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What Are Body Odor and Sweating? The complex mechanism of perspiration can sometimes go awry, resulting in either excessive perspiration (hyperhidrosis) or little or no perspiration (anhidrosis). Excessive sweating can be embarrassing and may sometimes signal a more serious health problem. Anhidrosis is potentially life-threatening.
Yet for most people, sweating is simply a minor nuisance. The odor that sometimes occurs when you sweat is probably more upsetting. Although perspiration is basically odorless, it can take on an unpleasant smell when it comes into contact with bacteria on your skin. If you find this offensive, you're not alone Americans spend close to $750 million a year on antiperspirants and deodorants.
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Information from MayoClinic.com Common complications of excessive sweating include:
Athlete's foot. Sometimes sweaty feet just smell bad. That unmistakable foot smell, which occurs when sweat and bacteria mix, may or may not occur along with athlete's foot a fungal infection that usually begins between your toes and causes your skin to itch, burn and crack. Athlete's foot can also affect the soles and sides of your feet, turning the skin thick and leathery. Remember, fungi live for warm, sweaty feet. The best way to keep your feet healthy is to keep them dry and change your socks frequently.
Jock itch. This fungal infection causes an itching or burning sensation around your groin. You also may have a red rash on your inner thighs and buttocks. Jock itch is mildly contagious and can be spread by contact or shared towels.
Bacterial infections and warts. Excessive sweating can contribute to bacterial infections, especially between your toes. It can also lead to warts skin growths caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV).
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Self Care
You can do a number of things on your own to reduce sweating and body odor. The following suggestions may help:
Bathe daily. This helps keep the number of bacteria on your skin in check.
Dry your feet thoroughly after you bathe. Microorganisms thrive in the damp spaces between your toes. Use over-the-counter food powders to help absorb sweat.
Choose shoes and socks made of natural materials. Shoes made of natural materials, such as leather, can help prevent sweaty feet by allowing your feet to breathe. Also, wear the right socks. Cotton and wool socks help keep your feet dry because they absorb moisture. When you're active, moisture-wicking athletic socks are a good choice.
Rotate your shoes. Shoes won't completely dry overnight, so try not to wear the same pair 2 days in a row if you have trouble with sweaty feet.
Change your diet. If foods or beverages cause you to sweat more than normal or your perspiration to smell, consider eliminating caffeinated drinks from your diet as well as foods with strong odors, such as garlic and onions.
Apply antiperspirants nightly. At bedtime, apply antiperspirants to sweaty palms or soles of the feet. Try perfume-free antiperspirants.
For some people who sweat excessively, the answer may be simple: an over-the-counter antiperspirant used on the hands and feet as well as the underarms. Antiperspirants work by blocking your sweat ducts with aluminum salts, thereby reducing the amount of perspiration that reaches your skin. Deodorants, which can eliminate odor but not perspiration, turn your skin acidic, which makes it less attractive to bacteria. Although you may have heard stories linking antiperspirants and breast cancer, there is no evidence of such a link.
Continued use of antiperspirants can cause irritation or even contact dermatitis red, swollen, itchy skin. In fact, antiperspirants are the cosmetic product most associated with skin irritation. Deodorants, especially herbal or crystal deodorants, may be less irritating for most people.
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