Body Odor: Causes, Treatment And Control

Have you wondered why you have such an unpleasant smell, why such smell is not present in children and why you get a smelly feet?
Despite the unpleasant nature of our body odor, it is what our dogs uses to identify us and it also helps form the first bond between newborns and their mother.


Whenever you hear the words "body odor" the first thing that should come to your mind should be sweat and bacteria. Yes, there must be sweat and there must be bacteria that feeds on that sweat to produce odor.
Sweat is naturally odorless but produces odor when certain bacteria breaks it down to yield aromatic acids which are responsible for the body odor we experience.

There are two acids present in odor; Propionic acid and Isovaleric acid.

• Propionic acid (Propanic acid) is produced when propionibacteria breaks down sweat protein (amino acids). Propionic acid has a vinegar-like (pungent smell) smell because it's similar to acetic acid present in vinegar. Propionibacteria is found in ducts of sebaceous glands of adults and adolescence.

• Isovaleric acid (3-methyl butanoic acid) is produced when staphylococcus epidermidis breaks sweat down. Isovaleric acid has a cheese-like smell and is present in several strong cheese type.

Now that you know the acids responsible for body odor, lets take a look at the sweat glands that produces sweat in the body.
There are two types of sweat glands namely; Eccrine glands and Apocrine glands.

• Eccrine gland; Eccrine glands are simple sweat glands found in almost all areas of the skin. They are responsible for body temperature regulation and production of sweat high in salt making it harder for bacteria to breakdown protein.
• Apocrine glands; Apocrine glands are found in the hairy regions of the body such as armpit, nipple, genital area, eyelids, ear and anus. In the ear, they produces earwax but in others, they produces sweat high in protein which bacteria can easily breakdown leading to aromatic acid production and subsequent smell.

In children, apocrine glands are immature and inactive and becomes active in response to hormonal changes induced at puberty. This explains why children don't have body odor like adults.

Now why do you get smelly foots?
Shoes and socks makes sweat difficult to evaporate, giving bacteria more sweat to breakdown. This could lead to fungi infection and subsequent smelling.

Body odors due to excessive sweating could be caused by medical conditions like diabetes, thyroid disease, carcinoid syndrome and changes in hormonal level. It could also be due to side-effects of certain medications such as Antipsychotic drugs, Antidepressant drugs and Aspirin.

Healthy Tips

We can not control the fact that we sweat but we can control our sweat from acquiring such pungent and unpleasant smell.
If you have body odor or you have a friend that has it, then the following tips will be of help.

1. Wash your body with warm water and antibacterial soap at least twice daily and concentrate mostly on your armpit and other hairy areas of your body.
2. Shave your armpit and pubic hairs regularly as such hairs reduces sweat evaporation.
3. Maintain a healthy diet, avoid pungent and processed foods that contain a lot of chemicals.
4. Change your clothes and undergarments daily.
5. Stop smoking as cigarette smell attach to your clothing giving off its own odor.
6. Brush your teeth twice daily.
7. Use deodorant as it creates acidic environment that is unfavorable for bacteria to thrive.
8. Use antiperspirant as it reduces sweating.
9. Wash your hands as often as possible.
10. Wear light clothes and clothes made with natural fibers such as wool, silk or cotton as such clothes gives better sweat evaporation.
11. Always consult your doctor if body odor is a permanent problem.
12. Stay healthy.