Body odor or in medical terms bromhidrosis is a chronic condition characterized by excessive unpleasant odors and can occur in parts of the body, one of which is the armpits. Every person has skin that contains eccrine and apocrine sweat glands. Apocrine glands function during puberty and are associated with hair follicles in the armpits and groin. Apocrine glands produce thick, protein-rich sweat that is initially odorless. However, when bacteria break down excess protein, the glands produce odor molecules and trigger body odor. Body odor can consist of sweet, sour or even onion-like odors. The type of aroma is not affected by the amount of sweat but rather by the type of bacteria and how they interact with the sweat. The causes of excessive sweating are very complex and influenced by many factors such as obesity, the influence of certain foods and medications. Foods that are thought to affect body odor or underarm odor are onions, spices and alcoholic drinks. The following is an explanation of some of the causes of underarm odor or body odor, including:
Suffering from Diabetes Mellitus, is a condition that occurs when the body does not produce enough insulin or cannot use insulin effectively. This causes blood sugar levels to increase. If blood sugar levels increase, a complication called diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) can occur. This occurs because the body cannot process ketones and if ketones accumulate it can cause underarm odor or body odor.
Eating Certain Foods. The food consumed can sometimes cause a temporary change in underarm odor. Apart from that, overall diet can also affect body odor or underarm odor.
Stress and Hyperhidrosis. Stress conditions can be one of the causes of underarm odor due to excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis)
Menopause, Menstruation and Pregnancy. When experiencing menopause, menstruation and pregnancy can cause hormonal fluctuations in the body that cause underarm odor. There is no need to worry too much about this smell because when the body's hormones return to normal, the smell will also disappear
How to Deal with Underarm Odor.
Implement a clean and healthy lifestyle
Using deodorant or antiperspirant
It is recommended not to wear tight clothes
Dry your body with a towel
Complaints of underarm odor can be overcome by maintaining personal hygiene by regularly showering twice a day, using deodorant and if it cannot be overcome with a clean and healthy lifestyle, it is recommended to consult a doctor so that proper treatment can be obtained. Healthy greetings
Reference :
Zouboulis CC and Tsatsou,F. Disorders of The Apocrine Sweat Glands. In: Kang S, Amagai M, Bruckner AL, Enk AH, Margolis DH, McMichael AJ, Orringer JS, editors. Fitzpatrick's Dermatology in General Medicine. 9th Edition. New York: McGraw-Hill. 2019.p.947-959.
Siskawati Y, Bernadette I, Menaldi SL. Body Odor: Pathogenesis Management. MDVI. 2014;71:32-41.