Body odor is unpleasant smell that human body gives out when
non-harmful bacteria that lives on the surface of the skin breaks down fatty
acids in sweat into odorant substances. Poor personal hygiene and an existing
medical condition are two broad factors attributed to this phenomenon. Body
odor is more common at the armpits, under the breasts, the umbilical region and
the pubic region. WHO IS AT RISK OF BODY ODOR?
Body odor is basically as a result of non-harmful bacteria
on the surface of the skin acting on fatty acids in the sweat. There are
several factors that can perpetuate production of these odorant substances
like:-
Biological lineage- according to MedicineNet.com, 1/3 of the
people suffering from body odor could have inherited genetic disorder like
trimethylaminuria (TMAU) in which individuals have an off putting fishy smell. TMAU
is excreted from the body via urine, breath, sweat and saliva.
Environmental condition- people who live in cold areas have
fewer sweat glands hence less production of odorant substances as compared to
those who live in warm or hot regions. Fewer sweat glands may be attributed to
adaptation mechanism to cold climate.
Diet preferences- eating spicy foods on regular basis has
been associated with production of odorant substances in the body. Foods
commonly associated with odor are red meat, egg yolk, onions, broccoli and
broccoli sprouts, garlic and sea foods. Food sources with strong pungent smell
tend to release the same smell through breath, sweat and urine.
Obese individuals- people who are obese have high metabolic
rates and are prone to excess sweating which makes them highly susceptible to
production of odorant substances.
Medications- this may manifest as a side effect of some of
the drugs prescribed by your Doctor. Asprin, antidepressants, antipsychotics
and acetaminophen are some of the drugs with associated with excess body
sweating and body odor production.
Hormonal variations- progesterone and estrogen can play a
significant role in body odor. Hot flashes are commonly associated with
excessive sweating and as a result more odorous substances are produced as the
sweat is acted up on by the non-harmful bacteria on the skin. This is more
prevalent in female.
Puberty- Girls and boys during puberty are active and
experience significant hormonal variations in their bodies. On these grounds
they are more predisposed to excessive sweating and body odor.
Medical conditions- having an uncontrolled diabetes mellitus
may be the reason why body odor exists and persists. Ketoacidosis is a medical
emergency in diabetes that can result in body odor production. People who have
thyroid problems may also experience excessive sweating which can also be
linked to bad body smell.
Interested Reading: What Your Handwriting Say About Your Personality And Personality Trait
Interested Reading: What Your Handwriting Say About Your Personality And Personality Trait
WHAT CAUSES BODY ODOR?
Sweating is a vital biological phenomenon in which the body
gets rid of waste products of metabolism but this can be a horrible experience
if sweat is not taken care of. The fatty acids in sweat are acted up on by the
normal skin bacteria into substances that release bad smell.
MORE POSTS:
References:
- Body odor- Body Mint. Address: http://bodymint.com/body-odor-what-are-common-body-odor-causes/
- Trimethylaminuria- Wikipedia, The free encyclopedia. Address: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trimethylaminuria.
- Ketoacidosis- Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Address: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ketoacidosis
- Body odor: causes, prevention and treatment. Address: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/173478.php
