Among the barrage of drug ads for cancer, diabetes, weight loss and more are those for Lume, a "doctor-developed whole body deodorant."
Lume (pronounced loom-ay) comes as a cream, lotion, stick, wipe, wash, and cleansing bar, to be smeared, rubbed, or wiped anywhere on the human epidermis. Invented to obliterate the distinctive odor of a human female's private parts, Lume has since broadened into a "whole body deodorant." For everyone.
Whatever the formulation, Lume lowers the skin's pH (making it more acidic), which kills the bacteria behind the stink. The products infiltrate the many folds and crevices of a vast human skinscape.
A Compelling Need
I was delighted to discover that the inspiration for Lume is a rare, recessive genetic disease, trimethylaminuria (TMAU), aka "fish odor syndrome."
To continue reading, go to DNA Science, where this post was first published.