Odor of sweat

Everyone sweats out fluids, which is a completely natural process. The sweat glands are responsible for the removal of sweat, which in combination with fatty acids and amino acids creates an unpleasant sweat odor.

What is sweat odor?

The smell of sweat does not arise from the evaporation of excess fluid, but actually only outside the body on the skin.

The smell of sweat does not arise from the evaporation of excess fluid, but actually only outside the body on the skin.

But fresh sweat can also smell unpleasant and sick in sick people. The smell of sweat is not only to be found under the armpits, but above all on the feet. While some people have no problems with this at all, others suffer from an unpleasant smell of sweat on their feet for themselves and those around them.

This sweat odor can arise or be enhanced by wearing closed, airtight shoes made of artificial materials.

causes

The causes of sweat odor range from uncleanliness, poor hygiene and the wrong clothing to a wide variety of diseases. In summer, people naturally sweat more, because sweating regulates the body's temperature balance.

If you don't wash yourself immediately after sweating, you should expect a sweat odor, especially when the outside temperature is high. Since fresh sweat in healthy people does not actually smell of anything, the smell of sweat only appears after it has escaped on the skin, when certain substances decompose during the evaporation process.

Incorrect clothing such as synthetic fabrics and synthetic footwear encourage the formation of sweat odor. Wearing such clothing is also dangerous, as it can lead to the dreaded build-up of heat when it is very hot outside. If a person is sick, sweating and thus a sweat odor can occur to a greater extent.

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Diseases with this symptom

• Hyperhidrosis
• Drug addiction

• Diabetes mellitus
• Obesity

• Hyperthyroidism
• Hypoglycaemia

Diagnosis & course

The doctor usually determines the problem of sweat odor by the patient reporting it to him. In some patients, there is not only a sweat odor due to increased perspiration under the armpits and on the feet, but also from perspiration on the forehead and also on the hands.

He will try to determine the cause of the sweating based on other symptoms and possibly a blood count. Sweating can have many, different reasons. These range from psychological causes to menopausal symptoms in women and the night sweats of HIV-infected people to diseases of the thyroid gland.

With certain cancers, too, increased perspiration and thus a sweat odor occurs. Finally, overreactions of the autonomic nervous system can occur in certain patients such as kidney patients, but also without a diagnosable reason.

Complications

The smell of sweat does not necessarily have to lead to medical complications. However, it is received very negatively and contemptuously by society and is evidence of poor hygiene. For many people, the odor of sweat arises throughout the day and is often not related to vigorous physical activity.

If the odor of sweat is not treated medically, it will not go away on its own. Often an overproduction of sweat is the reason for the strong odor. Deodorants, roll-ons and antiperspirants can help here. The smell of sweat can also be treated medically if the person concerned feels uncomfortable with it and is not accepted in society.

The doctor can remove the sweat glands from different parts of the body. This will minimize the smell of sweat. Very often this removal takes place mainly under the armpits. Complications are very rare here. This procedure is one of the daily interventions by doctors and often only requires a local anesthetic.

Inflammation rarely occurs in the remote areas if not properly cared for after the procedure. Typically, the odor of sweat does not create further problems if left untreated. If the smell of sweat is related to poor personal hygiene, inflammation can occur on the skin.

When should you go to the doctor?

In many cases, the odor of sweat is not a cause for concern. Some people sweat a lot, others less. During menopause, acute liver disorders or diabetes, sweating all over the body can lead to increased odor. If this persists or is perceived as a stressful change to the usual state, a doctor should be consulted. The smell of sweat accompanying serious illnesses is treated by the specialist.

The smell of sweat is unpleasant. Most people know their individual smell. Therefore, based on the changes in the smell of sweat, they can conclude that something is wrong in their body. The smell of sweat is most noticeable in the armpits and on the feet. If the unpleasant smell is not due to poor hygiene or sweaty work, other reasons for the odor development can be assumed.

Those affected should watch out for a feeling of illness or accompanying complaints. For example, if you notice diarrhea, liver pressure, or an unusually harsh voice, a doctor may be advisable. If you have liver pressure or suspected thyroid problems, you should not delay a doctor's visit. With diarrhea, the sour sweat odor can often be regulated by self-treatment. However, if the diarrhea persists for more than two days, a doctor should be called. This is particularly advisable for young children and the elderly. Otherwise, if the diarrhea persists, dehydration quickly occurs.

