Sweat changed the smell. If you are worried about the pungent smell of sweat, then we understand the reasons

In a world where deodorants Eau de Toilette and perfume is as much a part of a person's image as dress, shoes, tie and briefcase, people don't always think about how their body smells without additional fragrances. But some diseases do not let you forget about it. And then, by the smell of the body, one can assume what the person is sick with.

Among the huge variety of human scents, we have selected 7 interesting smells that are associated with diseases.

A severe deficiency of carbohydrates in the diet leads to the fact that the body begins to burn stored fats to obtain glucose. On the one hand, it's nice for those who want to lose weight. On the other hand, it doesn't smell very good in every sense of the word.

As a result this process ketones are formed, or rather acetone, which actually gives the smell of rotting apples or nail polish remover. The breakdown of fats to glucose and acetone also occurs with normal nutrition, but very little acetone is formed in this case - it is excreted in the urine or enters further chemical reactions. If a person decides to completely transfer his body to fuel from fats, then too much ketones accumulate, the body cannot cope with their excretion, and the urine and the human body acquire a characteristic smell. A similar situation is observed during starvation, when the body, due to the lack of food, is forced to begin to break down its own reserves of fats.

Diabetes is another condition that leads to excess ketones. Suppose the pancreas does not produce insulin or a hormone in the right amount available, but its cells different reasons cannot receive. In this case, glucose cannot get to the organs and tissues and accumulates in the blood. The brain, having not received glucose, requires food, and the body begins to break down fats, producing, as in the previous case, a large number of ketones, which are excreted through the skin.

This smell is present with various deviations of the state of the body from the norm. The fact is that ammonia is a volatile substance with which we get rid of excess nitrogen. It can be excreted in the urine, exhaled air or sweat.

Ammonia breath is characteristic of people with kidney failure, and also indicates a possible infection Helicobacter pylori And high risk liver failure. Cystitis is the cause of the characteristic ammonia smell of urine.

But if the skin smells like ammonia, this means that the kidneys and liver are not able to process all the excess nitrogen, so it is excreted through the skin through sweat. For this, the body needs to spend a lot of water. And the first thing that says the smell of ammonia coming from the body - possible deficit fluids in the body.

The ammonia smell also suggests that there is an excess of protein in the human body. This problem can be faced by people who prefer low-carbohydrate diets. In this case, it should be understood that it is more beneficial for the body to use carbohydrates for energy than proteins. To stop the breakdown of proteins, it is enough to introduce into the diet required amount carbohydrates. This is especially important to do against the backdrop of enhanced training.

By the way, the active excretion of ammonia through the skin can be provoked by the use of certain sports supplements as well as vitamins and medicines. Excessive addiction to asparagus can also cause a characteristic smell.

If a person smells like fish, and even rotting, then he most likely suffers from trimethylaminuria. The cause of this syndrome is a rather rare genetic disease, which develops against the background of a mutation in the FMO3 gene. It is responsible for the production of the enzyme flavin monooxygenase-3, which is involved in the processing by-product digestion - trimethylamine. If there is no such enzyme, the substance accumulates in the body, combines with other body secretions (urine, sweat, exhaled air) and causes a characteristic fishy odor. Substances that give trimethylamine during digestion are choline, carnitine, lecithin. Accordingly, people with trimethylaminuria syndrome are not recommended to eat foods containing them. For example, carnitine is found in abundance in red meat, fish, and whey. Lots of lecithin egg yolk, in buttermilk, as well as in seeds, nuts and raisins. Choline is also present in large quantities in egg yolk, liver and germinated cereals.

And here is the smell rotten fish at vaginal discharge - characteristic symptom bacterial vulvovaginitis (gardnerellosis). Its causative agents are gardnerella bacteria, which are normally opportunistic pathogens. But in violation acid-base balance vaginal environment or when the immune system is weakened, they begin to multiply too actively and simultaneously produce volatile amines - putrescine and cadaverine. An interesting point: the smell becomes sharper after sexual contact. This is because semen, with its alkaline pH, activates the production of volatile amines, which enhances the “aroma”.

