Dr Tariq Jagnarine
Family Medicine, Endocrinology and Diabetes
Body odour is a fairly common issue that can affect a person’s quality of life. It occurs due to bacterial processes in sweat, and not due to sweat itself. It is a common misconception that sweat itself causes body odour. In actual fact, human sweat is almost odourless.
Body odour occurs due to bacteria on a person’s skin breaking down protein molecules within sweat, and producing odour as a result. Although its root causes are often down to a person’s hygiene practices, body odour can indicate a more serious underlying condition in some instances.
The body can produce odours in the mouth and other cavities, as well as in bodily fluids.
WHAT IS BODY ODOUR?
Body odour is an umbrella term for natural smells originating from a person. The human body can produce a range of substances that carry a smell — known as odourants. Many of these odourants are important for regular bodily function, and in small quantities, do not lead to unpleasant odours. However, an excessive accumulation of these compounds on the skin can cause noticeable smells.
Body odour usually becomes more evident during puberty, as hormones and sweat glands become more active at this time. People with obesity, and individuals with certain medical conditions, such as diabetes, are also more susceptible to having body odour. Sweat itself is virtually odourless to humans. However, the rapid multiplication of bacteria and their breaking down of sweat into acids can cause unpleasant smells. As a result, people who sweat a lot — such as those with hyperhidrosis — may be more susceptible to developing body odour.
Body odour is most likely to occur in the following places: feet, groin, armpits, genitals, pubic and other hair, belly button, anus, and behind the ears. A person’s diet, natal sex, health conditions and medications help create a unique body odour. Some research suggests that people, and more so animals, are adept at identifying individuals by these smell profiles.
Causes
A person’s skin contains both eccrine and apocrine sweat glands. Apocrine glands start to function at puberty, and are associated with hair follicles in the underarms and groin. These glands produce a viscous, protein-rich sweat that is initially odourless. However, as bacteria break down the abundance of proteins, they will produce odourant molecules in greater concentrations, causing body odour. In contrast, eccrine sweat glands predominantly regulate body temperature through perspiration, and are not as strongly linked with body odour.
Prevention
Having a large concentration of apocrine glands in the armpits and groin makes these areas susceptible to the rapid development of body odour. However, body odour can occur almost anywhere on a person’s body.
There is no universal treatment for the causes of body odour, but taking the following steps may help control body odour:
* Washing: A person should wash regularly with soap, and ensure that they dry themselves thoroughly.
* Shaving: Having hair in areas such as the armpits can slow down the evaporation of sweat, giving bacteria more time to break down proteins and create odourants. Shaving can help body odour control in those areas.
* Using antiperspirants: Antiperspirants can reduce the intensity of a person’s body odour by changing sweat volumes and altering the amount and activity of odour-causing bacteria.
A person may also experience noticeable body odours in areas that are often covered by clothes, such as the feet. A combination of increased humidity and sweat trapped in the fabric can promote bacterial multiplication and activity, leading to body odour.
To prevent this from happening, a person may wish to pay extra attention to those areas when washing, and ensure that those areas are completely dry before putting on clean clothes. Wearing natural fibres may also help with the evaporation of sweat, and help reduce buildup of bacteria.
Consuming chilies, onions, garlic and other potent foods can also make some people’s sweat more pungent. Further, if a person consumes excessive amounts of protein, this may affect their body odour.
TREATMENT
If body odour is affecting a person’s quality of life, and home remedies have not worked, a doctor may recommend additional treatments. These may include:
* Aluminum chloride: A doctor or dermatologist may recommend prescription antiperspirants containing aluminum chloride. Aluminum chloride is absorbed into the skin and reduces the amount a person sweats. Prescription antiperspirants can contain 10–30% aluminum chloride.
* Botulinum toxin (Botox): A medical professional may recommend Botox treatment for people who sweat excessively. They may inject Botox directly into the skin, which can block the release of chemicals that trigger sweating. Some reports indicate that Botox injections in the armpits can reduce sweating by 82–87%.
* Surgery: When self-care and medicinal measures are not effective at treating severe body odour, a doctor can perform a surgical procedure called an endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy (ETS). This severs the sweat-controlling nerves below the skin of the armpits. This option is a last resort, and it runs the risk of causing damage to other nerves and arteries in the area. However, a 2019 review found that more than 90% of people who underwent ETS reported improved quality of life after the procedure.
WHEN TO CONTACT A DOCTOR
Some medical conditions may change how much a person sweats, or the odour their body produces. These can be indicators of more serious conditions. If a person should notice any of these changes, they should contact a doctor immediately. For example, an overactive thyroid gland or menopause can make people sweat much more; while liver disease, kidney disease and diabetes can change the consistency of sweat.
A person should contact a doctor if:
* They start sweating at night.
* Bouts of sweating occurs irregularly, or at excessive levels.
* They begin to experience cold sweats.
* Changes to their sweating are impacting their daily life.
* A person should also contact a doctor if their body odour suddenly smells different. A fruity smell could indicate diabetes due to having high levels of ketones in the bloodstream, while liver or kidney disease can often lead to a bleach- or ammonia-like smell, due to a buildup of toxins in the body.
JUST REMEMBER!!
Body odour is a common occurrence, and people can often remedy it at home. Although people often associate body odour with unpleasant smells, this is not always the case. Thoroughly washing, using antiperspirants, and shaving may all assist a person in managing unwanted body odour. Body odour and excessive sweating may also be indicators of an underlying health condition.
