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Home > Skin & Beauty > Skin Conditions > Causes of Body Odor and Treatment Options

Causes of Body Odor and Treatment Options

July 7, 2020 - Updated on September 22, 2021
6 min read
By Maryam Afshar, MD | Dermatologist

In this article:

  • Causes of Body Odor
  • Symptoms of Body Odor
  • Medical Treatment for Body Odor
  • Diagnosing Body Odor
  • Does All Sweat Smell?
  • When to See a Doctor
  • Final Word

Body odor (commonly referred to as BO) is the unpleasant smell coming from one’s body during profuse sweating caused by high heat, heavy exercise, or nervousness.

body odor

Your skin contains bacteria that breakdown the acids present in your sweat, producing an unpleasant smell, commonly known as body odor.

Causes of Body Odor

Body odor primarily results from the breakdown of amino acids in your sweat by the action of certain bacteria that are normally present on the skin. However, multiple factors can worsen the smell, including:

what are the causes behind body odor?

1. Exercise

Exercise increases sweating, and so more amino acids are metabolized, thus increasing the smell. Additionally, perspiration provides the bacteria with a suitable growth environment on the skin.

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2. Hygiene

Improper personal hygiene allows the accumulation of sweat and odor-causing bacteria on the skin. 

3. Stress

Anxiety or nervousness stimulates the production of sweat with a higher amount of toxins, which causes more smell than usual.

4. Hot weather

Body odor is common in summers due to the excessive sweating caused by the scorching heat.

5. Diet

Oils, fatty foods, or strong-smelling food such as curry, onions, and garlic can seep through the pores and contribute to body odor.

6. Genetic makeup

Fish odor syndrome, trimethylaminuria (TMAU), is an inheritable condition that causes a fishy malodor. It is suggested that patients of TMAU avoid seafood for treatment. (1)

7. Hormonal changes

Hormones associated with puberty stimulate the sweat glands to produce more sweat.

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8. Extreme conditions

Body odor can result from bromhidrosis or hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating), which affects around 2.8% of the US population. (2)

9. Certain medications

Fish oil supplements, antidepressants, and antiseizure, anticholesterol, and migraine medications can cause body odor.

10. Medical conditions

Obesity, kidney or liver problems, diabetes, tumor, gout, menopause, hyperthyroidism, head injury, pituitary gland problems, frostbite, infections, and alcohol consumption can all cause body odor.

Olfactory Reference Syndrome

Olfactory reference syndrome (ORS) is a rare, severe condition wherein the patient has an irrational belief or fear that their body emits an offensive and foul odor.

Symptoms of Body Odor

Body odor is characterized by an unpleasant smell coming from the body, often accompanied by profuse sweating. Sweating and the associated smell is usually normal, but if the body odor is caused by an underlying condition, you may experience other symptoms such as:

  • Cold, clammy hands
  • Extreme, unexplained sweating
  • Sweating in the feet
  • Weight loss
  • Night sweats
  • Fever
  • Anxiety
  • Loss of appetite
  • Rapid heart rate

Medical Treatment for Body Odor

treatment options for body odor

Body odor is a normal phenomenon that can generally be managed by maintaining proper hygiene and care. However, if the problem bothers you or is slightly severe, you may consult a doctor for treatment, which may include:

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  • Prescription antiperspirants or deodorants: These constitute the standard primary treatment for body odor. While multiple OTC products are available, prescription deodorants and antiperspirants are stronger and more effective.
  • Antibiotics: Oral or topical antibiotics such as erythromycin and clindamycin can help reduce the odor-causing bacteria on the skin.
  • Botox: This impedes the production of sweat by the eccrine glands. However, the treatment needs to be repeated every few months.
  • Surgery: In extreme cases, surgical procedures may be required to remove the sweat glands or block the nerves that signal the activation of sweat glands.
  • Iontophoresis: This procedure involves delivering a mild electrical current to body parts with overactive sweat glands.
  • Therapy: Relaxation techniques, behavior therapy, and psychotherapy can help control anxiety and thus lower the production of toxin-loaded sweat.

Diagnosing Body Odor

The doctor might ask about your medical history and take a physical exam to determine the underlying cause of your body odor and sweating. The doctor may also order blood and urine tests to rule out medical conditions such as hyperthyroidism, infection, diabetes, and trimethylaminuria.

Does All Sweat Smell?

does sweat causes body odor?

Whether the sweat causes body odor depends on the amount of sweating and the kind of sweat glands involved.

There are two types of sweat glands – eccrine and apocrine:

1. Eccrine glands

Eccrine glands are present all over the skin. These glands help regulate body temperature by producing sweat in hot conditions.

The sweat produced by eccrine glands generally does not cause a smell since it is primarily composed of water and sodium chloride, along with some chemicals from the interstitial fluid and eccrine glands. (3)

2. Apocrine glands

Apocrine glands are present in hairy body parts such as the genital area and armpits. These glands develop during puberty and release pheromones, which are scented chemicals.

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The sweat produced by apocrine glands is viscous and rich in lipids, proteins, ammonia, and sugar. (3) These proteins can be easily utilized by the bacteria, thus causing body odor.

When to See a Doctor

You should consult a medical practitioner if:

  • The sweating increases or decreases.
  • The body odor or sweating causes distress.
  • You experience night sweats.
  • There is a change in your body odor.
What you may ask your doctor
  • What can be the reason behind my symptoms?
  • Is this temporary or long-lasting?
  • What is the treatment for my symptoms?
  • What alternative options do I have?
What your doctor may ask you
  • When did the symptoms first start?
  • How frequent are the symptoms?
  • Are the symptoms constant or irregular?
  • Does anything seem to improve or worsen the symptoms?

Final Word

Sweating is absolutely normal, especially in response to hot weather or stressful conditions. However, any abnormal change in your perspiration or body odor may signal a problem. It is best to seek help if you experience excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis) or no sweating (anhidrosis).

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Continue Reading Continue ReadingHow to Get Rid of Body Odor
References
  1. Mackay RJ, McEntyre CJ, Henderson C, Lever M, George PM. Trimethylaminuria: causes and diagnosis of a socially distressing condition. The Clinical biochemist. Reviews. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3052392/. Published February 2011.
  2. Stashak A-B, Brewer JD. Management of hyperhidrosis. Clinical, cosmetic and investigational dermatology. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4218921/. Published October 29, 2014.
  3. Baker LB. Physiology of sweat gland function: The roles of sweating and sweat composition in human health. Temperature (Austin, Tex.). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6773238/. Published July 17, 2019.
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