Sweat is usually odorless, but bacteria, hormones, certain foods, and some conditions can make it smell bad. Smelling vinegar in your sweat may indicate a medical cause, like diabetes or kidney disease.
Sweating, or perspiration, is one of the body’s cooling mechanisms released through sweat glands in the skin. Sweating is normal. However, having a strong body odor related to sweat, known as bromhidrosis, can affect your self-esteem and social life.
There are two types of sweat glands: apocrine (found in hairy areas like armpits and groin) and eccrine (found throughout the rest of the body).
Sweat is mostly water but contains salts, sugars, urea, and ammonia. Changes in sweat content can cause odor to vary.
While pure sweat is odorless, bacteria on the skin or other factors can make it smell unpleasant. A vinegar-like scent could be a sign of an underlying health condition, such as diabetes or kidney disease.
Read on to learn more about 10 possible causes of sweat that smells like vinegar and what you can do to treat and prevent the underlying causes.
Your sweat smelling like vinegar might mean many different things. It’s also important to remember that everyone might perceive odor differently.
The vinegar smell you detect in your sweat may not even register with others. It may not smell like vinegar but something else entirely — maybe even something pleasant.
Research suggests this variation may be explained by
This article includes possible causes that may cause a vinegar-like odor to your sweat or one that closely resembles it.
Foods such as meat can change the way your sweat smells. Dairy products, including milk and cheese, may do the same thing.
In general, foods containing
For example, the way the body breaks down substances like garlic, onion, cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, and some fruit can leave compounds in your sweat, giving it a distinct odor.
When you’re stressed, the
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Researchers believe this distinctive smell might have evolved to help individuals in stressful situations become more alert to potential threats in their surroundings.
Fluctuations in hormone levels can cause odor changes that manifest in sweat.
This is true for
If your body and especially your feet sweat excessively, especially in conditions that shouldn’t trigger a lot of perspiration, like quietly relaxing in cool weather, you may have hyperhidrosis.
It’s a treatable medical disorder that sometimes accompanies menopause and thyroid disease but may exist on its own. The abnormal amount of sweat produced
When diabetes isn’t properly managed, more glucose remains in the bloodstream rather than in cells where it can be used for energy.
Instead of glucose, the body burns fat for energy, releasing metabolites, such as acetone, into sweat and your breath. Acetone odor is
Your body’s smell can be influenced by your kidneys’ health. These organs filter out waste products, like urea, but if they’re not working correctly, the urea can build up in your blood. This is called uremia and is a sign of kidney failure.
Sometimes, extra urea may exit your body through sweat, which could cause an ammonia-like body odor, which may be similar to the smell of vinegar in some cases.
Research has shown that the kidneys can be easily damaged during heat stress, especially when combined with dehydration and physical activity. This can lead to acute kidney injury (AKI), which can develop over time with age. However, kidney disease can also develop for various other reasons.
Certain conditions that bring on the vinegar sweats are treatable. The following are medical treatment options. Ask your doctor whether any of these might be the right fit for you based on your health history and the degree to which the order is disruptive to your day-to-day life.
- Antibiotics: When a bacterial infection is causing a change in your sweat smell, antibiotics may be enough to fight the infection and restore your usual body chemistry.
- Prescription antiperspirants and creams: If you’ve been diagnosed with hyperhidrosis, prescription-strength topical treatments may help.
- Botox: Injections of botulinum toxin A (Botox) in the armpits can block nerve signals to your sweat glands, limiting their sweat production.
Microwave thermolysis : This can target and destroy the sweat glands in the armpits to reduce excessive sweating without affecting the body’s natural cooling system.
Learn more: What causes body odor and how can I treat it?
Home remedies
In many cases, some simple things you can do at home can help reduce the unpleasant odor:
- Bathe regularly: Bathing daily (or more often if necessary) with antibacterial soap may help reduce levels of bacteria on your skin that are reacting to sweat.
- Wear deodorant or antiperspirant: Using over-the-counter products might be sufficient. Just note that deodorant and antiperspirant are often discussed interchangeably, but they are very different products. You may need to experiment with different products to find the ones that work best with your body chemistry.
- Change your clothes: Sweat and the smell that goes with it can linger on clothes long after you’ve stopped perspiring. If possible, have a change of clothes handy, especially shirts and tops, to change into as needed.
- Change your diet: If you notice that certain foods trigger a vinegar-type smell in your sweat, consider avoiding them or eating them in smaller amounts.
- Drink more water: The more water you drink, the more diluted your sweat becomes. This helps reduce the intensity of whatever may be causing your sweat to smell like vinegar or ammonia.
- Choose the right clothes: Natural fabrics, such as cotton, allow your skin to breathe and can help keep your body cooler. For exercise clothes, fabrics that wick moisture from the skin may help, too.
- Relax: Because stress is a common trigger for sweat, learn practices such as meditation, yoga, and deep breathing to help you relax. Managing your stress means having more control over perspiration.
If the smell is bothersome and changes to your personal hygiene routine are not reducing it, talk with your doctor.
It’s especially important if you notice these other symptoms, which may indicate a serious medical condition:
- changes in the smell of urine, which could indicate diabetes or kidney problems
- pus, blisters, or other changes on your skin, which could indicate a skin infection
- sudden weight loss or gain, which could suggest conditions ranging from diabetes to cancer
Why is my sweat so acidic?
Having acidic-smelling sweat can be caused by acidosis, which is when your body has an excess buildup of acid from your diet, an inability to break down acids, or it can be caused by excessive exercise.
Can thyroid problems cause smelly armpits?
Hyperhidrosis can cause a change in the smell of sweat, and this is often caused by an overactive thyroid gland.
While no one wants sweat that smells like vinegar, know that if you pick up that scent from your own sweat, it’s probably caused by lifestyle choices that can be changed or conditions that can be treated.
Keep in mind that if home remedies don’t affect your sweat odor, your next step is to talk with your healthcare professional to see what tests can be done to determine the cause and start treatment.
