Bad body odor is what you smell when our sweat comes in contact with the bacteria on our skin. Sweat itself doesn’t smell, but when the bacteria on our skin mix with our sweat, it causes an odor. Body odor can smell sweet, sour, tangy or like onions. The amount we sweat doesn’t necessarily impact our body odor. That’s why a person can have an unpleasant body odor but not be sweaty. Conversely, a person can sweat excessively but not smell. This is because bad body odor is a result of the type of bacteria on our skin and how that bacterium interacts with sweat, not the sweat itself. Sweating is the secretion of fluids by sweat glands onto our skin’s surface.

There are two types of sweat glands: eccrine and apocrine. Apocrine glands are responsible for producing body odor.

Eccrine glands

Eccrine glands secrete sweat directly to the surface of our skin. As the sweat evaporates, it helps cool our skin and regulate our body temperature. It doesn’t produce a smell. When our body temperature rises due to physical exertion or being hot, the evaporation of sweat from our skin produces a cooling effect. Eccrine glands cover most of our body, including palms and soles.

Apocrine glands

Apocrine glands open up into our hair follicles. Hair follicles are the tube-like structure that keeps your hair in our skin. We can find apocrine glands in our groin and armpits. These glands produce sweat that can smell when it comes in contact with bacteria on our skin. Apocrine glands don’t start working until puberty, which is why we don’t smell body odor in young children.

Sweating is a natural body process, but due to certain foods we eat, hygiene practices or genetics, sweat can have a bad smell once it comes into contact with our skin. Changes in the amount we sweat, or the smell of our body odor could indicate a medical condition.

Who is more likely to experience foul body odor?

People assigned male at birth (AMAB) have more frequent problems with body odor because they have more hair (so they have more apocrine glands). Apocrine glands become active once a person reaches puberty, so body odor doesn’t begin until adolescence.

Bad body odor happens when bacteria on our skin come in contact with sweat. Our skin is naturally covered with bacteria. When we sweat, the water, salt and fat mix with these bacteria and can cause odor. The odor can be bad, good or have no smell at all. Factors like the foods we eat, hormones or medications can affect body odor. A condition called hyperhidrosis makes a person sweat excessively. People with this condition may be more susceptible to bad body odor because they sweat so much, but it’s often the eccrine sweat glands that cause the most discomfort with sweaty palms and feet.

Every time we sweat, there’s a chance we will produce bad body odor. Some people are more susceptible to foul body odor than other people.

Other factors that can affect body odor are:

• Exercise.
• Stress or anxiety.
• Hot weather.
• Having overweight/obesity.
• Genetics.

Why does my sweat smell bad?

There can be several reasons our sweat smells bad. For example, certain allopathic medications, supplements or foods can make our sweat smell bad. Remember, the sweat itself isn’t what smells; it’s the bacteria on our skin combined with the sweat.

Several allopathic medical conditions and diseases are associated with changes in a person’s usual body scent:

• Diabetes.
• Gout.
• Menopause
• Overactive thyroid.
• Liver disease.
• Kidney disease.
• Infectious diseases.

If you have diabetes, a change in body odor could be a sign of diabetes-related ketoacidosis. High ketone levels cause your blood to become acidic and your body odor to be fruity. In the case of liver or kidney disease, your odor may give off a bleach-like smell due to toxin buildup in your body.

Do hormonal changes cause body odor to smell?

Yes, changes in hormones can cause our body odor to smell. Hot flashes, night sweats and hormonal fluctuations experienced during menopause cause excessive sweating, which leads to changes in body odor. Sometimes body odor changes when a lady gets pregnant or menstruating. Research suggests a person’s body odor changes during ovulation (the time in a person’s menstrual cycle when they can become pregnant) to attract a mate.

Can certain foods cause body odor?

If you eat food rich in sulfur, you may develop bad body odor. Sulfur smells like rotten eggs. When your body secretes it in your sweat, it can put off an unpleasant smell. Examples of sulfur-rich foods are:

• Onions.
• Garlic.
• Cabbage.
• Broccoli.
• Cauliflower.
• Red meat.

Certain foods can make us sweat more. This extra sweat can give us a stronger body odor. The foods don’t directly trigger body odor, but they can be a factor in how we smell because they affect how much we sweat.

These include:

• Monosodium glutamate (MSG).
• Caffeine.
• Spices.
• Hot sauce or other spicy food.
• Alcohol.

Allopathic treatments for excessive sweating and body odor depend on the underlying cause.