Doctors & therapists in your area

Treatment & Therapy

Treatment of sweat odor is carried out depending on the diagnosis. If there are psychological reasons for the sweating of the hands or forehead, then a specialist in psychiatry or a neurologist must research the causes. If sweating occurs due to menopause, hormone replacement preparations or natural remedies such as monk's pepper or black cohosh can be treated.

Serious illnesses such as HIV and cancer, but also certain diseases of the lungs and heart, must also be treated in the relevant specialist area. If a patient comes to the dermatologist because he or she complains of increased sweating and there is no other illness, he can give him recommendations on hygiene and the right clothing. Deodorant and powder can, in addition to frequent washing of the parts of the body affected by the odor of sweat, alleviate the suffering a little.

Male adolescents sweat a lot more than girls. They develop an unpleasant, if not pathological, sweat odor, especially during puberty. Similar to menopause in women, a changed hormone situation is responsible for increased sweating and unpleasant sweat odor. Male adolescents should therefore be encouraged to be particularly careful about hygiene, as penetrating sweat odor can lead to unpleasant reactions from those around them and to exclusion.

There are a number of therapies that the doctor can initiate in the event of increased sweat odor. This includes, for example, treatments with aluminum chloride, botox injections, but also the removal of sweat glands by the dermatologist. However, this is a type of treatment that is not paid for by health insurance companies, even if the odor of sweat has caused considerable suffering among those affected.

Outlook & forecast

A sweat odor usually does not need to be treated by a doctor. In most cases, the smell of sweat is caused by poor and poor hygiene and can be removed relatively easily by the person concerned. More frequent showering and the use of different care products can help to minimize the smell of sweat.

The smell of sweat also affects other people, which can lead to problems with colleagues or friends. The smell of sweat often leads to social exclusion, which can also lead to stress and depression. In these cases it is also advisable to see a psychologist.

To minimize the smell of sweat, sweat glands can also be removed from certain places on the body. This removal is usually painless and does not involve any complications. In this case, the sweat glands are permanently removed so that there is no longer a sweat odor.

If the sweat odor is caused by poor hygiene, fungal infections and other diseases can develop on the skin. These can also be treated by the doctor and usually do not lead to complications.

However, if the smell of sweat is only caused by strenuous activity or sport, there is no need to see a doctor. This is a common symptom that doesn't need treatment.

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➔ Drugs against sweating and sweating

prevention

A healthy person can prevent sweat odor through careful hygiene such as regular bathing, showering and washing. There are also care products such as special deodorants, powders and medicinal tinctures.

If there is an underlying disease that causes the sweat odor, it must first be treated and the problem may resolve itself.

Anyone who suffers from an unpleasant smell of sweat under the armpits and feet should not only examine their own personal hygiene, but also their clothing and shoes. Sick people must always be washed well so that there is no smell of sweat.

You can do that yourself

You can reduce the odor of sweat with a few home remedies and measures. Most effective are probably odor-removing deodorant sprays and antibacterial soaps, which kill the bacteria after washing and thus prevent body odor. Antiseptic skin cleansers help when there is a lot of perspiration in areas of the body that smell very strongly.

Natural home remedies such as antiperspirant sage or antibacterial lavender also have positive effects on body odor. Likewise, peelings and baths with lemon, baking soda or chamomile. The mentioned care products can be used daily and mostly show a direct effect. In addition, it is important to pay particular attention to increased personal hygiene. Those affected should wipe their armpits several times during the day with a cotton ball that has been soaked in vinegar. This kills the bacteria that are causing the unpleasant body odor.

Witch hazel has a similar effect. In addition to its deodorizing effect, it also has a pleasant odor that masks the smell of sweat. It also helps to change outer clothing several times a day and to shave regularly under the arms and in the genital area, as otherwise sweat and bacteria stick and increase the odor. If the problems persist despite everything, a visit to the doctor is recommended.

↳ More information: 10 tips against sweating