Individuals with certain medical conditions are more susceptible to having body odour. These can include diabetes, urinary tract infections, an overactive thyroid, kidney and liver dysfunction and a genetic disorder called trimethylaminuria.
Description. Trimethylaminuria is a disorder in which the body is unable to break down trimethylamine, a chemical compound that has a pungent odor. Trimethylamine has been described as smelling like rotten or decaying fish.
Many body odors are normal, but when they gross you out, that could signal an illness. “Diseases change the balance of chemicals in the body,” explains William Hanson, M.D., professor of anesthesiology and critical care at the University of Pennsylvania Health System in Philadelphia.
Some metabolic diseases can cause a distinctive body odor, particularly in their later stages. These include diabetes, as well as advanced kidney and liver disease.
In women, hormone levels change throughout the menstrual cycle, throughout pregnancy, during postpartum, or as a result of using medication with hormonal side effects. All of these changes can contribute to the intensity and pleasantness of body odor and there may be a link between our scent and attraction (5).
Generally speaking, your body odor isn't anything to be concerned about from a medical perspective. And if you want to reduce it, regular washing and using deodorant or antiperspirant can help. However, a significant difference in your “baseline” body odor can indicate a change in your health.
Certain food, drugs and medical conditions may also cause body odor. If you have severe body odor or a change in body odor, see your doctor. Your doctor can look for what's causing it and then talk to you about treatment options.
You may be more prone to body odor if you are overweight, eat certain foods, have certain health conditions, or are under stress. Genetics may also play a role. You can prevent body odor with lifestyle changes like daily showering and choosing the right underarm product.
A person living with a health condition such as diabetes or kidney disease may also have sweat that smells like ammonia.
The menopausal drop in estrogen also leaves our bodies with relatively higher levels of testosterone — produced by our ovaries in small amounts — than before. This can attract more bacteria to sweat, making it smell funkier.
During menopause, your hormonal balance shifts. This shift can also lead to stronger body odor. Estrogen and progesterone levels fall relative to your testosterone, while cortisol tends to increase. Higher levels of both testosterone and cortisol have been linked to stronger body odor.
Sometimes, a change in odor might be the result of an underlying health problem. Diabetes and kidney disease, for example, can both lead to a change in body odor. Anyone who suspects that they may have such a condition should speak to a doctor as soon as possible.
In the case of liver disease, sufferers can experience excessive sweating and a foul-smelling odour that's been likened to rotten eggs; diabetic ketoacidosis, which is the result of a blood-sugar spike, causes both fruity-smelling breath and a pungent body odour; and excessive sweat and odour can occur in people with ...
A sudden change in body odor may be caused by certain medical conditions. For instance, hyperhidrosis is the medical term for excessive sweating and happens to be a very common (and frustrating) disorder. Sudden BO can also be an indication of a serious, underlying medical condition.
A heightened sense of smell is a very common early pregnancy symptom, most likely due to elevated progesterone levels. Less common reasons for a heightened sense of smell include anxiety, or where a woman is in her cycle, as some studies suggest that around the time of ovulation, women have a heightened sense of smell.
Menopause and body odor: What's happening? Hormone imbalances and body odor often go together. Dips in estrogen can trigger hot flashes and night sweats, meaning you simply sweat more, which in turn can result in more odor.
Trimethylaminuria (TMAU) is an uncommon condition that causes an unpleasant, fishy smell. It's also called "fish odour syndrome". Sometimes it's caused by faulty genes that a person inherits from their parents, but this isn't always the case. There's currently no cure, but there are things that can help.
Bacteria love sweets, so eating too much sugar can cause an overgrowth of yeast on your skin, which in turn converts those sugars into alcohols that cause you to smell anything but sweet, according to Edward Group, a certified clinical nutritionist.
Uncontrolled Diabetes - High levels of blood glucose can increase body odor. Diabetic ketoacidosis is a serious condition in which your body lacks insulin, depriving cells of the sugar they need for energy.