Treatment for body odor could include:

Botulinum

Small injections of botulinum toxin (Botox) in armpits can temporarily block sweating. It can smooth out deep wrinkles and lines, but the results aren’t permanent. The drug works by inhibiting the release of acetylcholine, which is the chemical that activates sweat, roughly 25 to 20 spots in each armpit may produce up to 14 months of relief from sweating and bad body odor.

Iontophoresis

Anticholinergics

If other treatments fail to bring relief or there are some severe conditions that require surgery, which involves removing sweat glands from under your arms or preventing nerve signals from reaching your sweat glands. Surgery is permanent but carries many risks.

Antibiotics

Antibiotics to reduce the bacteria on the skin.

Electromagnetic Radiation

Sweat glands (SGs) are part of the autonomic nervous system. Electrochemical and wearable techniques are available to quantify sweat elements, electromagnetic waves can destroy sweat glands under your arms. There are no non-invasive technologies to assess sweat gland dimensional changes. It is also correlated to physiological stress as manifested by the pulse rate and the systolic blood pressure.

Homeopathic Treatment for Body Odor

Homeopathic treatment is the most efficient, long lasting and without any side effects method. There are many other medical conditions that may be treated along with bad body odor based on the circumstances of the patient, for example:

Menopause

Menopause plays a little trick on the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus is embedded deep inside the brain. It does several things, but one of the hypothalamus’ most important functions is controlling our body temperature. When a person is too cold, it’s the hypothalamus that tells our muscles to shiver, and vice versa.

About 80% of menopausal women will experience dropping estrogen levels throw the body’s temperature regulation out of whack. Symptoms include becoming flushed and sweaty.

Vaginal yeast infection caused by an overgrowth of the fungus candida, its growth is usually kept in check by acid produced by another naturally occurring bacteria, lactobacillus. When this balance is disrupted – often by antibiotics, pregnancy, diabetes or a compromised immune system – a yeast infection can result.

An overactive thyroid can cause palms and feet to sweat.

Alcoholism

When a person drinks, that can’t be processed by your kidneys accumulates in the bloodstream. Alcohol enlarges the blood vessels near the surface of the skin, and this leads to sweating and bad body odor.

Side Effect of allopathic Medications

Our skin growing extra damp after starting an allopathic medication, for example:

• Antidepressants.
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), antibiotics etc.
• Blood pressure.
• Cancer.
• Diabetes.

Being Pregnant

Whether it’s hot flashes while you’re awake or night sweats (nocturnal hyperhidrosis) as you sleep, pregnancy can be a sweaty affair. Although it may have many causes, nocturnal hyperhidrosis and bad body odor is one early sign of pregnancy.

The cause is estrogen. As in the case of menopause, fluctuations in estrogen can cause sweaty problems for pregnant women.

Here are few Homeopathic medicines for body odor and hyperhidrosis:

Bovista Lycoperdonosis

Bovista lycoperdonosis has a marked effect on the skin. Severe weakness of all joints; clumsiness with hands, drops things from hands, sweaty hands all time. Sweat and bad body odor in axillae. Tip of coccyx itches intolerably. Moist eczema on body especially on hand. Itching and eczema of feet and legs. Edema in joints.

Blunt instruments leave a deep impression on the skin. Urticaria, with rheumatic lameness, palpitation and diarrhea. Itching on getting warm. Eczema – moist; formation of thick crusts. Pimples cover the entire body; scurvy; herpetic eruptions. Pruritus ani. Sweaty urticaria on waking. Pellagra.

Dulcamar

It has a specific relation also to the skin, glands, and digestive organs, mucous membranes secreting more profusely while the skin is inactive. The rheumatic troubles induced by damp cold are aggravated by every cold change and somewhat relieved by moving about. Results from sitting on cold, damp ground. Icy coldness. One-sided spasms with speechlessness. Paralysis of single parts. Congestive headache, with neuralgia and dry nose. Patients living or working in damp, cold basements. Eruptions on hands, arms or face around the menstrual period.

The back part of head sweaty and chilly, heavy, aching, even in cold weather. Ringworm of scalp. Scald head, thick brown crusts, bleeding when scratched. Humid eruption on cheeks and face generally. Bad body odor. Rashes on skin. Dysmenorrhea, with blotches all over; breasts engorged and sore. Perspiration on palms of hands. Rheumatic symptoms after acute skin eruptions. Night sweats and pains.

