Unpleasant armpit odor: when to see a doctor?

Sometimes the unpleasant smell of the armpits is associated with the development of a disease, sometimes very dangerous – for example, diabetes, liver pathology.

Sweat and smell. According to dermatologist Grigory Goldin, sweating in the armpits is necessary to maintain body temperature: sweat glands are stimulated by nerves in response to hot weather, emotional stress, and physical activity. Sweat itself is odorless, but when it is broken down by bacteria on the skin, it can produce an unpleasant odor.

The specialist explains that there are two different types of sweat glands in the skin: eccrine and apocrine. Eccrine glands are found throughout most of the body and usually secrete a clear, odorless liquid that quickly evaporates from the surface of the skin. Apocrine are found in areas of the body containing a large number of hair follicles. When these glands secrete sweat, it mixes with bacteria on the follicles and begins to exude a “scent”.

“The apocrine glands are thought to be primarily responsible for stress-related sweat,” the expert noted.
Hyperhidrosis. In some cases, the nerves and sweat glands are overstimulated, producing more sweat than necessary. This condition is known as hyperhidrosis. The tendency to it is mostly genetic, but sometimes excessive sweating is stimulated by medications or hormonal changes that occur as the body ages.

Armpit odor is more unpleasant than usual.If you find that your underarms are suddenly smelly, here are the possible reasons why.

You have changed your diet. Some foods contain compounds that the body cannot completely break down. During metabolic processes, volatile compounds are released, which then evaporate from the body, releasing odor.

You experience more stress.Excessive stress stimulates the activity of the apocrine glands, which promote sweating in places where sweat quickly acquires an odor due to bacteria present there.

You have a disease. There is a genetic disease trimethylaminuria – it does not allow body to break down compounds found in fish, soy, and cruciferous vegetables, resulting in a fishy odor. Certain odors can also occur in diseases – kidney failure, liver disease, diabetes.

Should I see a doctor?According to the dermatologist, an examination should be sought if the smell of the armpits has suddenly changed, although no changes in life, including stress or diet, have occurred. Perhaps the cause of such a change was an undiagnosed disease or a change in the ratio of hormones, which may also be pathological and need to be corrected or treated – the doctor should establish this.

How to achieve a pleasant smell of armpits without deodorant?< /h2>

If you consciously do not want to use “chemical” deodorants, pay attention to lime – it also allows you to achieve a pleasant smell of armpits.

Of course, deodorant is still one of the main cosmetics in the summer, but one cannot ignore the fact that in recent years its criticism has become louder. Some scientists believe that substances in deodorants can have a negative effect on the body.

How can you treat your armpits if you don’t want (or can’t) use deodorant?

One of the life hacks that today recommended by many beauty bloggers is the use of lime.

What to do: Cut open a lime and apply its juice to your underarms immediately after showering (but not after shaving!). This can be done by treating the skin directly with the halves of the fruit, or you can apply lime juice to a cotton pad and then dab it under the armpits.

Doctor's comment.According to dermatologist and dermatosurgeon Grigory Goldin, lime additives are indeed found in many cosmetic products – they have a pleasant fresh smell and suppress unpleasant odors, in addition, the acids they contain change the pH value of the skin, so that bacteria (responsible for the smell of sweat) cannot settle on her. On a side note, lime mimics the pore-tightening effect of many antiperspirants and thus acts as a natural deodorant in its own right.

However, care must be taken. a photoallergic reaction quickly occurs, the so-called “marguerite dermatitis” with the appearance of a characteristic rash. Therefore, lime should not be used on hot days – it is better to give preference to proven deodorants that do not contain controversial aluminum salts. For cooler days, it may be suitable.

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Increased body odor is most often caused by three causes, and one of them is the presence of an underlying disease.

In fact, sweat usually does not smell of anything, but when it is broken down by bacteria on the skin, an unpleasant odor can occur – this was recalled in an interview with the Medikforum portal by dermatologist Grigory Goldin. According to the doctor, there are two different types of sweat glands on the skin: eccrine and apocrine. Eccrine glands are located almost throughout the body and usually secrete a clear, odorless liquid that quickly evaporates from the surface of the skin. Apocrine glands are located in areas of the body that contain a large number of hair follicles, such as the groin, armpits. These glands essentially enter the hair follicle and then release sweat from the body. It is believed that these glands secrete sweat, which then mixes with bacteria on the follicles and acquires a “flavor”. Ultimately, the smell of sweat exuded by the body of a particular person depends on the different types of bacteria living on his skin, as well as on the food and drinks that he consumes.

In some cases, the nerves and sweat glands of the body are overstimulated and sweat production is increased. This condition is known as hyperhidrosis.

“Hyperhidrosis is mostly genetic. In some cases, drugs or hormonal changes can also cause hyperhidrosis, especially as we get older,” Goldin noted.
Why does armpits suddenly smell worse than usual?

