Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCausesMales vs. FemalesLifestyleFoodsMedical ConditionsGeneticsHormonal ChangesHome RemediesMedical Treatments
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Causes
Males vs. Females
Lifestyle
Foods
Medical Conditions
Genetics
Hormonal Changes
Home Remedies
Medical Treatments
Verywell / Brianna Gilmartin
What Causes Strong Body Odor?
Body odor comes from the bacteria that live on sweaty parts of your body, like your armpits. Although sweat itself doesn’t have a smell, bacteria break down certain proteins in your sweat into acids, causing an odor.
Apocrine Glands
Apocrineglands don’t become active until puberty. This is why body odor isn’t usually a problem until a person reaches adolescence.
Eccrine Glands
Why do I smell bad even though I just showered?There are many reasons why you may still have body odor after a shower, such as inadequate washing or using the wrong soap.Make sure you thoroughly wash all odor-prone body parts, especially your armpits, and use an antibacterial soap or scrub to help get rid of the bacteria that cause body odor. You may also find it helpful to dry underarm hair with a cool hair dryer to minimize underarm dampness before you get dressed.
Why do I smell bad even though I just showered?
There are many reasons why you may still have body odor after a shower, such as inadequate washing or using the wrong soap.Make sure you thoroughly wash all odor-prone body parts, especially your armpits, and use an antibacterial soap or scrub to help get rid of the bacteria that cause body odor. You may also find it helpful to dry underarm hair with a cool hair dryer to minimize underarm dampness before you get dressed.
There are many reasons why you may still have body odor after a shower, such as inadequate washing or using the wrong soap.
Make sure you thoroughly wash all odor-prone body parts, especially your armpits, and use an antibacterial soap or scrub to help get rid of the bacteria that cause body odor. You may also find it helpful to dry underarm hair with a cool hair dryer to minimize underarm dampness before you get dressed.
Strong Body Odor in Males and Females
Adult males tend to develop stronger body odor because they have more body hair and a larger number of apocrine glands. Although females are generally less prone to developing strong body odor, the same factors that influence body odor in males can also cause females to develop strong body odor.
Can Lifestyle Contribute to Body Odor?
Good hygiene can help prevent or limit body odor, but there are other lifestyle factors that cause body odor despite good hygiene.
Foods That Can Cause Body Odor
Foods that contain sulfur can contribute to body odor. When you eat these foods, sulfur can build up and come out through eccrine sweat glands. This can make your body odor stronger.Some of the foods you may want to try cutting out of your diet include:
Other foods can make you sweat more, which can contribute to body odor. These include:
Diseases That Cause Bad Body Odor
A condition calledhyperhidrosiscan cause you tosweat a lot. People with this condition may sweat even when they don’t feel excessively hot or stressed.
Other medical conditions can also change your normal body scent. These include:
Some very rare genetic conditions can also change your body’s odor.
In some cases, an odd body odor can be a sign of something serious. For example, a bleach-like or urine-like smell may indicate kidney or liver problems.
If your family members have smellier sweat, you may be more likely to have it, too. Genes are one of the factors that determine your individual odor.
Hormonal changes can also cause changes or increases in body odor.
Overview of Hyperhidrosis
How to Get Rid of Strong Body Odor
Body odor can be embarrassing. Fortunately, in most cases, it doesn’t signal a serious problem. Although it isn’t possible to cure body odor permanently, there are things you can do to keep it under control it or at least tone it down.
Shower Daily
Shower at least once a day. Use soap or shower gel and lather up thoroughly. Pay special attention to the areas prone to body odor.
If you are in a very hot or humid area, you may need to shower twice a day. You can also use a washcloth to wash just your armpits, groin, and skin folds. Be sure to shower immediately after you exercise or sweat.
Use Anti-Bacterial Soap
If regular showers don’t seem to help, try a special cleanser. These include:
These washes can help reduce the amount of bacteria on your skin.
Choose the Right Underarm Products
There are two types of underarm products: deodorants and antiperspirants.
Deodorants make your underarms less hospitable for bacteria. They also help mask body odor with a fragrance. Antiperspirants block sweat glands to reduce perspiration.
If you don’t sweat much but still get body odor, deodorants are a good choice. If you sweat a lot, look for a product that is both an antiperspirant and a deodorant.
If you have strong body odor, look for a product with higher amounts of active ingredients. If over-the-counter products don’t seem to help, talk to a healthcare provider. You might benefit from aprescription antiperspirant/deodorant.
Wear Breathable Fabrics
Natural fabrics like cotton are better than polyester, nylon, and rayon at controlling body odor. Natural fibers breathe; this lets sweat evaporate.
Avoid fabrics that trap sweat against the skin. These create a better breeding ground for body odor. When working out, choose moisture-wicking fabrics.
Change Your Diet
Remove or reduce spicy or pungent foods from your diet. This includes foods like:
These foods can cause a more pungent sweat. Even alcohol can change the smell of your sweat.
If you eat these types of foods regularly, try eating less of them or stop eating them altogether. This might help improve your body odor.
Shave or Wax
Hair holds sweat and makes a good home for bacteria.Removing haircan help control body odor.
Consider shaving your underarms. If you’d rather not go bare, try trimming the hair short. This can also help reduce body odor.
Medical Treatments for Body Odor
If you’ve tried these tips and haven’t seen an improvement, call a healthcare provider. Something else may be causing your body odor, such as a fungal infection. Or, you just may need a stronger treatment.
Consider these options:
Summary
You can prevent body odor with lifestyle changes like daily showering and choosing the right underarm product. If you still have body odor after trying these things, ask a healthcare provider about prescription medication or medical procedures that might help.
5 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Lam TH, Verzotto D, Brahma P, et al.Understanding the microbial basis of body odor in pre-pubescent children and teenagers.Microbiome. 2018;6(1):213. doi:10.1186/s40168-018-0588-z
International Hyperhidrosis Society.6 ways to control stress sweat.
Harvard Health Publishing.What’s that smell? Get rid of body odor.
Way PC, Paiz GA, Logemann H.Trichomycosis axillaris: Case report.Our Dermat Online/Nasza Dermat Online. 2024;15(1). doi:10.7241/ourd.20241.14
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