Patrick Oconnell
Body odour is a common issue that affects people at some point in their lives, and it can be incredibly embarrassing. While it is natural and usually nothing to worry about, sometimes it can be an indication of an underlying disease. If you've ever wondered why your armpits smell like cheese, it's likely due to the breakdown of sweat proteins by bacteria. This breakdown process produces a strong, unpleasant odour. Eating large amounts of dairy products and foods high in sulfur can also influence the scent of your sweat, resulting in a cheesy smell.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Cause | Sweat from apocrine glands (mainly in the armpits) meets bacteria on the skin |
| Odor Type | Ammonia-like, garlicky, onion-like, musky, sour, cheesy |
| Contributing Factors | Diet, hormonal changes, emotional stress, medical conditions |
| Dietary Factors | Dairy products, foods high in sulfur (e.g., garlic, onions, cruciferous vegetables), high-protein diets |
| Hormonal Changes | Puberty, menstruation, menopause |
| Medical Conditions | Hyperhidrosis, Trimethylaminuria, Metabolic disorders |
| Prevention | Regular showers, Changing clothes frequently, Using deodorant, Reducing intake of odor-causing foods |
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What You'll Learn
- Diet: eating dairy, garlic, onions, and cruciferous vegetables may cause cheese-like armpit odour
- Bacteria: bacteria on the skin, such as Corynebacterium, metabolise sweat, producing a cheesy smell
- Medical conditions: hyperhidrosis and trimethylaminuria can cause excessive sweating and strong body odour
- Emotional stress: triggering the fight-or-flight response can lead to increased sweating and body odour
- Hormones: hormonal changes during puberty, menstruation, or menopause can cause stronger or altered body odour
Diet: eating dairy, garlic, onions, and cruciferous vegetables may cause cheese-like armpit odour
It's not just your imagination—your armpits can indeed smell like cheese. While there are several potential causes, one key factor is your diet. The foods you consume can significantly impact the scent of your sweat. If you're noticing a cheese-like odour in your armpits, it may be time to take a closer look at your dietary choices.
Dairy products, such as cheese and milk, can be a contributing factor to cheesy armpit odour. This is because the breakdown of dairy in the body can influence the composition of your sweat. Additionally, foods containing high levels of sulfur, such as garlic, onions, and cruciferous vegetables (including broccoli and cabbage), can also be culprits. When these foods are digested, sulfur compounds are released, and some of these compounds can make their way into your sweat. As a result, you might notice a cheese-like aroma wafting from your armpits.
It's worth noting that hormonal changes during puberty, menstruation, or menopause can also lead to stronger or altered body odours. These hormonal shifts can cause your sweat to smell sour, cheesy, or simply more intense. The good news is that you don't have to avoid these healthy foods altogether. Instead, try to maintain a balanced diet. Incorporate foods that can help neutralise body odour, such as leafy greens and citrus fruits.
In addition to dietary factors, the bacteria on your skin play a crucial role in armpit odour. When sweat from your apocrine glands, mainly located in your armpits, mixes with certain bacteria, it can result in a pungent cheese-like smell. Different individuals host varying bacterial species, which is why some people may experience stronger or different odours than others. These bacteria break down your sweat into acids, producing that distinctive cheesy scent.
While it may be embarrassing, cheesy armpit odour is a common issue that many people face. By understanding the role of diet and bacteria, you can take steps to address the problem. Maintaining a balanced diet, practising good hygiene, and consulting a doctor if the issue persists are all ways to help keep your armpits smelling fresh.
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Bacteria: bacteria on the skin, such as Corynebacterium, metabolise sweat, producing a cheesy smell
Body odour is a common issue that affects people at some point in their lives, and microbes are often the root cause. The human body has three types of sweat glands: apocrine, eccrine, and sebaceous. While eccrine sweat glands are present all over the body, apocrine and sebaceous glands are restricted to certain areas, such as the armpits, and become active during puberty. These glands secrete an oily fluid made up of proteins, lipids, and steroids. When sweat from these glands meets certain bacteria on the skin, it can produce a strong odour.
Commensal microbes, such as bacteria, on the skin metabolise the compounds in human sweat, resulting in body odour. The specific bacteria involved in producing a cheesy smell include members of the Corynebacterium, Staphylococcus, and Cutibacterium genera. These bacteria break down sweat into volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including volatile fatty acids and thioalcohols, which contribute to the cheesy odour. For example, 3-methyl-2-hexenoic acid (3M2H), produced by some Corynebacterium species, has a "goat-like" odour, while 3-hydroxy-3-methylhexanoic acid (HMHA) has a "cumin-like" smell.
The intensity and character of body odour can vary depending on individual body chemistry, hygiene habits, and even diet. For instance, consuming large amounts of dairy products and foods high in sulfur, like garlic and onions, can influence the scent of your sweat. Additionally, emotional stress can trigger increased sweating and stronger body odour due to the activation of apocrine glands, which are more prone to producing odour when interacting with skin bacteria.
To manage body odour, maintaining good hygiene practices is essential. This includes showering regularly, wearing fresh clothes, and using deodorants or antiperspirants to mask or reduce odour. However, if the odour persists or is accompanied by other symptoms, it is important to consult a doctor as it could indicate an underlying medical condition.
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Medical conditions: hyperhidrosis and trimethylaminuria can cause excessive sweating and strong body odour
There are several reasons why your armpits may smell like cheese. One of the reasons could be certain medical conditions, such as hyperhidrosis and trimethylaminuria, which can cause excessive sweating and strong body odour.