Dermatologist explains: change in smell in the armpits, a sudden increase in his unpleasant notes usually occurs for the following reasons.

The diet has changed.For example, vegetables of the cruciferous (cabbage) family, related to sulfur products, can change the smell of sweat.

Nervous tension and stress have arisen. Stress hormones stimulate the activity of apocrine glands, and this can contribute that the smell of sweat will become concentrated.

Illness has developed.Medical conditions can also cause sweating and increased sweat odor. A genetic disorder called trimethylaminuria makes the body unable to break down compounds found in fish, soy, and cruciferous vegetables, resulting in a fishy body odor.

Kidney failure, liver disease, and diabetes can also change body odours.

When to see a doctor. If body odor or sweat has suddenly changed, although the person is not stressed and has not changed their diet. This may indicate hormonal changes or an undiagnosed disease.

6 best ways to get rid of unpleasant armpit odor

In summer, the problem of unpleasant body odor, and especially from the armpits, becomes acute for many. However, there are simple and accessible to everyone ways to correct the situation.

Shaving.Take a razor in your hands and get rid of all the hairs in the armpit area. If you sweat regularly, then you will have to shave this area constantly. Shaving helps to greatly reduce the severity of the problem of sweaty armpits or even get rid of it.

Antiperspirants.If you've used deodorants to combat sweat odor before, switch to antiperspirants. They contain substances based on aluminum, which, as it were, clogs the skin pores, allowing sweat drops to pass through. Experts even recommend applying antiperspirant at night so that the pores absorb it and delay the morning sweat. True, it is important that you do not have allergies.

Break between shower and change. After taking a shower, many of us immediately put on clothes. If you have the opportunity, stay naked for a while. This waiting will allow the body to cool and dry, which will prevent heavy sweating in the armpits.

Hygiene after training.Excessive sweating can provoke various skin diseases such as dermatitis. Armpits should be kept as clean as possible. After exercising, be sure to treat these areas of the body, pat dry, apply a moisturizer to reduce irritation.

Discard baking soda. Some people treat their armpits with baking soda because they think it is a great way to deal with the smell of sweat. But baking soda tends to inflame the skin and destroy the skin barrier, which causes more problems.

Less coffee.Caffeine increases sweating and activates the neurological system, it also increases blood pressure, speeds up the heart rate and overloads the sweat glands. If you like coffee so much, then you should not completely refuse it, but it is better to reduce the level of its consumption.

What diseases are indicated by an unpleasant smell from the armpits

Sweating is normal, especially during the hot summer months when the body needs to cool itself. However, the smell of sweat does not have to be repulsive and unpleasant. If the usual observance of hygiene rules reduces this problem to nothing, then there is nothing to worry about.

But, even if hygiene does not help to overcome an unpleasant smell, then you need to pay attention to this, since usually an unpleasant smell of sweat indicates hormonal disruptions and problems in the thyroid gland. There is another symptom when the smell of sweat resembles acetone or nail polish remover. This is observed in case of problems with the digestibility of sugar.

In any of these cases, it is necessary to consult a doctor to undergo a comprehensive examination and identify deviations.

The smell of women's armpits excites men

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Few people find the smell of armpits pleasant. However, a new study has shown that it can play a significant role in the development of real passion.

Dear ladies, give up expensive perfume and seductive underwear. It turns out that the only signal to a man that a woman is ready for a passionate relationship is her natural smell. At least that's the conclusion scientists at the University of Ghent came to when they asked 24 male students to sniff special cotton swabs that had previously been in the armpits of young women who had not used deodorant.

Scientists have found that men are able to distinguish the slightest changes in the axillary aroma of excited women. And the most important thing is that this smell of young people did not repel at all. On the contrary, women with a certain smell of armpits, who were in a state of sexual arousal, attracted men. This is the first scientific study that has shown the ability of the stronger sex to recognize pheromones in the smell of female sweat during sexual arousal.

In the test, the women first read an article about knitting and watched a short film about building bridges. The sweat collected during this period did not seem attractive to men. But when, a week later, the same women read erotic passages from the novel Fifty Shades of Grey, or watched sex scenes from the movie, while collecting sweat from their armpits, the smell of their sweat greatly interested the male volunteers. This is another proof that people are able not only to transmit signals about their mood through sweat, but also to recognize them.

An unusual method is proposed against armpit odor

Underarm odor is a common cosmetic problem. But for some people it can become very serious. American scientists reported that bacteria can be successfully used to combat this smell. vrachu-c39443a.jpg” class=”lazy” width=”664″ height=”368″ style=”max-width:100%;” alt=”armpit odor” />
US researchers representing the University of California shared the results of their unusual project at a dermatological symposium in Sweden. Scientists explained: the human body is densely populated with bacteria that affect health and can cause various disorders, including immune failures and brain pathologies.