That's what people who suffer smell like genetic disease tyrosinemia. There are several varieties of this disease, but they have the same essence: due to certain mutations, the body cannot produce enzymes that break down the amino acid tyrosine. As a result, the body accumulates such amino acids as tyrosine, methionine and phenylalanine. This leads to severe pathologies of the kidneys and liver, disruption of the central nervous system and changes in bone tissue. A increased content methionine and tyrosine in the blood is the cause of the characteristic smell of boiled cabbage emanating from such patients.

Smell of fermented dough: scabies mite

The sour smell of sour dough accompanies Norwegian scabies - severe form disease caused by the common scabies mite. She has many names that best characterize appearance affected tissues - crusty, crusty scabies, etc. The disease usually develops against the background of disorders immune system and other diseases: AIDS, leprosy, age-related dementia, tuberculosis, skin lymphoma, leukemia, etc.

When Pseudomonas aeruginosa rages in the human body, his body begins to exude a characteristic sweet smell which is compared to the smell of honey. By the way, even in the laboratory, a Petri dish with "pyocyanic" is easy to distinguish by the strong smell of jasmine. Despite his pleasant aroma, Pseudomonas aeruginosa is one of the most dangerous infections relating to nosocomial (or hospital). Some strains of this bacterium are resistant to the most common antibiotics. Pseudomonas aeruginosa can cause various diseases respiratory tract, meningitis, otitis, inflammation of the facial sinuses, cause severe abscesses and lead to the development of purulent processes in wounds, etc. For a doctor, the honey smell emanating from the patient is bad symptom requiring immediate action.

Cheese smell: excess isovaleryl-CoA

Cheese (or "sweaty feet" - it all depends on perception) smells like people suffering from another hereditary metabolic disorder. This time we are talking O congenital deficiency enzyme isovaleryl-CoA dehydrogenase. Against the background of its absence, isovaleryl-CoA accumulates in the body, which, as a result of hydrolysis, turns into isovalerate and is excreted with sweat and urine. It is isovalerate that gives the characteristic smell of cheese.

conclusions

The vast majority of body odors that differ from the norm indicate metabolic disorders - temporary or permanent. Therefore, any unusual smell emanating from the body is a reason to consult a doctor. Perhaps this is a signal from the body that something is seriously wrong with it.

People say: "Sweat fills the eyes." Sweat can be "smelled" in a minibus, it sometimes gets in the way on a first date, or sweat can ruin your life forever. IN Lately Have you noticed that you are sweating more than usual? Has your sweat developed a particular pungent odor? This may be a symptom of a certain disease.

Sweating is actually natural. Sweat is a natural thermoregulator that protects the body from overheating. Interestingly, a drop of sweat the size of a pea cools one liter of blood by 0.5 degrees.

Sweat healthy person consists of 90% water and has absolutely no smell. Here is a man with bad smell pota is a person who does not take care of his personal hygiene, or a person who is not feeling well.

Doctors say that in ancient times, when diagnostics did not yet exist, there were no blood and urine tests, doctors made a diagnosis by the smell of sweat.

Some people sweat more, some less. But it also happens that the amount of sweat suddenly increases significantly. Each person has his own norm for the release of sweat from the sweat glands. The norm may be 500, 800 milliliters of sweat per day, and maybe up to 2 liters. This is due to individual human body. For example, small children do not sweat much, so they can overheat.

In pregnant women, sweating very often increases and this directly depends on the hormonal changes in the body.

For any changes in the amount of sweat or smell, it is better to immediately consult a doctor.

Several options for the dependence of the smell of sweat on the disease of the body

  1. Sweat smells like ammonia or chlorine. This indicates kidney or liver disease. First you need to seek advice from a therapist, and he will already refer you to the right specialist.
  2. Sweat smells like rotten apples or acetone. This may be a symptom diabetes. In this case, you need to contact an endocrinologist.
  3. Sweat smells like vinegar. This may be a manifestation of a disease such as tuberculosis. Therefore, you need to contact a pulmonologist.
  4. Sweat has a mouse smell or socks that have not been washed for a long time. This indicates skin diseases. Time to go to the dermatologist.
  5. Sweat has an odor rotten egg. This speaks of gastric diseases, so you need to visit a gastroenterologist.

If the amount of sweat from 2 liters per day has increased to 2 liters per hour, then you just need to run to the doctors, because this may be a manifestation of tuberculosis or diabetes.

