What is armpit odor?

Armpit odor, the most common form of body odor is the unpleasant smell that is linked to stale perspiration under the arms. When the perspiration is exposed for some time to the atmosphere, chemical changes take place due to the active bacteria present on the skin’s surface. This can result in odor though initially the perspiration is odorless. Armpit odor is not truly the smell of perspiration as commonly assumed since the sweat secreted by the body is odorless. It is in fact the chemical changes caused by the bacteria while they break down the protein into acids.

An average person has about 3-4 million sweat glands in the body that are responsible for secreting perspiration. These can be classified into two types:

• Eccrine Glands — These glands are the source for most perspiration. They secrete salts and water that reach the skin through coiled ducts or tubes when the nervous system senses the body heat. These glands are responsible for controlling the body temperature. The sweat produced by these glands is high in salt content and thus bacteria find it harder to break down the protein.
• Apocrine Glands — These glands secrete sweat through the hair follicles and are present in large numbers in armpits. The sweat secreted by these glands contains organic substance (fatty substance) also known as sebum. The sweat contains high amount of protein which the bacteria finds easier to break. The breaking down of protein in sweat by the bacteria present on the armpit results in underarm odor. Thus, it can be assumed that the apocrine glands are more responsible for the armpit body odor.

Smelly armpit usually starts being evident when reaching puberty as the apocrine glands begins to develop at the age of 13 to 15. However, even in children, armpit odor is noticed in case of hyperhydrosis.

The only symptom for armpit odor is the unpleasant smell given out by the body.

Causes of Armpit Odor

The bacterial activity of breaking down of proteins into acids exudes foul smell from underarms. More than 30 chemicals were found contributing to body odor, the main one being 3-methyl-2-hexenoic acid.

Let’s have a look at what causes armpit odor:

Sweating is the main cause for body odor as it contains organic substances and the bacteria present on the skin surface start breaking these down into acids. Overactive bacteria present in the underarms causes the odor. Poor hygienic habits result in foul smelling armpits.

Intake of spicy foods involving garlic, onions, curries also result in temporary change in smell. Deficiency of zinc, toxins and cavities along with other dietary imbalances bring alterations in the natural body smell.

Stress and anxiety, at times, result in underarm odor since the body sweats profusely in case of stress.

Armpit odor can be hereditary as family members are generally found to have related smells.

Diseases like kidney or liver illness and diabetes are also among armpit odor causes. Liver patients smell like ammonia in case of armpit odor while diabetics smell similar to a nail polish. Taking strong medicines too affect the body smell at times. Individuals taking drugs and toxins like pericyasine and topiramate also complain about smelly armpits.

Gastrointestinal problems, skin problems, bacterial growth, fungal infection, fever and prolonged intestines too are some of the causes of armpit odor.

Image source : howstuffworks.com

Armpit odor in women is noticed following menopause as excessive sweating is noticed during this period.

Armpit odor in men is stronger as they are more physical in general compared to women.

Personal habits like tobacco, smoking, alcohol and caffeine also cause underarm odor.

Good hygiene involves not just maintaining a clean body but also good clean clothes. Fabrics like cotton can easily absorb foul odors. Non-breathing fabrics cause more sweating and also prevents the perspiration from vaporizing thereby increasing the smell.

Decrease in male hormones’ levels, low blood sugar, weak metabolism and hyperthyroidism too cause foul-smell in perspiration.

Armpit Odor Treatment

Being unbearable at times and a cause of embarrassment, individuals with foul-smelling underarms keep wondering on how to get rid of armpit odor.

Given below are a few armpit odor remedies and ways to minimize the bad smell:

Armpits have the apocrine glands in large numbers causing unpleasant smell on perspiration. To avoid odor, the underarms should be washed regularly with anti-bacterial soap to keep the number of bacteria minimum. Take a shower or bath at least once a day. Warm water is quite effective in killing bacteria present on the skin and thus stop armpit odor.

Armpits should be shaved regularly as the hair prevents evaporation of sweat giving time enough for the bacteria to break the protein into smelly acids.

Deodorants help to eliminate armpit odor by making the skin more acidic. This creates difficulties for bacteria to carry out their activities. Antiperspirants work by blocking the sweat glands and thereby resulting in less perspiration. However, excessive use of deodorants and antiperspirants should be avoided as these can cause breast cancer or prostate cancer.

Natural fibers like cotton, wool and silk allow the skin to breathe and thus helping in quicker evaporation of sweat.

Spicy foods like garlic, curry and also red meat has the potential to turn sweat more unpleasant.

A suitable drug that contains aluminum chloride is prescribed by the doctors to help reduce armpit odor.

Individuals with armpit odors are being treated with Botulinum toxin injections in the armpits. About 12 injections are used in this procedure that is done in about 45 minutes. This toxin helps in reducing perspiration by blocking the signals from the brain to underarm sweat glands.

Most of the cases of unpleasant smelling underarms are related to hygiene. Therefore, cultivating clean habits work almost every time in fighting body odor.  Never hesitate to consult a doctor if the underarm stench persists as the home remedies for armpit odor may not always work.

References:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Body_odor

http://www.wikihow.com/Eliminate-Body-Odor

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/sweating-and-body-odor/DS00305/DSECTION=causes

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