GENERAL CAUSES OF BODY ODOR
Body odor is commonly associated with hygiene issues such as not taking showers and staying in dirty clothes (Source). Its symptoms include foul odors emanating from the body and a generally unpleasant smell.
The fact is there are numerous medical and other general conditions which may contribute to the production of body odor (Source). Apart from poor hygiene, other general conditions include normal human body odor, normal puberty, normal aging, the consumption of particular foods such as garlic, curry or cumin, and stale sweat. Bodily discharge including both vaginal and penile discharge can likewise contribute to the emission of body odor.
While poor hygiene most certainly plays a large factor in causing body odor, some conditions existing under adequate hygiene circumstances may also be common causes of body odor. These include gastrointestinal disorders, diabetes and diabetic ketoacidosis, urinary tract infections, scurvy, typhoid fever, and fish odor syndrome. In addition, there exists the condition of athlete’s foot, a fungal skin affliction typically causing redness and cracking of the skin around the feet and toes (Source). Such cracking in turn allows germs to get under the skin.
Body odor may also be a result of ingesting various medications, drugs, toxins and other substances (Source). These include the consumption of pericyazine, topamax, topamax sprinkle and topiramate.
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SPECIFIC MEDICAL CONDITIONS LEADING TO BODY ODOR
Certain medical conditions may lead to the production of body odor. For example, these may include kidney disease, liver disease, and fungal infections (Source).
The body odor condition of having bad breath or halitosis may be a result of the growth of excess bacteria on or between teeth leading to tooth decay (Source). It may also be a result of gum or gingival disease. While bad breath may be a relatively common symptom due to poor dental hygiene, it may also indicate serious medical conditions such as specific liver disorders, respiratory tract cancers and infections, and diabetes. These could perhaps be identified by the different types of breath odors. (Source). For instance a “fecal breath odor” might signify intestinal blockage.
Trimethylaminuria aka “fish odor syndrome” is a rare genetic metabolic disorder which causes individuals to not only generate a fish-like odor on their breath, but also in their sweat and urine. This syndrome is more common in women than in men, and worsens around puberty, prior to and during menstruation, after the consumption of oral contraceptives, and around menopause. This medical condition may also develop in individuals with liver or kidney disease. Currently, trimethylaminuria can only be controlled with special diets and antibiotics; there is no cure for the disease.
Excessive sweating aka hyperhidrosis is another condition which usually leads to underarm, foot, and general body odor. This condition may be a result of underlying causes including low blood sugar, liver disease, diabetes, parasites, metabolic dysfunction, menopause, or emotional stress.
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DIET AND DIGESTIVE CAUSES OF BODY ODOR
Most people believe that perspiration is the cause for body odor (Source). While sweat plays a huge factor in the production of unpleasant bodily scents, it is by itself almost odorless. The real causes for body odor lie in the bacteria and odors from other sources.
Anaerobic bacteria flourish when one’s body lacks oxygen, and is a possible cause for body odor. Body metabolism produces odors when in operation as a method of getting rid of waste products, with imbalances in metabolism resulting in stronger odors. Hence toxins are possible causes of body odor, for when accumulated in the body and difficult to dispose of through normal organs and processes of elimination, body organs such as the liver and intestines may be clogged up and cause odors to emanate from the body.
Dietary imbalances which lead to constipation or deficiencies in magnesium or zinc may also be other causes for body odor. Due to the distinctive body chemistry of individuals, some may emit a certain offensive body odor (Source) because of reasons such as the consumption of large quantities of meat and being vegetarian. One might produce a “fishy” smell if the body is incapable of metabolizing foods containing great amounts of choline. Such foods include eggs, fish, liver and legumes. Moreover, the consumption of specific foods and drinks including onions, garlic, curry, some spicy foods, coffee and alcohol may also lead to body odor. Others include fried and baked goods which may possess rancid fats and oils.
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SWEAT AND BODY ODOR
Despite perspiration being almost completely odorless, sweat can result in an unpleasant smell when it reacts with bacteria on your skin (Source). Many different activities and other causes can lead to greater perspiration, such as hot weather, vigorous exercise and activities involving a degree of anxiety (Source). Such circumstances are good examples of conditions involving greater levels of perspiration.
It is important to note that even though sweating might be a minor nuisance, it is a method the body employs to cool down; hence perspiration is important. Cases of unusual levels of perspiration such as excessive perspiration (hyperhidrosis) or little or no perspiration (anhidrosis) are causes of concern.
The bacteria on our bodies use sweat to grow. Since the sweat on a large percentage of the human body is not filled with nutrients or foods for bacteria, for the most part bacteria in these areas do not emit many odors. The main area where unpleasant scents are produced by the most common type of sweat glands (eccrine glands) is the feet. For instance when feet are enclosed by socks and/or shoes, interaction between sweat and bacteria can produce many unpleasant odors. Also, if feet are damp, yeasts can grow as well.
Additionally when sweat gets on to clothes, this may result in bacteria growing there as well. This of course means that the clothes would be smelly too.
However, most body odor is produced by bacteria thriving on sweat produced by apocrine glands (sweat glands which produce both oil and ordinary sweat) under the arms and in the groin region. Apocrine glands enlarge and become active during puberty, with stress being capable of causing the glands to constrict, developing additional sweat from the skin (Source). People with excess hair also sweat more owing to their multitude of hair follicles where apocrine glands originate. Since Asians have less apocrine glands, they sweat less.
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