To avoid external manifestations of profuse sweating, you must:

  • Replace clothes made from synthetic fabrics with clothes made from natural ones;
  • Change the cut of clothing from tight and tight to loose. Thus, the thermoregulation of the body will improve, and the body cools better;
  • Exclude spicy and spicy foods, as well as onions and garlic from your diet;
  • Shower as often as possible;
  • Always use body care products.

Now, knowing everything about the smell of sweat, it is possible to prevent the development of many diseases in time. One way or another, if something worries, you need to contact specialists. Take care of your health, watch it, and health will repay you the same. Be healthy!

The pungent smell of sweat in mature women is enough delicate issue. And its reasons are by no means in the neglect of hygiene rules, but much deeper, so to speak - inside. There are a lot of factors that provoke an unpleasant odor, and not all of them are harmless.

Why a woman may experience a sharp smell of sweat

The female body has several million sweat glands, they are involved in the process of thermoregulation and remove fluid, toxins, toxins and salts from the body. The eccrine glands are evenly distributed over the entire surface of the body, and the apocrine glands are only in the groin and armpits. The former are necessary for the timely cooling of the body, and the latter can be attributed to the type of secretory glands. It is this secret that has a pronounced odor and is quite viscous due to the inclusion of isovaleric acid.

Secretory cells are destroyed, and their decay products are mixed with the waste products of bacteria living on the surface of the skin. It is these two reasons that strong smell sweat of the female body. The apocrine glands are not part of the thermoregulatory system.

In women, the natural aroma of apocrine secretion is distinguished by the presence of a kind of “sourness” in it. Because hormonal and metabolic processes occurring in female body, contribute to the production of sweat, in which saprophyte bacteria feel best.

By itself, women's sweat has no aroma, since it is 99% water, and only 1% both organic and inorganic. The concentration of odor and unpleasant amber depends on the type of microorganisms that live on the surface of the skin and process sweat. Women with disorders in the process of thermoregulation are often diagnosed with excessive sweat production. Therefore, they suffer from unpleasant body odor. This pathology is called hyperhidrosis and is a disease whose treatment is extended in the long term.

Unpleasant sweat odor: a signal for immediate treatment

However, there are diseases that require immediate treatment, literally in the short term. Secret sebaceous glands can change its smell under the influence of disturbances in the metabolic system, due to endocrine pathologies and organ failure.

  • For example, with oncological tumors or liver failure, a clear note of acetone begins to be captured in the body odor of a woman, which cannot be masked even by strong antiperspirants.
  • If the patient is diagnosed kidney failure, infections urinary system or an STD, then the sweat begins to unbearably "stink" of cat urine. This happens because the sweat glands begin to perform part of the functions excretory system organism.
  • When a woman has a sour-foetid sweat in the chest area, then they talk about suspicion of mastopathy. And a clear admixture of acetic amber is suspicious for an acquired type of diabetes mellitus or tuberculosis.
  • An unpleasant sweetish odor is a symptom of diphtheria.
  • Hydrogen sulfide or fish amber - failures in the process of metabolism and pathology of the gastrointestinal tract.
  • A rotten body odor, especially in the groin area, indicates oncological diseases organs of the urinary or reproductive systems.

Unpleasant odor is a frequent companion of such diseases:

Stress Sweating: Causes of Flavor Change

People sweat profusely in three cases: with intense physical activities, exposed to high temperatures and stressful situations. And women in this matter are no exception. However, when overheated, only exocrine glands are included in the work, but when stressed, apocrine glands are added to them, releasing a viscous secret with a pungent odor.

The female nervous system is more labile, but at the same time they are often subject to mood swings and a sharp change in emotions. Stress always takes them by surprise, especially if the situation under control suddenly ceases to be such. Therefore, often during important meetings, negotiations and events, an unpleasant, even bitter smell begins to emanate from their body. The fair sex "throws into a sweat" quite often, so they often regard excessive sweating as a symptom of emotional overwork, ignoring more important reasons.

To prevent such bouts of sweating, a woman must either learn to identify the causes of changes in her own mental state, or resort to medical methods: antidepressants and sedatives. IN this context the way sweat smells is directly related to the feeling of insecurity in oneself and one's abilities. Sweat produced by heat or exercise has a less intense odor.

