animal fats (the fat in meat) and fried foods increases oxidative stress in the body and sebum production, making body odor stronger. Alcohol and smoking are also major culprits that promote aldehyde production.
By contrast, regularly eating vegetables rich in antioxidants such as vitamin C, vitamin E and polyphenols—including broccoli and spinach—as well as tomatoes, berries and green tea can help remove reactive oxygen species from the body and inhibit sebum oxidation. Drinking enough water—around 1.5–2 L a day—to promote the elimination of waste products from the body is also a basic step in improving body odor.

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