Many people experience smelly armpits from time to time. When people sweat, the liquid mixes with the bacteria on the skin. When this dries, it can cause an unpleasant smell. Several remedies are available for excessive sweating, including over-the-counter treatments, prescription medications, injections, and more. In this article, we look at what causes smelly armpits, how to treat them, and when it might be a good idea to speak with a doctor.
Sweat is responsible for smelly armpits. Sweating is a normal and necessary bodily function that stops people from overheating. There are 2—4 million sweat glands on the body. Most of these are eccrine sweat glands, and the others are apocrine sweat glands. People have lots of both types of sweat gland in the armpits. When a person exercises or becomes too hot, the sweat glands release sweat, which evaporates and cools the body down.
Stress and intense emotions can also make people sweat. Eccrine glands release a clear liquid that does not smell. However, if it dries on the skin, it can smell. The sweat glands become more active in both males and females during puberty. As a result, it is common for teenagers to start to get smelly armpits when they did not before.
Some people have a medical disorder that makes them sweat more than they should. The name for this condition is hyperhidrosis. People who have the disorder have overactive sweat glands that release sweat even when they are not hot or exercising. Hyperhidrosis is usually harmless , but it is sometimes the result of an overactive thyroid. When sweat mixes with bacteria, it can lead to a distinctive body odor , which people commonly refer to as B.
If this odor becomes chronic, doctors call it bromhidrosis. Some foods, such as garlic , can change the way sweat smells. These bacteria break down proteins and fatty acids, causing body odor in the process. To prevent your body from smelling — and avoid the embarrassment of body odor — you should solve the problem at its root cause: bacteria. Here are some proven tips to prevent body odor so you can stay fresh and smell good every day.
Wash away sweat and odor-causing bacteria by taking regular baths or showers. Be sure to use anti-bacterial soap as these are designed and proven to remove odor-causing bacteria.
Take time to thoroughly wash areas of the body that are more prone to sweating such as underarms and feet. Cap it off by drying yourself thoroughly to prevent bacteria from breeding on skin. Antiperspirants perspiration and sweat, while deodorants mask the smell of odor-causing bacteria. To help avoid body odor, apply some antiperspirant or deodorant in the morning and before bedtime. If you can't find a product that best suits you, consult with your doctor.
You are what you eat. And some foods can contribute to causing body odor. You may also notice a sudden smell from your stool, urine, earwax, or genital discharge. No matter the location, the odor can vary. It can be foul, pungent, fishy, sour, bitter, or even sweet. Other symptoms you experience will depend on the cause. If the change in odor is due to infection, the smell may also be accompanied by:. Your environment, the things you eat, medications you take, shifts in hormone levels, or underlying disorders may all be behind a sudden change in body odor.
Changes in body odor can be a normal part of development, such as when an adolescent is going through puberty. During puberty, sweat glands and hormones become more active, which can cause BO. The foods you eat can sometimes cause a sudden, temporary change in body odor.
For instance, many people experience a sudden, strong smell from their urine after eating asparagus. Certain foods can also cause you to produce more gas, which may lead to belching or flatulence. Depending on the foods you eat, and how much gas you produce, this could create a foul smell. Some foods that may cause smelly gas include:. Your overall diet can also affect body odor.
Some research has found that males who had a healthy diet high in fruits and vegetables had better-smelling sweat, no matter how much they sweat. On the other hand, self-reports showed that high carb intake was associated with less pleasant smelling sweat. Other research suggested that high meat consumption may have a negative effect on body odor, compared to a plant-based diet.
Bad breath can easily occur due to consuming certain foods, especially strong flavors such as spices, garlic, onions, or radish. Smoking tobacco products can also cause bad breath. Stress and anxiety can occasionally cause you to sweat more, leading to a stronger body odor. If you have hyperhidrosis disorder , you sweat excessively and uncontrollably, sometimes for no apparent reason.
Some people develop this disorder due to genetics, an underlying health condition, or while taking certain medications. According to research , hyperhidrosis and stress are connected. Many people who develop this condition experience stress, especially if the excess sweating affects their self-esteem or confidence. Hyperhidrosis is often diagnosed in people with mental health conditions, such as social anxiety , which may influence its onset. Treatment for smelly armpits depends on the severity and underlying causes of the body odor.
The odor can be caused by poor hygiene or not using the right products. Or there may be an underlying medical condition that needs to be treated. Using an over-the-counter OTC antiperspirant or deodorant or a combination antiperspirant-deodorant daily, after your shower, can help remedy armpit odor. Sometimes you need to try different kinds to see which one works best for you.
Antiperspirants help to reduce the amount of sweat produced by temporarily blocking the pores that release sweat. The less sweat that comes to the surface of your skin, the less odor that results. These products are often alcohol-based, turning your skin acidic.
This inhibits bacteria from forming — which is what causes sweat to smell. Although many are familiar with Botox for its use in smoothing facial wrinkles, it has several other practical applications. Botox injected into sweat glands decreases both sweating and odor. This is a common treatment for people with hyperhidrosis. The injections only last a few months, so the procedure needs to be repeated as necessary. There are things you can do to prevent underarm odor from developing in the first place.
Showering daily with soap, as well as showering after strenuous activity like working out or playing sports, gets rid of the bacteria and sweat that cause odors.
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