It is necessary to understand the importance of the chemocommunication signal that is transmitted through the apocrine glands. Otherwise, a vicious circle is obtained: a woman sweats a lot because she is nervous, and she is very nervous because her body smells bad.

How to deal with body odor yourself

The simplest and accessible means odor elimination are antiperspirants. But they are not effective without regular hygiene procedures and change of clothes. Such a set of actions will help a woman get rid of the oppressive feeling of discomfort. From excessive sweating, the technique is excellent contrast shower. Every day you need to take natural antioxidants, such as vitamin E.

If there is hair armpits ah, the sharp amber of sweat is almost not neutralized by aromatic substances. Organic compounds that are part of the endocrine secretion settle on the surface of the hair and begin to decompose gradually, which causes sweat to smell sharply and strongly. A woman who wants to get rid of the source of amber needs to shave her armpit hair daily, and in some cases twice a day. After shaving, the underarm area is thoroughly washed. warm water and soap. And only after all these procedures, you can resort to the use of specialized chemicals.

In many situations, treatment with drugs that suppress the secretion of apocrine glands will be required. In this case, you need to pay attention to clothes, sweat eats into the fabric and decomposes in it as quickly as on the skin. It is required to completely exclude spices and caffeine-containing drinks from the diet, they contribute to increased sweating.

What remedies to use for excessive sweating

However, these funds are strictly prohibited for use if the smell of sweat has changed dramatically. Sweat, which is a symptom of the disease, contains highly toxic substances, and not having access to the surface - they can cause severe swelling in the area of ​​the armpits. With a spontaneous increase in sweating, it is better to switch to deodorants. Use an antiperspirant in the morning, always after a shower and apply only to sweaty areas. Abuse will aggravate endocrine problems Therefore, the remedy is used only once a day.

There are creams that are supposed to be used once a week. But they must be applied correctly. Only at night and after a shower, as it takes time to kill bacteria. The use of such products is limited by certain conditions; if such an antiperspirant is abused, the natural microflora suffers. You don't need to use them before. sports activities, other intense physical activity and before the sauna.

Disinfectants: a way to deal with unpleasant amber

After a consultation, the doctor can recommend a woman not only a medical solution to the problem with an unpleasant odor. Quite often, as a result of the examination, no health problems are found, but an unpleasant trail of sweat still continues to haunt her. Then come to the rescue special means, which include additives with a bactericidal and disinfectant effect. The main bacteriostatics include farnesol and triclosan. They are very effective, but at the same time very aggressive towards the skin of the body. The purpose of such funds is the suppression of the natural microflora. Triclosan is more aggressive, destroying both pathogenic and friendly microorganisms. Frazenol acts softer, ignoring the protective miroflora.

There are also natural bacteriostatics contained in essential oils, as well as chitosan and alcohol. Often, manufacturers include extracts of fruits and plants, or allantoin, which has an anti-inflammatory effect, in the composition of the products. Chitosan is responsible for the formation of a protective film, and allantoin is responsible for stabilizing the epidermis. All these substances are able to destroy the unpleasant amber, but they do not affect the intensity of perspiration.

Diet modification as a way to eliminate strong odors

If a woman is confident in her health, but the body still exudes a fetid amber, then it's time to radically revise your diet. The reasons lie in the use of spicy and spicy foods, they should be excluded from the menu.

Some women just need to stop low-carbohydrate diets. When the chosen food system limits the intake of carbohydrates, the body can no longer obtain energy through their oxidation. The accumulated fat begins to burn, while the weight decreases, but the unpleasant smell of the skin becomes sharp. With intensive oxidation of fats, fruit aromas or the stench of acetone begin to mix with body odor. As soon as the diet is changed, the metabolic process will improve.

A change in the smell of sweat may indicate a disease, therefore, with such a symptom, it is necessary to undergo an examination.

If the smell of sweat has changed, then you need to look for the reasons. The fact is that sweat itself has no smell, since it is 98% water and only 2% salts, amino acids, fatty acids, hormones and cholesterol. These substances are not volatile and are practically not captured by the human nose. When combined with bacteria that are on human skin, sweat acquires a strong and characteristic unpleasant odor. The smell of sweat is individual and does not tend to change much. Some change can be observed with malnutrition, for example overuse spices, spicy and fatty foods.

