Sweating and body odor-Sweating and body odor - Diagnosis & treatment - Mayo Clinic (2024)

FAQs

Sweating and body odor-Sweating and body odor - Diagnosis & treatment - Mayo Clinic? ›

To diagnose a problem with sweating and body odor, your doctor will likely ask about your medical history and do an exam. The doctor may test your blood or urine. The tests can show if your problem is caused by a medical condition, such as an infection, diabetes or an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism).

A dermatologist needs to become familiar with the occurrence and significance of medically related odors.

Use a topical antiperspirant, which works by pulling sweat back into your sweat glands. Sweat production decreases when your body receives a signal that your sweat glands are full. These include over-the-counter, as well as prescription, antiperspirants.

Changes in body odor are often the result of lifestyle changes, such as an altered diet or exercise regimen. However, in some cases, a sudden change in body odor may be a sign of an underlying health condition. Generally speaking, body odor can affect anyone, and it should not usually cause a person to worry.

Body odor is primarily caused by apocrine sweat glands that become activated during puberty. These sweat glands develop in hairy regions like the armpits, genitals and scalp, where they secrete an oily fluid comprised of proteins, lipids and steroids.

Although there is no universal treatment for the causes of body odor, taking the following steps may help control body odor: Washing: A person should wash regularly with soap and ensure that they dry themselves thoroughly.

Axillary Liposuction

Through this procedure, the sweat and odor producing glands are mechanically removed via liposuction. Axillary liposuction can be done as a standalone procedure, or can be combined with liposuction of other areas as part of a body contouring treatment.

Disease Overview

Trimethylaminuria is a rare disorder in which the body is not able to metabolize the chemical trimethylamine, and this causes body odor.

You have more body odor than usual.

Sweat is mostly water, so if you're low on fluids, it can be more concentrated and smell stronger. If your sweat smells particularly strong, guzzle a glass of water. While you top up on that water, neutralize odor with a deodorant or antiperspirant.

There's also another alternative: deodorizing body sprays, creams and soaps that use pre- and probiotics to prevent BO. The pre- and probiotics directly interact with your skin's microbiome, and a healthy microbiome — which these bacteria contribute to — will produce less odor.

What does kidney disease body odor smell like? ›

Kidney disease can cause build of urea and make your sweat and urine smell like ammonia. Thyroid Issues - Thyroid glands regulate many bodily functions, including our sweat response.

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.

A strong vagin*l odor may be a sign of vaginitis, or it may be a temporary smell related to your hygiene, lifestyle or other changes. Take note of whether you have other symptoms. If the odor is related to an infection, you'll usually notice other changes, like vagin*l itching, burning and discharge.

MiraDry is a non-invasive procedure that uses microwave energy to reduce sweating and eliminate odour-causing bacteria in the armpits. It is a treatment option for excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis) and BO. The procedure is typically performed in a dermatologist clinic and it can be done in one or two sessions.

Body odour (bromhidrosis)

Bromhidrosis, also known as osmidrosis, bromidrosis or body odor, is a common phenomenon in postpubertal individuals. In rare cases, bromhidrosis may become pathologic if it is particularly overpowering or if the bromhidrosis significantly interferes with the lives of the affected individuals.

A nationally recognized and standardized scratch and sniff test checks your sense of smell for 40 common odors. Based on your multiple choice selections, your test is scored, determining the presence and severity of your loss of smell, based on data from other people your age with a normal smelling ability.