Body Odor Due to Bacterial Growth Inside the Body

It is normal to experience body odor; however, when the odor emanating from our bodies is foul-smelling and overpowering, the underlying cause should be treated. Also known as bromhidrosis, body odor rarely occurs in children and is mainly experienced by post-pubertal individuals. In certain cases, body odor can turn chronic and impair quality of life. Unpleasant body odor results from several factors but is generally caused by bacterial degeneration of proteins into acid within our bodies.

Secretory Glands

• The eMedicine website states that two main glands in our bodies, apocrine and eccrine, are responsible for skin secretion. The eccrine gland, located across the skin, is responsible for sweat production while the apocrine gland is present in the breasts, genital area, eyelids, armpits and ear and secretes small amounts of oily fluid, which produce body odor upon bacterial decomposition of the fluids.

Causes

• According to the Medical News Today website, an unhealthy diet, improper health and lifestyle conditions, gender and medication influence body odor. The apocrine gland is more active in men than in women, rarely observed in the elderly and predominantly affects dark-skinned ethnic races. While those who sweat excessively are susceptible to body odor, they may not necessarily have a foul-smelling odor as the high salt levels in their sweat prevents the bacteria from decomposing. However, the extent of their body odor is dependent on the type of sweat gland involved.

Prevention

• In most cases, body odor is caused by poor hygiene habits. According to Dr. Trisha Macnair in an article on the BBC website, regulating your personal care regimen with regular baths, wearing clean clothes and avoiding tight-fitting garments and those made from synthetic materials can eliminate the problem. Consume a diet rich in fruits and vegetables and drink plenty of water to aid the excretion of putrefied matter from the body. The Hyperhidrosis website recommends that you avoid spicy and strong-smelling foods like onion and garlic.

Treatments

• In addition to hygiene and diet-control measures, apply a topical deodorant and regularly shave axillary hair to prevent accumulation of sweat and bacteria on the hair shafts. In extreme cases, electrolysis is also an option to reduce bacterial growth and the resultant odor. Antiseptic soaps and topical antibiotics like clindamycin and erythromycin also resolve the problem. However, topical antibiotics should only be used if antiseptics are ineffective, as they contribute to a greater risk of bacterial resistance.

Considerations

• Genetic disorders, stress and medical conditions also influence the extent of body odor. Hyperthyroidism, menopause, diabetes, liver and kidney dysfunctions and skin diseases like psoriasis and eczema alter body odor and encourage fungal growth. It is important to treat these underlying health conditions in order to effectively eliminate the root cause of the body odor.