Some changes are possible with a person's age, but if the smell of sweat has changed dramatically and suddenly, then it is better to consult a doctor and start looking for the cause. This change may be a sign of some disease. internal organs, and the sooner it is recognized, the easier it is to treat and prevent serious complications.

Causes of change in sweat odor

Most common:

  • the smell of boiled cabbage, it happens with diseases of the kidneys and liver;
  • the smell of rotting apples may indicate diabetes;
  • ammonia smell of sweat, as a rule, indicates kidney failure;
  • sour smell may indicate tuberculosis;
  • with the development of diphtheria, sweat is dominated by a putrid or slightly sweet smell;
  • the smell of hydrogen sulfide is probably a sign of a digestive disorder;
  • if there is an unpleasant fishy tint, perhaps the problem lies in metabolic disorders;
  • if the sweat resembles sheep's wool, probably problems with the adrenal glands.

However, one must always remember that the smell of sweat is very subjective and very inaccurate. diagnostic criterion. Relying only on the sense of smell, it is impossible to accurately put correct diagnosis and pick up proper treatment. Blood, urine, and possibly stool tests should always be checked for internal abnormalities and signs of internal disease.


Sweating itself is an important and required process body thermoregulation. At high temperatures air, as well as during physical exertion, sweat is necessarily released and this is considered a completely normal and healthy phenomenon. However excessive sweating may be related to various violations, For example mental illness, dysfunction thyroid gland, hormonal imbalance or malfunction of the sweat glands. Strong sweating feet may be due to circulatory problems, the presence of a fungal infection, or poor hygiene. or infection.

There are many various methods, with which you can fight sweating. For example, in order to reduce general sweating and get rid of it, you should give preference to things made from natural fabrics, use deodorants or antiperspirants regularly, take a shower more often, and regularly be examined by a doctor. With local sweating, injections, iontophoresis and surgical methods.

The function of thermoregulation of the human body is carried out through sweating. Sweat itself is odorless, a specific aroma appears due to the accumulation of bacteria on the skin. In addition, the smell during sweating depends on the habits, nutrition and health of the person. Often a sharp change in the smell of sweat indicates various diseases and failures in the work of internal organs and the whole organism as a whole.

A sudden change in the smell of sweat does not always indicate the presence of any disease. Sweat can suddenly start to stink if a person leans too heavily on unhealthy and unbalanced foods, such as fast food.

Why sweat smells depends on several factors. By itself, sweat is practically odorless, it acquires a specific aroma due to bacteria that accumulate on the skin.

The normal smell of sweat in women is slightly sour, associated with dampness. This is due to the peculiarities of the hormonal background and the activity of the sebaceous glands. In men, sweat smells heavier, its smell is more noticeable and bitter. Male and female sweat differs in chemical composition, which is due to the peculiarity of the body.

If the smell of sweat under the arms suddenly changes, the causes can cause diseases of the internal organs:

  • liver disease;
  • diabetes;
  • violations of the kidneys;
  • diphtheria;
  • tuberculosis.

Also among the reasons why the sweat began to smell strongly - fungal infections, metabolic disorders, nervous exhaustion, oncological diseases.

If the smell of sweat under the arm suddenly becomes sour with notes of acetone, the patient is advised to check the liver. Often such a smell indicates liver pathologies.

With diabetes and diphtheria, the smell of sweat acquires sweet notes. The smell of bleach and urine from the skin indicates obvious kidney problems, and in tuberculosis, the smell of sweat resembles the smell of vinegar.

A sulfuric odor may indicate a metabolic disorder. Often this aroma is associated with rodents. The specific smell of mice can also be observed with various fungal infections of the epidermis.

In oncology, the patient's body acquires putrid smell. It is not for nothing that many people associate the wet smell of rotting leaves with the disease - this is exactly what sweat smells like in cancer patients.

A change in the smell of sweat in the diseases listed above is characteristic of both men and women.

It is important to remember that if the smell suddenly becomes unpleasant, you do not need to self-medicate and try to get rid of it. The smell is only a consequence of any malfunctions in the body, in order to get rid of it, you need to visit the clinic and identify the cause of this phenomenon.

