What determines the smell of sweat and how to reduce it

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

7 non-obvious reasons why sweat smells stronger and worse than usual

Why does sweat smell

In fact, sweat does not smell most of the time. It is needed by the body for cooling, consists mainly of water and is odorless. Don't believe me? Then just sniff the little children frolicking in the heat!

In adults, the situation is somewhat more complicated: during puberty, the so-called apocrine sweat glands are activated, which Lifehacker has already talked about. They are mainly concentrated on the parts of the body covered with hair: under the armpits, in the groin area, on the head. But some of them are also present on the feet and palms. Their feature is more "fat" sweat.

In addition to water and a small amount of electrolyte salts, apocrine sweat contains various products of protein metabolism, volatile fatty acids and other compounds. This mixture already has a scent. But it cannot be called unpleasant. Apocrine sweat determines the individual sexual aroma of each person. It is barely discernible, but it can be intoxicating, dizzy - in general, beckon the representatives of the opposite sex.

Unfortunately, in addition to members of the opposite sex, bacteria are also attracted by apocrine sweat. Still: such a nutritious composition! Microbes living on the skin, on which an increased dose of this life-giving moisture is suddenly splashed out, begin to multiply at a tenfold speed. And where there are a lot of bacteria, there is also their waste: chemical compounds with an unpleasant, sweaty odor.

What affects the smell of sweat and why some don't smell

Sweat smell is usually not difficult to deal with. After you sweat, it takes several hours for the bacteria to multiply and start smelling. If during this time you have time to take a shower, use wet wipes, change wet clothes, then the appearance of a stupefying aroma in every sense will not threaten you.

In theory. In practice, as always, there are nuances.

Every human body is different. Some are lucky. Even after sweating seriously and not taking any hygienic measures after that, they remain fresh (dust, dirt, and so on, in this case, we take out of the brackets). According to the American Chemical Society, these people lack the protein compounds needed for bacteria to multiply on their skin. The microbes in their sweat have nothing to profit from, they multiply poorly, and an unpleasant odor does not arise.

The smell of sweat is not familiar to about 2% of Europeans and most Asians.

Others are less fortunate. They start to smell not even after a few hours, but almost immediately after the appearance of sweat. And it's not always a matter of bacteria. Often - in the characteristics of the body, inattention, habit to a particular way of life and even hidden health problems.

Why sweat odor can be unpleasant and strong

1. You wear sports shoes or closed shoes without socks

Socks are usually made from breathable fabrics. Their main task is to wick moisture away from the feet. When you neglect your socks, moisture does not drain away and your feet are literally bathed in sweat and rapidly multiplying bacteria in it.

Moreover, the bacteria in this area are special: microbes of the Bacillus subtilis species like to settle on the soles. They give Foot odor due to microbial metabolism and its control to sweaty skin and shoes that very specific and very strong smell.

2. You wear non-breathable clothing

Natural fibers such as cotton, linen, even wool are breathable and moisture-wicking. This means that, firstly, they provide free access of air to the skin, preventing it from overheating and sweating intensely. And secondly, they absorb the sweat that has appeared and bring it out. In this case, bacteria simply do not have a breeding ground and an unpleasant odor does not arise.

Stinky T-Shirt Synthetics? Bacteria Love Polyester In A Special Way: polyester, nylon, viscose. Such fabrics look light and beautiful, but do not wick away moisture. As a result, sweat is trapped, and microbes get a real nutrient pool. Their concentration increases at an accelerated rate, and an unpleasant odor appears earlier and is felt more strongly than in clothes made from natural fabrics.

3. You eat a lot of spices

Garlic, curry, and other spices emit sulfur-containing gases during digestion. According to American dermatologist Marie Jhin, these gases are excreted from the body, including through the pores, giving the skin an unpleasant scent. To make the smell intensify, you just need to sweat.

4. You went overboard at the party

The body perceives alcohol as a poison and seeks to decompose it into its components as quickly as possible and remove it. Most of the alcohol is processed in the liver and excreted in the urine.

It is worse if you have drunk more than the liver can quickly process, or this organ is malfunctioning for some reason. In this case, the products of ethanol processing begin to be released with respiration (this is how fumes arise) and through the pores of the skin.

Some breakdown products, such as acetic acid, have a very specific odor. When you sweat, they begin to rapidly evaporate from the skin and an unpleasant odor of sweat becomes apparent.

5. You are taking certain medications

Some medications, such as antipyretics or morphine-based medications, dramatically increase sweating and / or break down into constituents in the body and change body odor. With all the effects that evaporate with perspiration.

6. You have some hormonal disruptions

The number and composition of bacteria living on the skin largely depends on the hormonal balance of the body. That is why - due to the different ratios of androgens, progesterone and estrogen - men tend to smell stronger and sharper than women.

Diabetes, menopause and other hormonal disruptions can also speed up or slow down the multiplication of certain bacteria on the skin. By the way, they often increase sweating, which makes the unpleasant odor even more pronounced.

7. You are malnourished

Magnesium deficiency, Book: Magnesium, The Nutrient That Could Change Your Life, or a diet high in Body Odor protein at the expense of other nutrients has been shown to give the body a pungent, unpleasant odor that is exacerbated by perspiration.

How to get rid of sweat odor

Given the information above, the solutions are obvious.

1. Review your diet to eliminate foods that increase sweating and unpleasant odors.
2. Wear breathable fabrics.
3. Use antiperspirants: when used correctly, they not only mask the odor, but also reduce the amount of sweat you produce.
4. Do not wear closed shoes without socks and try to ventilate them regularly.
5. Become familiar with the side effects of the medications you are taking. If medication increases sweating or causes an unpleasant odor, consult your doctor about replacement options.
6. See an endocrinologist to make sure there are no hormonal disruptions. This is especially true if you notice a sudden change in the smell of sweat.
7. After sweating, try to shower or use wet wipes no later than an hour and a half later.