Adenitis. Pruritus. Herpes zoster, pemphigus. Swelling and indurated glands from cold. Vesicular eruptions. Sensitive bleeding ulcers. Little boils. Red spots, urticaria, brought on by exposure, or gastritis. Warts, large, smooth, on face and palmar surface of hands. Anasarca. Thick, brown-yellow crusts, bleeding when scratched.

Hepar Sulphur

Eruptions and glandular swellings. Unhealthy skin. Bad body odor. Sweating patient pulling blanket around him. Locally, it has special affinity to the respiratory mucous membrane, producing croupous catarrhal inflammation, profuse secretion, easy perspiration. After the abuse of Mercury. Infected sinus with pus forming. The tendency to suppuration. Humid scald-head itching and burning. Cold sweat on head.

Yellowish complexion. Vesicular erysipelas, with pricking. Herpes, sensitive, and bleeds easily. Ulcers externally on prepuce similar to chancre. Excitement and emission without amorous fancies. Itching of glans, frenum, and scrotum. Suppurating inguinal glands. Fig warts of offensive odor. Humid soreness on genitals and between scrotum and thigh. Itching of pudenda and nipples, worse during menses. Manses late and scanty. Abscesses of labia with severe sensitivity. Extremely offensive leucorrhea. Profuse perspiration at the climacteric.

Abscesses; suppurating glands – very sensitive. Papules are prone to suppurate and extend. Acne. Suppurate with prickly pain. Easily bleed. Angio-neurotic oedema. Unhealthy skin: every little injury suppurates. Chapped skin, with deep cracks on hands and feet. Ulcers, with bloody suppuration. Sweats day and night without relief. “Cold sores” are very sensitive. Putrid ulcers, surrounded by little pimples. Chronic and recurring urticaria. Smallpox. Herpes circinate. Constant offensive exhalation from the body. Profuse sweat; sour, sticky, offensive.

Acid Nitricum

Selects for its special seat of action the outlets of the body where the mucous membrane and skin meet. Sticking pains. Discharges are very offensive, especially urine, feces, and perspiration. Soreness and burning in glans and beneath prepuce. Ulcers; burn and sting; exude, offensive matter.

Fetid foot-sweat, causing soreness of toes, with sticking pain; chilblains on toes. Sweating of palms, hands; cold, blue nails. Offensive sweat in axillae at night. Bad body odor. Warts, large jagged; bleed on washing. Ulcers bleed easily, sensitive; splinter-like pains; zigzag, irregular edges; base looks like raw flesh. Exuberant granulations. Black pores on face, papules worse on forehead.

Sulpher

Trembling of hands. Hot, sweaty hands. Rheumatic pain in shoulders. Heaviness; paretic feeling. Rheumatic gout, with itching. Burning in soles and hands at night. Sweat in armpits. Ganglion. Frequent flashes of heat. Violent ebullitions of heat throughout entire body. Night sweat, on nape and occiput. Perspiration of single parts. Disgusting sweats. Remittent type. Bad body odor.

Skin dry, scaly, unhealthy; every little injury suppurates. Freckles. Itching, burning. Pimply eruption, pustules, rhagades, hangnails. Excoriation. Skin affections after local steroid treatments. Pruritus.

Jaborandi (Pilocarpus)

Jaborandi or Pilocarpus is a powerful glandular stimulant and the most efficient diaphoretic. Its most important effects are diaphoresis, salivation and myosis. Hot flushes, nausea, salivation and profuse perspiration on face, ears and neck, deeply flushed, and drops of perspiration break out all over the body. Night-sweats of consumptives. Acts upon the thyroid and its sudorific action. Exophthalmic goiter, with increased heart’s action and pulsation of arteries; tremors and nervousness; heat and sweating; bronchial irritation. Excessive perspiration from all parts of the body. Persistent dryness of skin. Dry eczema. Semi-lateral sweats. Chilliness with sweat.

Tilia Europaea

Intense sore feeling about uterus; bearing down, with hot sweat. Soreness and redness of external genitals. Pelvic inflammation, tympanites, abdominal tenderness and hot sweat which does not relieve. Urticaria. Violent itching and burning after scratching. Eruption, Small red itching pimples. Sweat warm and profuse soon after falling asleep. Sweat increases as rheumatic pain increases.

Thuja occidentalis

Polypi, tubercles, warts epithelioma, naevi, carbuncles; ulcers, especially in Ano-genital region. Freckles and blotches. Perspiration sweetish, and strong. Dry skin, with brown spots. Zona; herpetic eruptions. Tearing pains in glands. Glandular enlargement. Nails crippled; brittle and soft. Eruptions only on covered parts; worse after scratching. Very sensitive to touch. Sweat only on uncovered parts, or all over except head, when sleeping; profuse, sour, smelling.