Causes of changes in the composition of sweat in women


Unlike men, women sweat less. The norm is a barely perceptible smell of dampness with a sour note. Since women's skin is less likely to accumulate bacteria, with regular hygiene, the smell of sweat is very rare. Thus, if the sweat smells strongly or the severity of its aroma suddenly changes, you need to carefully listen to your own body.

Smelly sweat in women may be due to hormonal changes. A woman has a sour smell of sweat hormonal causes. If the sweat smells sour, it is recommended to check hormonal background and consult with an endocrinologist.

The smelly fishy smell is directly related to the microflora of the vagina. If the girl’s skin smells like that, it is necessary to check with a gynecologist and undergo treatment, since in most cases the cause of this phenomenon is a violation of the microflora or inflammatory diseases genitals. A sweetish milky smell may indicate candidiasis.

A sudden increase in the activity of the sweat glands may be due to disorders of the nervous system. This is often observed in long-term exposure stress, neuroses and nervous exhaustion. In this case, consulting a neurologist will help get rid of the problem.

How to get rid of unpleasant odor depends on the reason for it. Fighting the smell does not make sense until the disease that caused the change in the work of the sweat glands and the composition of sweat is identified and cured.

Causes of a strong smell of sweat in men


The strong smell of sweat in men is due to the peculiarities of its chemical composition. Men sweat more because they often experience physical exercise. If at the same time the representative of the stronger sex does not pay enough attention to personal hygiene, sweat will smell strongly and sharply.

It is normal for men to have a bitter, heavy and suffocating odor of sweat. If a sour smell of sweat suddenly appears in men, it is necessary to check the liver and kidneys. This problem may also be due to malnutrition and alcohol abuse.

About endocrine disorders in men, a sweet, suffocating sweat testifies. This alarm symptom, indicating failures in metabolism or the development of diabetes mellitus. Noticing such changes, it is necessary to consult with an endocrinologist.

Pungent unpleasant smell of sweat inguinal region may indicate inflammatory processes in the urinary system.

Excessive sweating of the feet, together with a heavy sulfuric odor, is indicative of foot fungus.

Because of what sweat suddenly began to smell unpleasant and how to get rid of this problem - you need to consult a doctor about this. It is important to remember that in trying to get rid of the smell on their own, the patient only masks the problem, but does not cure it.

Methods of disposal

Get rid of the unpleasant smell of the armpits should be complex. Treatment includes:

  • diet change;
  • normalization of the activity of the nervous system;
  • the use of special therapeutic antiperspirants;
  • regular hygiene procedures.

First of all, you need to reconsider your own hygiene. The unpleasant smell of sweat can be caused by the accumulation of various microorganisms on the body. Must be used daily soft remedies for skin cleansing. Armpits can be further processed antibacterial soap but not more than once every three days. Otherwise, abuse antibacterial agents in this delicate area can lead to a violation of the microflora of the skin.


The simplest and effective method getting rid of unpleasant odors are deodorants and antiperspirants. Deodorants only mask the smell, while antiperspirants reduce perspiration.

So that the smell does not accumulate, it is important to regularly depilate the armpits. Otherwise, the smell of sweat is mixed with a special aroma of the secretion of the sebaceous glands, which accumulates on the hair.

Changing your diet will help both get rid of the smell and reduce sweating. Any spices should be removed from the menu, too fatty foods and caffeinated drinks.

Often excessive sweating associated with stress. In this case, the normalization of the activity of the nervous system helps to reduce the intensity of sweating. To do this, you need to consult with a neurologist about admission. sedatives. Such medicines help to beat stress and improve the quality of sleep, which contributes to speedy recovery patient's nervous system.

At heavy sweating special medicated antiperspirants may be used, or medicinal ointments, such as Teimurov's paste. Teymurov's paste has a drying effect and normalizes the activity of the sweat glands. The composition of the drug also contains antiseptic components that reduce the severity of the smell of sweat.

Medicated antiperspirants reduce sweating. They are applied to the armpits before going to bed. The duration of treatment is no more than one month. You can buy these drugs at a pharmacy.

If the problem of unpleasant odor is associated with malfunctions in the body, you must first cure the underlying disease. Otherwise, any methods of combating body odor will only have a temporary effect.