14/05/2026
BODY ODOR
Many people suffer body odor and don't even realize it. Many people think body odor is only caused by poor hygiene, but that's not the case as it has different factors to it.
Main causes of body odor:
- Bacteria + sweat: Sweat itself doesn’t smell. When bacteria on your skin break down proteins in sweat from apocrine glands, it creates odor. These glands are mostly in armpits, groin, and feet.
- Apocrine vs eccrine sweat: Eccrine sweat is mostly water and salt, odorless. Apocrine sweat is thicker and contains fats/proteins that bacteria love. Stress, puberty, and hormones ramp up apocrine sweat.
- Diet: Foods like garlic, onions, curry, red meat, and alcohol release sulfur compounds through pores. Cruciferous veggies can also change body odor in some people.
- Medical conditions: Diabetes can cause a fruity smell, kidney or liver disease can cause ammonia or bleach-like odor, and hyperhidrosis means excessive sweating that feeds more bacteria. Trimethylaminuria causes a fishy odor.
- Hormones: Puberty, menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause shift hormone levels and increase sweat and odor.
- Poor hygiene: Infrequent showering or not washing clothes lets bacteria build up.
- Clothing/fabric: Synthetic fabrics trap sweat and bacteria against skin. Cotton and breathable fabrics help more.
By Marivon Agbor, a Sexual Health Educator ✅