We often think of body odor as an aesthetic problem, but did you know it can tell you a lot about your overall health? Changes in the smell of our sweat and other bodily odors usually indicate that something is off. By being aware of changes to our natural smells, we can catch potential health issues before they become serious problems.
What Can Cause a Change in Body Odor?
Your surroundings, what you eat, medications you take, changes in hormone levels or underlying conditions can cause a change in your body odor.
“Many of these causes are completely natural and occur without your doing,” says internal medicine specialist, Xue Ao, M.D. “However, it’s important to monitor any sudden changes and talk with your doctor if you are concerned, especially if you notice that the odor is paired with another symptom like a rash, discharge or discoloration.”
- Puberty
Puberty and body odor are like peanut butter and jelly – likely found together. During puberty, hormones and sweat glands are more active and may increase sweat and body odor.
- Diet
Your diet may occasionally result in a momentary shift in how you smell. Food can cause gas, which leads to repeated spouts of flatulence. Some also notice urine odor after consuming certain foods. Unless you frequently consume the food, the smell will fade away after it’s digested.
Common foods that cause gas and body odor are:
- Cabbage
- Asparagus
- Broccoli
- Cauliflower
- Beans
If you’re consuming food you’re intolerant to, you may notice a strong odor in your bowel movements due to difficult digestion.
- Excessive Sweating
Sweat can cause body odor from the armpits, feet and genitals. Reasons for excessive sweating are might include:
- Stress and anxiety
- Frequent exercise
- Hyperhidrosis disorder, which causes a person to sweat uncontrollably without an apparent reason
- Underlying Health Conditions
Body odor and sweat are common symptoms of many health conditions, both temporary and chronic. If you are concerned about your body odor or sweat, talk with your doctor.
Some temporary health conditions that result in an unwanted body odor are:
- Athlete’s foot
- Infections (yeast infections, bacterial vaginosis, trichom*oniasis, ear infections, skin infections, pneumonia, tuberculosis and urinary tract infections)
- Vitamin deficiencies
- Menstruation
- Menopause
- Pregnancy
- Intestinal obstructions
Long-term causes of body odor are:
- Diabetes (if you have diabetes and notice a fruity smell from your breath, seek immediate medical attention)
- Hyperhidrosis disorder, which causes a person to sweat uncontrollably without an apparent reason
- Cancer (from infected cancer-related wounds)
- Uremia, a condition involving abnormally high levels of waste products in the blood
When to See a Doctor
While body odor is natural and isn’t always a cause for concern, certain matters require medical treatment. Seek professional medical advice if you are experiencing the following paired with body odor:
- Signs of infection
- Signs of toxin poisoning
- Cancer
- Diabetes
- Pain or bleeding
Next Steps & Resources:
The material provided through HealthU is intended to be used as general information only and should not replace the advice of your physician. Always consult your physician for individual care.
FAQs
Your body odor can change due to hormones, the food you eat, infection, medications or underlying conditions like diabetes. Prescription-strength antiperspirants or medications may help.
Does change in body odor indicate illness? ›
Unusual changes in sweating — either too much (hyperhidrosis) or too little (anhidrosis) — can be cause for concern. Changes in body odor also may signal a health problem. Otherwise, lifestyle and home treatments can usually help with normal sweating and body odor.
What does your body odor say about your health? ›
Some people sweat more than others. Kids going through puberty, for example, may produce a signature odor, as do people who are overweight or obese. Diabetes can also produce “off” scents in terms of body odor. But if you notice a sudden change in the amount or smell of your sweat, it could indicate a health problem.
Why is my body Odour suddenly bad? ›
Body odor usually becomes more evident during puberty, as hormones and sweat glands become more active at this time. People with obesity and individuals with certain medical conditions, such as diabetes, are also more susceptible to having body odor. Sweat itself is virtually odorless to humans.
Can a vitamin deficiency cause body odor? ›
Vitamin and mineral deficiencies (when you don't get enough vitamins or minerals in your diet) or malabsorption (when your body can't absorb the nutrients in what you eat) can sometimes cause body odor, or a smell to occur in your stool or urine.
What autoimmune disease causes body odor? ›
Disease Overview
Trimethylaminuria is a rare disorder in which the body is not able to metabolize the chemical trimethylamine, and this causes body odor.
What does diabetic sweat smell like? ›
A person living with a health condition such as diabetes or kidney disease may also have sweat that smells like ammonia. A person can try antiperspirants to reduce the amount they sweat, and deodorants to cover up any odors. A doctor can treat any underlying health conditions to help reduce the ammonia smell in sweat.
What does kidney disease body odor smell like? ›
Liver or Kidney Problems - The kidneys and liver help remove toxins from our bodies. When they cannot function properly, toxins can build up in the blood and digestive tract, creating odor. Kidney disease can cause build of urea and make your sweat and urine smell like ammonia.
What does stress body odor smell like? ›
One of the few odor-active components similar to the tension-stress odor had a more intense sulfurous and alliaceous scent than the others.
Why do I smell bad even with good hygiene down there? ›
A healthy vagin* usually has a slight scent, but choices of food, drink, hygiene practices, and clothing can all affect it. A stronger odor can also indicate a health problem that needs medical attention. Nutrition, health status, and other factors can affect the natural fragrance of the vagin*.
Magnesium is one of the best nutrients for helping you maintain healthy skin, hair and nails—and it also helps control your body odor! When you're deficient in magnesium, your body's ability to break down sweat into different compounds can get thrown off.
Why do I smell bad even with good hygiene? ›
Bacteria on your skin cause body odor. It's completely normal to have a natural body odor and isn't necessarily related to how much you sweat. Sweat itself is odorless. Some medical conditions, genetics, having overweight or eating certain foods could make you more susceptible to bad body odor.
Can low iron cause bad body odor? ›
However, you can stanch the stench by simply starving the bacteria of an essential element -- iron. So says new research just presented at the annual meeting of the American Society for Microbiology in Salt Lake City.
Does your body smell different when you're sick? ›
Subtle differences occur in body odor when someone is sick or infected, changing their odors from pleasant to aversive. When picked up by others, these differences can inform them to protect themselves and avoid becoming infected.
What disease changes your sense of smell? ›
Parosmia [pahr-OZE-mee-ah] is a change in the normal perception of odors, such as when the smell of something familiar is distorted, or when something that normally smells pleasant now smells foul. Phantosmia [fan-TOES-mee-ah] is the sensation of an odor that isn't there.
What does it mean when you have an unusual body odor? ›
You may need to call your doctor if an odd odor sticks around. A urinary tract infection (UTI), bladder inflammation, and uncontrolled type 2 diabetes can trigger unusual smells. So can metabolic disorders, diabetic ketoacidosis (a complication of diabetes), and gastrointestinal-bladder fistulas.
Why does my sweat smell sour all of a sudden? ›
Sweat can smell like vinegar because of diseases such as diabetes, trichomycosis, and kidney disease, or because of hormone changes, certain foods, or skin infections. Sweat is released by sweat glands that are found throughout the body. These are the eccrine, apocrine, and apoeccrine glands.
