Why is there a strange odor coming from my body?

Body odor is caused by a mix of bacteria and sweat on your skin. Your body odor can change due to hormones, the food you eat, infection, medications or underlying conditions like diabetes. Prescription-strength antiperspirants or medications may help.

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When should I be concerned about body odor?

Most of the time body odor isn't a problem and a shower will quickly wash it away. But if you notice a change in body odor or you're sweating much more than usual, it could be a sign of a medical condition that needs treatment.

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Does body odor indicate illness?

While some body odor is normal, a particularly strong smell could be a sign of skin disease, doctor and author Jennifer Stagg tells Bustle. "Skin infections can present with a putrid odor from the byproducts of bacterial growth.

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What is abnormal body odor?

What is bromhidrosis? Bromhidrosis, also known as osmidrosis or ozochrotia, is an unpleasant or offensive body odour due to any cause including poor hygiene, infections, diet or medications, or inherited metabolic disorders. It may be associated with hyperhidrosis.

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Why do I smell body odor but no one else does?

Phantosmia is a condition that causes you to detect smells that aren't actually in your environment. It can happen in one nostril or both — and the odors may be foul or pleasant. Common causes include colds, allergies, nasal polyps and dental issues.

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What Does Your Body Odor Say about Your Health?

36 related questions found

What autoimmune disease causes body odor?

Trimethylaminuria is a disorder in which the body is unable to break down trimethylamine, a chemical compound that has a pungent odor. Trimethylamine has been described as smelling like rotten or decaying fish.

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What does diabetes body odor smell like?

BODY ODOR: FRUITY BREATH IS A SYMPTOM OF DIABETES

D., chief medical officer at the Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston. People with type 1 diabetes generally experience it more than those with type 2 diabetes do.

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What diseases can cause bad odor?

A person with kidney failure may have breath that smells like ammonia or urine. Serious liver disease can make breath smell musty or like garlic and rotten eggs. Compounds that are transported through the blood can also be released through your sweat glands. That can make your armpits and skin smell bad.

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How do you get rid of weird body odor?

Tips for Reducing Body Odor
  1. Keep Yourself Squeaky Clean.
  2. Use Antibacterial Soap.
  3. Towel Off Well.
  4. Use 'Industrial Strength' Antiperspirants.
  5. Keep Your Clothes Clean.
  6. Cut Out or Cut Back on Certain Foods or Drinks.
  7. Other Body Odor Treatments.
  8. Other Body Odor Preventions.

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What does trimethylaminuria smell like?

Trimethylaminuria symptoms can be present from birth, but they may not start until later in life, often around puberty. The only symptom is an unpleasant smell, typically of rotting fish – although it can be described as smelling like other things – that can affect the: breath. sweat.

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Does thyroid cause body odor?

Thyroid problems.

Occasionally, an overactive thyroid can also cause body odor. This is because the patient tends to sweat excessively due to the hyper-functioning thyroid gland. This condition can also be ruled out by physical examination and blood studies.

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Why do I still smell after a shower?

Hair is another place where bacteria like to hide. If you still smell a strong body odor after a shower, consider shaving the hair in your armpits, groin, and chest. The hair's surface is a perfect place for bacteria to call home, and it's harder to eliminate them from the hair than your bare skin.

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What can you do if you start to notice body odor?

Lifestyle and home remedies
  1. Bathe daily. Regular bathing, especially with an antibacterial soap, reduces the growth of bacteria on your skin.
  2. Choose clothing to suit your activity. For daily wear, choose natural fabrics, such as cotton, wool and silk. ...
  3. Try relaxation techniques. ...
  4. Change your diet.

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What are the 5 causes of body odour?

5 Causes Of Body Odour
  • Sugar. If you are the type that takes too much of sugary things, it might cause body odour. ...
  • Synthetic clothing. Synthetic clothing keep sweat locked in because there is no way for them to go out. ...
  • Spicy food. ...
  • Alcohol. ...
  • Not washing your brassiere. ...
  • as an information resource only.

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What bacteria causes body odor?

The culprit is an enzyme called C-T lyase, found in the bacterium Staphylococcus hominis, which dwells in human armpits. These bacteria feed on odorless chemicals released in sweat, which the enzyme then converts into thioalcohols—a pungent compound responsible for the offending smell.

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How do you know if you smell bad to others?

If you're worried you're one of these people, one trick is to lick your wrist, wait ten seconds, then sniff the patch you licked: If it smells, chances are, so does your breath. An even more reliable method, of course, is simply to ask someone.

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Why does my sweat smell sour all of a sudden?

Sweat can smell like vinegar because of diseases such as diabetes, trichomycosis, and kidney disease, or because of hormone changes, certain foods, or skin infections. Sweat is released by sweat glands that are found throughout the body.

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What does liver disease smell like?

Severely ill patients often have characteristic smells. Patients with diabetic ketoacidosis have the fruity smell of ketones, although a substantial number of people are unable to detect this. Foetor hepaticus is a feature of severe liver disease; a sweet and musty smell both on the breath and in urine.

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What does kidney disease body odor smell like?

Trimethylaminuria (fish malodour syndrome) is a rare genetic metabolic disorder presented with a body odour which smells like a decaying fish. This odour is highly objectionable, that can be destructive for the social, and work life of the patient.

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Can hormone imbalance cause body odor?

Hormone imbalances and body odor often go together. Dips in estrogen can trigger hot flashes and night sweats, meaning you simply sweat more, which in turn can result in more odor.

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Can too much sugar cause body odor?

One such sign of high blood sugar is peculiar body odours, especially in your breath. It is crucial to be aware of these signs and seek immediate medical treatment.

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What vitamin deficiency causes body odor?

The two B-vitamins that might have some connection to body odor are vitamin B-1 (thiamin) and the B vitamin choline, Jasonides tells Lucy. If taken in mega doses, thiamin is excreted not only in urine, but also through the skin, and this changes body odor.

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What organ affects body odor?

Sweating and body odor are caused by sweat glands in your body. The two main types of sweat glands are eccrine glands and apocrine glands. Eccrine glands occur over most of your body and open directly onto the surface of the skin.

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