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Body odour is a common and natural occurrence in the human body. It is not worrisome but gets intense and unpleasant due to bacterial processes in sweat. It is often misinterpreted that sweat causes body odour, whereas it is odourless; it occurs because bacteria on human skin breaks down protein molecules within sweat and produces body odour. Causes of body odour are often due to bad hygiene practices, and it can also indicate severe underlying conditions in a few instances.
The body produces odours in the mouth and other areas because of the bacteria on a person's skin breaking down protein molecules. This article is about the odours that originate from human skin in sweat processed by bacterial substances in our body
Body Odour: The Body Parts Where it can Occur
The human body has cavities and corners that release bodily fluids that turn into sweat as the body produces various substances that carry odours are called odorants. Odorants are part of how our body functions and do not produce unpleasant odours all the time. However, skin can cause intense smells when these substances accumulate on the skin.
Below are the places where body odour gets prominent in the human body most of the time:
- Armpits
- Genitals and around the groin area
- Naval area or belly button
- The area behind the ears
- Feet and in between the toes
Body odours strongly vary according to a person’s diet, medications and cleanliness habits. While you all know hormones and sweat glands become hyperactive during puberty thus, you might experience a slightly odd body odour while you are in your teen years. Those who are obese with certain medical conditions are also more vulnerable to body odour.
You will tend to sweat more if you consume chillies, onions, garlic and foods that can cause a pungent smell in your sweat. Also, excessive consumption of protein also affects body odour.
Causes of Body Odour
The human body has two different sweat glands, one is called Apocrine, and the other is called Eccrine.
Apocrine glands develop during puberty under the stimulation of sex hormones and are basically related to hair follicles in the armpits and groin area. Once the gland starts producing protein-rich sweat called viscous, it doesn’t smell initially but may develop a concentrated odour after exposure to bacteria. Whereas, the Eccrine glands help regulate body temperature through sweat. It doesn't have anything to do with body odour.
Those who sweat a lot go through Hyperhidrosis, a condition that causes excessive sweating. Such people are more vulnerable to body odour due to excessive perspiration.
However, sweat and body odours are not life-threatening but may cause embarrassment and psychological trauma as it causes discomfort to one who’s suffering.
Body Odour Prevention
Since causes of body odour are inevitable, you can make some efforts to prevent it but not completely. People with concentrated Apocrine glands may experience excessive sweat in the armpits and groin area. There is no such treatment that can help you with riddance, but there sure are some quick and temporary ways to keep the unpleasant effect at bay:
- Make sure you wash the areas that are more susceptible to sweat often. Use soaps through and around those areas thoroughly and pat yourself dry.
- You can also use antiperspirants to reduce body odour as it changes the sweat volume and decreases the amount of odour causing bacteria.
- The option of shaving hair in the areas that cause sweat can reduce the body odour as it gives bacteria more time to break down proteins and produce odorants.
Besides the abovementioned measures, during the summers, personal hygiene becomes more important as humans tend to sweat a lot. Always prefer buying natural deodorants and antiperspirants to avoid skin allergies or irritation. You may also experience body odours around the areas that are covered with clothes. Fabrics entrap humidity and sweat sooner than you know and produce discomforting odours that multiply bacteria activity around the area. One should avoid wearing wet or moist clothes to prevent bacteria accumulation.
Sweat and Body Odour due to Underlying Health Conditions
Underlying health conditions such as an overactive thyroid gland, and mensuration menopause can cause you more sweat with a strong body odour whereas liver diseases, kidney diseases and diabetes can make you sweat constantly. Some people develop this order because of genetics or while taking medications that either cause sweat or pungent body odour.
Hence, immediately see the doctor if you feel the following discomforts:
- Night sweats while sleeping
- Irregular and excessive levels of sweat leading to pungent body odour
- Experiencing cold sweats day and night
In a Nutshell
This informative article will be more straightforward for those wondering about the causes of body odour. Body odours should be normalised as it is a common occurrence, and nobody sweats and smells bad purposely. It is our body that produces body odours, and it clearly can’t be cured but prevented. You need to start paying attention so that it doesn’t get traumatic for you and other people.
If your body odour concerns you as it could be because of underlying health conditions, you should first consult the doctor and also plan to buy yourself a health insurance plan. Care Health Insurance’s health insurance plans ensure that you are backed up in times of medical emergency. A health insurance plan promises to give you a safety cushion when you don’t have financial assistance at affordable prices.
Disclaimer: The abovementioned information is for reference purposes only.