Let's delve into these conditions and their implications:
Hyperhidrosis
Hyperhidrosis is a medical condition characterised by excessive sweating. It can lead to a significant increase in sweat production, even beyond what is normally required for regulating body temperature. This condition can affect the entire body or specific areas, such as the armpits, palms, soles of the feet, or face. The excessive sweating associated with hyperhidrosis can result in persistently sweaty armpits, which provides an ideal environment for bacterial growth.
Trimethylaminuria
Trimethylaminuria, also known as "fish odour syndrome," is a rare metabolic disorder. It occurs due to a defect in the gene that codes for the enzyme flavin mono-oxygenase 3 (FMO3). This enzyme is responsible for breaking down a compound called trimethylamine, which is produced in the gut when certain foods are broken down by bacteria. In individuals with trimethylaminuria, the body is unable to metabolise trimethylamine effectively, leading to a buildup in the body. Consequently, trimethylamine is excreted through bodily fluids, including sweat, resulting in a strong and unpleasant odour. The smell is often described as fishy, but it can also be likened to other odours, such as cheese, depending on individual body chemistry.
It is important to consult a doctor if you suspect that you may be suffering from either of these conditions. While hyperhidrosis can be managed with treatments and lifestyle changes, trimethylaminuria currently has no cure. However, certain measures can be taken to help alleviate the symptoms and improve quality of life.
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Emotional stress: triggering the fight-or-flight response can lead to increased sweating and body odour
Emotional stress can have a significant impact on body odour. When stressed, the body's "
The link between emotional stress and body odour has been explored in various studies. One study found that participants subjected to stressful interviews emitted a distinct odour from their skin, resembling stir-fried leeks with hints of allyl mercaptan and dimethyl trisulfide. This odour was consistently detected during stress-inducing situations and was associated with subjective feelings of tension, confusion, and fatigue in those who could perceive it.
Additionally, stress can lead to poor hygiene habits, such as refraining from showering or inadequate clothing care, which can further exacerbate body odour. It is important to maintain proper hygiene practices, including regular showering and ensuring that clothes are washed correctly to prevent the buildup of bacteria, which can contribute to unpleasant odours.
The impact of emotional stress on body odour may also be related to dietary choices. Stress can influence dietary habits, leading to increased consumption of certain foods that can affect body odour. For example, eating large amounts of dairy products, garlic, onions, or cruciferous vegetables can influence the scent of sweat, making it smell like cheese or other pungent odours.
Furthermore, stress can cause hormonal fluctuations, similar to those experienced during puberty, menstruation, or menopause, which can lead to stronger or altered body odour. These changes in hormone levels can result in sweat that smells sour, cheesy, or more intense than usual. Managing stress through relaxation techniques, exercise, or other stress-reduction strategies may help mitigate the impact of emotional stress on body odour.
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Hormones: hormonal changes during puberty, menstruation, or menopause can cause stronger or altered body odour
Hormones play a significant role in how we perspire and the odour that our sweat produces. During puberty, hormonal changes stimulate the apocrine sweat glands, which results in excessive sweating. This sweat then mixes with the bacteria under the armpits, leading to a foul-smelling body odour. This process is normal and marks the beginning of body odour development in adolescents.
Hormonal fluctuations during menstruation and ovulation can also cause stronger or altered body odour. Research suggests that a person's body odour changes during ovulation to attract a mate. Additionally, hormonal changes during peri-menopause and menopause can cause night sweats and hot flashes, resulting in excessive sweating and changes in body odour. The sense of smell may be heightened during menopause, making it difficult to gauge the intensity of one's odour.
Furthermore, hormonal changes during pregnancy can also influence body odour. The body produces more fluid to support the baby, and hormonal fluctuations after childbirth help eliminate this excess fluid through sweating. While hormonal changes are a significant factor in body odour, it is important to note that other factors, such as diet, medications, and underlying conditions, can also contribute to body odour.
While hormonal changes during these life stages can result in stronger or altered body odour, it is important to maintain proper hygiene practices, such as regular bathing and the use of deodorants or antiperspirants. Additionally, a healthy diet and staying hydrated can also help mitigate body odour caused by hormonal fluctuations.
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Frequently asked questions
The smell of cheese emanating from your armpits is likely due to the breakdown of sweat proteins by bacteria. This process produces volatile fatty acids, which can give off a cheese-like odour.
Maintaining good hygiene practices, such as showering regularly and using deodorant, can help reduce body odour. Changing your clothes frequently and opting for fresh fabrics can also prevent the lingering of sweat and bacteria, reducing the intensity of the smell.
Yes, absolutely! Consuming large amounts of dairy products, such as cheese and milk, can directly influence the scent of your sweat. Additionally, foods high in sulfur, like garlic and onions, can contribute to body odour. Cutting back on dairy and incorporating more leafy greens and citrus fruits may help neutralise the odour.
Yes, certain medical conditions can lead to persistent body odour. For example, hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating) and trimethylaminuria (a disorder characterised by fishy or cheesy body odour) are potential causes. Emotional stress can also trigger increased sweating and stronger body odour. Consulting a doctor is advisable if you suspect any underlying medical conditions.
The presence of specific bacteria, such as certain species of Corynebacterium, Staphylococcus, and Cutibacterium, can be a factor. Additionally, hormonal fluctuations during puberty, menstruation, or menopause can lead to stronger or altered body odour, which may contribute to the cheesy scent.
