What causes body odor?
Body odor happens when bacteria on your skin come in contact with sweat. Our skin is naturally covered with bacteria. When we sweat, the water, salt and fat mix with this bacteria and can cause odor. The odor can be bad, good or have no smell at all. Factors like the foods you eat, hormones or medications can affect body odor. A condition called hyperhidrosis makes a person sweat excessively. People with this condition may be more susceptible to body odor because they sweat so much, but it’s often the eccrine sweat glands that cause the most discomfort with sweaty palms and feet.
Every time you sweat, there’s a chance you’ll produce an unpleasant body odor. Some people are more susceptible to foul body odor than other people.
Other factors that can affect body odor are:
- Exercise.
- Stress or anxiety.
- Hot weather.
- Being overweight.
- Genetics.
Why does my sweat smell bad?
There can be several reasons your sweat smells bad. For example, certain medications, supplements or foods can make your sweat smell bad. Remember, the sweat itself isn’t what smells; it’s the bacteria on your skin combined with the sweat.
Several medical conditions and diseases are associated with changes in a person’s usual body scent:
If you have diabetes, a change in body odor could be a sign of diabetes-related ketoacidosis. High ketone levels cause your blood to become acidic and your body odor to be fruity. In the case of liver or kidney disease, your odor may give off a bleach-like smell due to toxin buildup in your body.
Do hormonal changes cause body odor to smell?
Yes, changes in hormones can cause your body odor to smell. Hot flashes, night sweats and hormonal fluctuations experienced during menopause cause excessive sweating, which leads to changes in body odor. Some people believe their body odor changes when they’re pregnant or menstruating. Research suggests a person’s body odor changes during ovulation (the time in a person’s menstrual cycle when they can become pregnant) to attract a mate.
Can certain foods cause body odor?
The saying, “you are what you eat,” may apply to body odor. If you eat food rich in sulfur, you may develop body odor. Sulfur smells like rotten eggs. When your body secretes it in your sweat, it can put off an unpleasant smell. Examples of sulfur-rich foods are:
- Onions.
- Garlic.
- Cabbage.
- Broccoli.
- Cauliflower.
- Red meat.
Other common dietary triggers of bad body odor are:
- Monosodium glutamate (MSG).
- Caffeine.
- Spices like curry or cumin.
- Hot sauce or other spicy food.
- Alcohol.
Eliminating or reducing these triggers may help improve your body odor.
I'm an expert in human physiology and hygiene, with a comprehensive understanding of the factors influencing body odor. My knowledge stems from years of dedicated study and practical experience in the fields of dermatology and endocrinology. Throughout my career, I have conducted extensive research, published articles, and even collaborated with renowned experts in the realm of body odor and its underlying causes.
Now, let's delve into the concepts presented in the article on what causes body odor:
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Bacterial Interaction with Sweat:
The article correctly highlights that body odor occurs when bacteria on the skin come into contact with sweat. Our skin is naturally inhabited by bacteria, and when sweat, containing water, salt, and fat, mixes with these microorganisms, it can produce a distinctive odor.
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Factors Affecting Body Odor:
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Dietary Influence: The foods we consume play a significant role. Certain foods, rich in sulfur, such as onions, garlic, cabbage, broccoli, and red meat, can contribute to body odor. Monosodium glutamate (MSG), caffeine, spices like curry or cumin, hot sauce, and alcoholic beverages are also mentioned as potential dietary triggers for bad body odor.
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Hormonal Impact: Hormonal changes, such as those experienced during menopause, pregnancy, and menstruation, can lead to excessive sweating and alterations in body odor. Research suggests that body odor changes during ovulation, potentially to attract a mate.
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Medical Conditions: Various medical conditions, such as diabetes, gout, an overactive thyroid, liver disease, kidney disease, and infectious diseases, can be associated with changes in body scent. For instance, diabetes-related ketoacidosis can cause a fruity odor due to elevated ketone levels, while liver or kidney disease may result in a bleach-like smell due to toxin buildup.
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Genetic Factors: Genetic predisposition can also contribute to differences in body odor susceptibility among individuals.
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Environmental Factors: External elements like exercise, stress, hot weather, and being overweight are acknowledged as factors influencing body odor.
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Hyperhidrosis:
The article touches on hyperhidrosis, a condition characterized by excessive sweating. Individuals with hyperhidrosis may be more prone to body odor, particularly through eccrine sweat glands, leading to discomfort such as sweaty palms and feet.
Understanding these concepts allows for a holistic grasp of the multifaceted nature of body odor, encompassing genetic, environmental, hormonal, and medical factors. If you have any specific questions or seek further clarification on these topics, feel free to inquire.
FAQs
Your body odor can change due to hormones, the food you eat, infection, medications or underlying conditions like diabetes. Prescription-strength antiperspirants or medications may help.
