Unpleasant sweat odor – where does it come from?

What is sweat made of?

Sweat is mostly water (about 98%). Its other components include: sodium chloride , fats , urea, lactic acid, ammonia and numerous mineral compounds .

Why do we sweat?

We sweat to maintain thermal balance and protect our bodies from overheating. At the same time, it provides support in the fight against bacteria, fungi and viruses. The bad reputation of sweat is therefore very unfair.

We sweat all the time – it’s just that when we’re at rest and at an optimal temperature, we produce so little sweat that we don’t even notice it. It’s only when it’s too much, and when it’s bad smelling, that it negatively affects our quality of life, that we need to address the real issues (we’ll get to that).

It is necessary to distinguish between sweat secreted by specific types of sweat glands:

• Eccrine sweat glands are found in the epidermis almost all over the body. Apocrine glands, on the other hand, are located in hair ducts – in the armpits and around the genitals. Apocrine glands become active during puberty.
• Apocrine sweat, in addition to water, also contains cholesterol, triglycerides, and fatty acids. It is a specific, sticky substance that initially has no smell. However, when bacteria get into the protein, odor molecules are created in higher concentrations – hence the unpleasant smell and general feeling of staleness that we are familiar with.

Bad odor can significantly affect self-esteem and make everyday functioning difficult , especially since it is (sometimes completely wrongly) associated by society with a lack of basic personal hygiene.

Yes, improper body care can lead to the accumulation of secretions on the skin, which will later become an unearthly feast for bacteria. At the same time, it is important to remember that the amount of sweat secreted and its smell are very individual characteristics. They are influenced by a multitude of factors - from genes and hormones through lifestyle, diet and stress to diseases and medications taken.

I like to think that our body works very intuitively and sends us signals if something is wrong, and we – thanks to medicine – can in many cases read them correctly in time.

What influences the smell of sweat?

Improper or insufficient personal hygiene

When dealing with odor problems, focus on body care first. Maintain regular personal hygiene, especially in high temperatures and after physical exertion. Also remember to dry yourself thoroughly after a shower – moist areas of the skin are ideal conditions for the reproduction of various unpleasant bacteria.

Read our article on period hygiene .

If you feel the need, you can reach for special preparations. Then pay attention to the difference between deodorants and antiperspirants . The former are primarily intended to mask unpleasant odors, while the latter limit excessive sweating. Additionally, various types of sweat "blockers" are available, some also decide to inject botulinum toxin. Sensible use of them is permissible (for example, people who do rock climbing or pole dancing use them on their hands), but applying them to the entire body is unnatural. Botulinum toxin is useful in the treatment of excessive sweating, but only in consultation with a doctor.

Oh, and one more thing – no, you don't have to shave if you don't need to. If armpit hair were really that bad for your health, everyone would be shaving it, regardless of gender, don't you think? That's none of the business of doctors, and certainly none of the business of pink razor manufacturers.

See also our article full of tips on shaving intimate areas .

Remember, it's your choice. You decide whether and how you want to remove your hair. For example, trimming or simply leaving it alone works for me. Without relying on other people's opinions, try to figure out what will be best for you and your body.

Clothing made of synthetic materials

Try to maintain an optimal body temperature. Choose clothes made of natural materials that do not retain moisture. Opt for cotton, wool, linen, silk (another good reason to give up polyester!). On summer days, looser cuts will work, in winter it is good to decide on layers, i.e. dressing "in layers".

The most frequently changed items of clothing should be those that are closest to the skin – underwear, socks. Make sure that their composition is also primarily natural.

You can also pour some potato starch into the shoes (a protip from my mom) or use a special spray.

Improper diet

First, drink enough water ( I know how hard it is, I have trouble with it myself ). At first, a special mobile app or simply writing down the number of glasses consumed on a piece of paper can help you with this.

Secondly, avoid fast food and highly processed foods , as well as foods that contain a lot of salt and hot spices. For some people, eating large amounts of meat, especially red meat, chili peppers, garlic, onions and cabbage vegetables can also contribute to unpleasant sweat odor.

Make sure your meals contain enough zinc and B vitamins. Eat more nuts, legumes, eggs and whole grains.

See our database of articles about diet : in the course of Hashimoto , PCOS ,during PMS , period and pregnancy .

Stimulants

If you can't cope with the unpleasant smell of sweat and at the same time regularly reach for coffee, cigarettes or alcohol, limit the stimulants and check whether one does not result from the other.

Strong emotions

Perhaps you are a very emotional person by nature or have recently been exposed to extremely stressful situations. I'm sorry, it's hard, I know. Not only because of the smell of sweat, which can be a consequence of this, but above all to improve your own well-being and take care of your mental health, try to be more understanding towards yourself, separate the important things from the less important ones and calm down. Breathing exercises, yoga, meditation or therapy will help you regain peace .

Hormonal economy

As I mentioned above, the apocrine glands (indirectly responsible for the bad smell of sweat) start functioning around puberty. Some changes can also be seen around menopause or with other changes in the hormonal system . It is worth paying special attention to hygiene, diet and well-being in the broad sense.

Disease

Certain ailments can disrupt the chemical processes taking place in the body and thus change the odor of the sweat secreted. Through a specific type of odor produced, the body sends us certain, often important information.

For example, sweat that smells like urine or ammonia may indicate kidney failure, while sweat that smells like fresh liver indicates liver dysfunction. If the smell reminds us of acetone or rotting fruit, we may suspect undiagnosed or poorly treated diabetes. Beer-smelling sweat combined with persistent cough and chest pain signals tuberculosis.

In a situation where home remedies have not helped or we suspect that our health condition is deteriorating, it is worth seeking help from a doctor.

What is excessive sweating?

Hyperhidrosis is the secretion of excessive amounts of sweat due to dysfunction (overactivity) of the sweat glands.

As we have already established, sweating is a natural issue and at the same time an individual characteristic, which is why it is difficult to set standards for the amount of sweat secretion that should be adhered to. Something that may already indicate serious health problems in one person will be very typical for another and should not cause any concern. Each case must therefore be considered separately - remember this both when self-diagnosing and advising others.

If you suspect excessive sweating, consider whether it is related to medications you have recently started taking (antidepressants, for example). If this is not the case, pay attention to other symptoms you may be experiencing. Are you constantly tired, generally irritable, and have heart palpitations? Combined with excessive sweating, this may indicate thyroid problems. Have you noticed that your complexion has gone pale, that you often feel thirsty and have muscle tremors, or that you have “cold” sweats? Just in case, check your blood sugar level.

Profuse sweating may also indicate infection (viral or bacterial), neurological changes or poisoning.

To be safe, consult your doctor if:

• you sweat suddenly, irregularly, or extremely heavily for no apparent reason;

• you often wake up drenched in sweat;

• you experience “cold” sweats;

• you feel like there has been a sudden change in the smell of your sweat;

• Excessive sweating or unpleasant sweat odor negatively impacts your quality of life.