Every person sweats out fluid, 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 unpleasant sweat odor.
What is sweat odor?
Thus, sweat odor is not caused by the evaporation of excess fluid, but actually occurs outside the body on the skin. So sweat odor is not caused by the evaporation of excess liquid, but actually only outside the body on the skin. However, in sick people, even fresh sweat can smell unpleasant and sick. Sweat odor is not only found under the armpits, but also especially on the feet. While some people have no problems at all with this, others, on the other hand, suffer from the smell of sweat from their feet, which is unpleasant for themselves and their surroundings. This sweaty smell can be caused or encouraged by wearing closed, air-impermeable shoes made of artificial materials.
Causes
The causes of sweat odor range from uncleanliness, lack of hygiene and the wrong clothing to diseases of various kinds. In summer, people naturally sweat more, because sweating regulates the temperature balance of the body. If you do not wash immediately after sweating, you will have to reckon with the smell of sweat, especially at high outdoor temperatures. Since the fresh sweat of a healthy person does not actually smell of anything, the odor of sweat only develops on the skin after it has escaped, when certain substances decompose during the evaporation process. Wrong clothing such as synthetic fabrics and synthetic footwear promote the formation of sweat odor. Wearing such clothing is also not safe, as it can lead to the dreaded heat buildup when it is very hot outside. If a person is ill, then sweating and therefore sweat odor can occur to an increased extent.
Diseases with this symptom
- Hyperhidrosis
- Drug addiction
- Diabetes mellitus
- Obesity
- Hyperthyroidism
- Hypoglycemia
Diagnosis and course
The doctor usually detects the problem of sweat odor by the patient telling him about it. Some patients not only experience sweat odor as a result of increased perspiration under the armpits and on the feet, but also sweating 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 causes. These range from psychological causes to menopausal symptoms in women and the night sweats of HIV-infected persons to diseases of the thyroid gland. Increased perspiration and thus perspiration odor also occur with certain cancers. Finally, overreactions of the autonomic nervous system can also occur in certain patients such as kidney patients, but also without any diagnosable reason.
Complications
A sweat odor does not necessarily lead to medical complications. However, it is received very negatively and contemptuously by society and is evidence of poor hygiene. For many people, the smell of sweat occurs throughout the day and often has nothing to do with vigorous physical activity. If the smell of sweat is not treated medically, it will not disappear on its own. Often an overproduction of sweat is the reason for the strong smell. Remedies here are deodorants, roll-ons and antiperspirants. 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 in different parts of the body. This minimizes the smell of sweat. Very often this removal takes place especially under the armpits. Complications occur here very rarely. This procedure is one of the daily procedures performed by doctors and often requires only local anesthesia. Only rarely inflammation occurs in the removed areas if they are not properly cared for after the procedure. Usually, the smell of sweat does not lead to further problems if it is not treated. If the sweat odor is related to poor personal hygiene, inflammation may occur on the skin.
When should you go to the doctor?
In many cases, sweat odor is not a cause for concern. Some people sweat heavily, others less. During menopause, due to acute liver disorders or diabetes, increased sweat odor can occur due to sweating all over the body. If this persists or is perceived as a stressful change from the usual condition, a doctor should be consulted. Sweat odor as an accompanying symptom of serious illnesses is also treated by a specialist. Sweat odor is unpleasant. Most people know their individual odor. Therefore, based on the changes in their sweat odor, they can conclude that something is wrong in their body. Sweat odor is most intensely noticeable in the armpits and on the feet. If the unpleasant odor is not due to poor hygiene or sweaty work, other reasons for the development of the odor can be assumed. Those affected should look out for a feeling of illness or accompanying complaints. If they notice diarrhea, liver pressure or an unusually raspy voice, for example, a visit to the doctor might be advisable. If liver pressure or suspected thyroid problems are present, doctor visits should not be delayed. In the case of diarrhea, the sour smell of sweat can often be regulated by self-treatment. However, if diarrhea persists for more than two days, the doctor should be called. This is especially advisable for young children and the elderly. It comes with persistent diarrhea otherwise quickly to dehydration.
Treatment and therapy
The treatment of sweaty 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 the sweating occurs due to menopause, then it can be treated with hormone replacement preparations or with natural remedies such as monk’s pepper or black cohosh. Serious diseases such as HIV and cancer, as well as certain diseases of the lungs and heart, must also be treated in the appropriate specialty. If a patient comes to the dermatologist because he or she complains of increased sweating and there is no other illness present, the dermatologist can give him or her recommendations concerning hygiene and the right clothing. Deodorant and powder, in addition to frequent washing of the parts of the body affected by the smell of sweat, can alleviate the suffering somewhat. Male adolescents sweat much more than girls. They are particularly prone to unpleasant, though not pathological, perspiration odor during puberty. Here, similar to menopause in women, a changed hormonal situation is responsible for the increased sweating and unpleasant sweat odor. Male adolescents should therefore be urged to be particularly careful about hygiene, as penetrating sweat odor can lead to unpleasant reactions from their environment and to exclusion. There are a number of therapies that doctors can initiate in cases of increased perspiration odor. These include, for example, treatments with aluminum chloride, injections with Botox, 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 smell of sweat has caused considerable suffering among those affected.
Outlook and prognosis
A sweat odor usually does not need to be treated by a doctor. In most cases, the smell of sweat arises due to poor and inadequate hygiene and can be removed relatively easily by the affected person. Here, more frequent showers and the use of various care products can help to minimize the smell of sweat. Due to a sweat odor also fellow people are burdened, which can lead to problems with colleagues or friends. Often the smell of sweat leads to social exclusion, from which stress and depression can also arise. In these cases it is also advisable to consult a psychologist. To minimize the smell of sweat, sweat glands can also be removed from certain areas of the body. This removal is usually painless and does not bring any complications. In this case, the sweat glands are permanently removed so that the smell of sweat no longer occurs. If the smell of sweat is caused by poor hygiene, it can also result in fungal infections and other diseases on the skin. These can also be treated by a doctor and usually do not lead to complications.However, if the smell of sweat is caused only by strenuous activity or sports, there is no need to see a doctor. This is a common symptom that does not need to be treated.
Prevention
Sweat odor can be prevented by healthy people through careful hygiene such as regular bathing, showering and washing. In addition, care products such as special deodorants, powders and medicinal tinctures. If there is an underlying disease that causes the smell of sweat, then this must first be treated and the problem may solve itself. Anyone who suffers from unpleasant sweaty odor under the armpits and feet should not only subject their own body hygiene to scrutiny, but also clothing and footwear. Sick people must always be well washed, so that sweat odor does not arise.
This is what you can do yourself
Sweat odor can be reduced by some home remedies and measures. The most effective are probably odor-eliminating deodorant sprays and antibacterial soaps, which kill the bacteria after washing and thus prevent body odor. Antiseptic skin cleansers are helpful for heavy perspiration on very smelly areas of the body. Natural home remedies such as the antiperspirant sage or the antibacterial lavender also have a positive effect on body odor. So do peelings and care baths with lemon, bicarbonate of soda or chamomile. The mentioned care products can be used daily and mostly show a direct effect. In addition, increased body hygiene is particularly important. Affected persons should wipe their armpits several times during the day with a cotton ball previously soaked in vinegar. This kills the bacteria that cause the unpleasant body odor. Witch hazel has a similar effect, which, in addition to a deodorizing effect, has a pleasant odor of its own that masks the smell of sweat. It also helps to change your outer clothing several times a day and to shave regularly under the arms and in the intimate area, otherwise sweat and bacteria will stick and intensify the odor. If the problems persist despite everything, a visit to the doctor is recommended.