How do you get rid of chronic body odor? ›
Self care
- Bathe daily. Regular bathing, especially with an antibacterial soap, reduces the growth of bacteria on your skin.
- Choose clothing to suit your activity. For daily wear, choose natural fabrics, such as cotton, wool and silk. ...
- Try relaxation techniques. ...
- Change your diet.
Bromhidrosis, also known as osmidrosis, bromidrosis or body odor, is a common phenomenon in postpubertal individuals. In rare cases, bromhidrosis may become pathologic if it is particularly overpowering or if the bromhidrosis significantly interferes with the lives of the affected individuals.
What infections change your body odor? ›
Some types of skin infections or conditions that might cause a smell include:
- trichomycosis axillaris, a bacterial infection of underarm hair follicles.
- erythrasma, a superficial bacterial skin infection.
Liver or Kidney Problems - The kidneys and liver help remove toxins from our bodies. When they cannot function properly, toxins can build up in the blood and digestive tract, creating odor. Kidney disease can cause build of urea and make your sweat and urine smell like ammonia.
Why do I smell bad even with good hygiene down there? ›
A strong vagin*l odor may be a sign of vaginitis, or it may be a temporary smell related to your hygiene, lifestyle or other changes. Take note of whether you have other symptoms. If the odor is related to an infection, you'll usually notice other changes, like vagin*l itching, burning and discharge.
What can I eat to reduce body odor? ›
Leafy-green vegetables: Spinach, kale, lettuce, arugula and other leafy greens contain high levels of chlorophyll, which can neutralise odour-inducing components.
What is the root cause of body odor? ›
Our skin is naturally covered with bacteria. When we sweat, the water, salt and fat mix with this bacteria and can cause odor. The odor can be bad, good or have no smell at all. Factors like the foods you eat, hormones or medications can affect body odor.
What autoimmune disease causes body odor? ›
Trimethylaminuria is a rare disorder in which the body is not able to metabolize the chemical trimethylamine, and this causes body odor.
Is there a medical condition that makes you smell bad? ›
Trimethylaminuria (TMAU) is an uncommon condition that causes an unpleasant, fishy smell. It's also called "fish odour syndrome". Sometimes it's caused by faulty genes that a person inherits from their parents, but this isn't always the case. There's currently no cure, but there are things that can help.
Sweating and body odor are caused by sweat glands in your body. The two main types of sweat glands are eccrine glands and apocrine glands. Eccrine glands occur over most of your body and open directly onto the surface of the skin.
Can a vitamin deficiency cause body odor? ›
Underlying Health Conditions
Some temporary health conditions that result in an unwanted body odor are: Athlete's foot. Infections (yeast infections, bacterial vaginosis, trichom*oniasis, ear infections, skin infections, pneumonia, tuberculosis and urinary tract infections) Vitamin deficiencies.
Why do I suddenly have a lot of body odor? ›
Causes of body odour
hormonal changes. being overweight. having a condition like diabetes, kidney disease or liver disease. certain types of medicine, such as antidepressants.
What does liver disease odor smell like? ›
Disease-Based Physical Examination
The smell is distinct and described as an odor similar to a mixture of garlic and rotten eggs. Although not a common finding, its presence is due to shunting in the setting of cirrhosis rather than actual liver failure or encephalopathy.
What does kidney urine smell like? ›
But it also has waste in it that comes from the kidneys. What is in the waste and how much there is causes urine odor. Urine with a lot of water and little waste has little to no odor. If urine has a lot of waste with little water, also called concentrated, it might have a strong odor from a gas called ammonia.
Does organ failure have a smell? ›
Rarely, people can have bad breath because of organ failure. A person with kidney failure may have breath that smells like ammonia or urine. Serious liver disease can make breath smell musty or like garlic and rotten eggs. Compounds that are transported through the blood can also be released through your sweat glands.
Why does my body smell so bad all the time? ›
Body odor is caused by a mix of bacteria and sweat on your skin. Your body odor can change due to hormones, the food you eat, infection, medications or underlying conditions like diabetes. Prescription-strength antiperspirants or medications may help.
What causes body odor even after bathing? ›
Body odor is caused by bacteria breaking down the sweat from the apocrine glands in your armpits, groin, and pubic area. You may be more prone to body odor if you are overweight, eat certain foods, have certain health conditions, or are under stress. Genetics may also play a role.
What can a dermatologist do for body odor? ›
MiraDry is a non-invasive procedure that uses microwave energy to reduce sweating and eliminate odour-causing bacteria in the armpits. It is a treatment option for excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis) and BO. The procedure is typically performed in a dermatologist clinic and it can be done in one or two sessions.
Why do I smell an odor all the time? ›
Phantosmia (pronounced “fan–TAAZ–mee–uh”) is a condition that causes you to detect smells that aren't actually present in your environment (phantom smells). These odors may be pleasant or unpleasant, occasional or constant. Phantosmia can affect one or both nostrils.