Psorinum

An ideal medicine for hyperhidrosis with highly offensive odor. Psorinum is very beneficial for persons who cannot tolerate cold air even in hot weather. Excessive heat in palms, soles and head with increased sweating. Worst cases of offensive sweating. Easy perspiration when walking – offensive. Humid eruption on scalp; hair matted. Humid eruption on face. Sickly. Eruption around fingernails. Fetid foot-sweats.

Dirty, dingy look. Dry, lusterless, rough hair. Intolerable itching. Herpetic eruptions, especially on scalp and bends of joints with itching. Enlarged glands. Sebaceous glands secrete excessively, oily skin. Indolent ulcers, slow to heal. Eczema behind ears. Crusty eruptions all over. Urticaria after every exertion. Pustules near fingernails. Fever – Profuse, offensive perspiration; night-sweats.

Petroleum

Skin symptoms are very marked, acting on sweat and oil glands; Ailments are worse during the winter season, from riding in cars, carriages, or ships; lingering gastric and lung troubles; chronic diarrhea. Long-lasting complaints follow mental states-fright, vexation, etc. Chlorosis in young girls with or without ulceration of the stomach. Moist eruption on scalp. Eczema, intertrigo etc, in and behind ears, with intense itching.  Fissures in meatus. Herpetic eruption on perineum. Itching in urethra. Genitals sore and moist. Sensation of moisture. Itching and mealy coating of nipple. Fetid sweat in axillae. Itching at night. Chilblains, moist, itch and burn. Bed-sores. Herpes. The slightest scratch makes skin suppurate. Intertrigo; psoriasis of hands. Thick, greenish crusts, burning and itching; redness, raw; cracks bleed easily. Eczema. Perspiration on feet and axillae.

Silicea Tera

Excessive sweating on hands, feet, and armpits, but silicea tops the list. silicea is a very beneficial remedy for controlling sweat of feet, hands and armpits. The sweat is extremely offensive in character – with sour or putrid odor. Foul smelling sweat in armpits.

Baryta Carb

Pain in axillary glands. Cold, clammy feet. Fetid foot-sweats. Numbness of limbs. Numb feeling from knees to scrotum; disappears when sitting down. Toes and soles sore; soles painful when walking. Pain in joints; burning pains in lower limbs.

Merc Solibulus

Merc Sol is one of the best treatments for sweating profusely over the whole body that worsens at night – offensive or sour. Weakness along with profuse sweating. Skin almost constantly moist. Excessive odorous viscid perspiration; worse, night. There is a general tendency to free perspiration, but the patient is not relieved thereby. Vesicular and pustular eruptions. Ulcers, irregular in shape, edges undefined. Pimples around the main eruption. Itching, worse from warmth of bed. Crusta lactea; yellowish-brown crusts, considerable suppuration. Buboes. Orchitis.

If you want a more natural approach to treating armpit body odor, there may be options that work. Talk to your healthcare provider about:

• Baking soda

Make a paste using baking soda and water. Apply the paste to your armpits and let it dry. Baking soda balances the acid on your skin and reduces odors.

• Green tea

Put green tea bags in warm water. Place the soaked tea bags under your armpits for several minutes a day. Green tea may help block your pores and reduce sweating.

• Apple cider vinegar

Mix apple cider vinegar with a small amount of water in a spray bottle. Spray the mixture onto your armpits. The acid in vinegar helps kill bacteria.

• Lemon juice

Mix lemon juice and water in a spray bottle. Spray the mixture under your arms. The citric acid in lemon juice kills bacteria.

What deodorant is best for armpits that smell?

Deodorants work by masking body odor with a more pleasant-smelling fragrance. Antiperspirants, on the other hand, reduce how much you sweat. Make sure you use an underarm product that says “antiperspirant” on the packaging. The active ingredient in most antiperspirants is aluminum. Apply antiperspirant after showering or bathing. Make sure you apply antiperspirants to dry skin for the best results.

P. S: This article is only for doctors having good knowledge about Homeopathy and allopathy, for learning purpose(s).

For proper consultation and treatment, please visit our clinic.

None of above-mentioned medicine(s) is/are the full/complete treatment, but just hints for treatment; every patient has his/her own constitutional medicine.

To order medicine by courier, please send your details at WhatsApp– +923119884588