When are smelly armpits a sign of a serious illness?

The summer of 2018 has been a scorcher exacerbating an already difficult body odour (B.O) situation when stuck in busy tubes, lifts, and long commutes. And yes, we all know that for most people, a spray of deodorant and a thorough wash is all that is needed.

Early diagnosis is crucial – we are calling on all of you to make unexpected changes in your body seriously, to stop burying your head in the sand, and be on the case those stubborn people in your life to get checked up. Sadly, an extremely squeezed NHS means that small changes are rarely looked into, so you should really think about investing in your health by going to a private clinic.

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Non-serious reasons why someone might smell a little

• Firstly, of course, is poor personal hygiene.
• Secondly, they may be eating certain foods that when flushed out through the skin, cause a strong smell. Garlic and spices are the usual offenders.
• Thirdly, it can also be related to hormonal changes (which is why teenagers tend to pong, poor mites) and extreme physical or mental stress.

Therefore, most cases of body odour will have a relatively simple or transient cause. However, if someone SUDDENLY starts smelling bad who didn’t before, it’s unlikely that they’ve just suddenly decided to stop washing or eating a whole new diet, right?

Serious reasons why you or someone you know might start to smell

Diabetes

One of the most common reasons is diabetes, also known as the silent killer. Diabetes is a serious and life-long condition where your body is unable to produce enough insulin, or use it well enough, to regulate the sugar levels in the blood. When you have diabetes your glucose levels are too high. If your blood sugar is poorly controlled, you develop something called ketoacidosis which results not only in a strange breath smell like an old fruit bowl but also a distinctive body odour. You need to get checked out right away if this is happening to you. It’s no joke and no, it can’t wait until next week.

Kidney or Liver disease

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Another reason for a bad body smell is serious kidney or liver disease. These crucial organs are responsible for processing and eliminating toxins from the body. If they cannot do this, the body will smell differently and more strongly. In addition to changes in urination and other symptoms, this could certainly indicate kidney or liver damage, or disease and it is vital to get checked out by a medical doctor quickly.

Overactive Thyroid

Finally, an overactive thyroid can cause the body to smell due to the increase in sweat due to the hyperfunction of the thyroid gland. Thyroid dysfunction has many long-term and immediate-term health implications. If you are sweating too much, take it seriously.

Overall, strong body odour is likely to have a simple cause but if it is an unexpected and unexplained change or is not going away with the usual changes to personal hygiene, you really should see your doctor.

How does sweat work?

It’s important to understand how sweat works if you are experiencing smelly armpits. Our bodies have two types of sweat glands: eccrine and apocrine. Eccrine glands are found all over the body and produce a watery sweat primarily for temperature regulation. Apocrine glands, located in areas like the armpits and groin, secrete a thicker fluid that, when broken down by bacteria on the skin, can produce a strong odour.

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One of the most common causes of smelly armpits in the breakdown of this sweat by bacteria. We all have natural bacteria on our skin and that’s totally normal. However, when our sweat interacts with that bacteria, it can cause the production of compounds that can have a strong smell. This is especially true in the armpits, where the warm and moist environment encourages more bacteria to grow. If you live in a warm climate, this becomes even more potent.

However, it is also possible that you have a more serious infection such as MRSA or another bacterial infection, of bacteria that is not commonly found naturally on your skin. MRSA can lead to skin infections and is unfortunately quite resistant to some antibiotics. MRSA infections can product a foul smell and can also be accompanied by symptoms such as redness, swelling and pain. This is a serious infection so you must see a doctor if you think you have an MRSA infection.

Can hormones affect my armpit smell?

Yes! Hormonal fluctuations during menstruation, menopause and puberty, or if you’re taking any hormonal treatments can certainly heighten the activity of the apocrine glands (described above).

What about stress?

Emotional stress can trigger the body’s “fight-or-flight” response, leading to increased sweating (that you might not notice) and stronger body odour. Like with hormones, stress-related sweating tends to come from the apocrine glands, which are more likely to smell when they interact with your natural skin bacteria.

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