Randy Chandler
There are many reasons why your hands might smell like cheese. Bromhidrosis, for example, is a condition where apocrine sweat mixes with skin bacteria, creating a strong, persistent odour. This odour can be cheesy or sour, similar to the smell of aged cheese or fermented foods. Additionally, certain medications can cause heavier sweating, leading to more noticeable odours. Pungent foods with strong, sulfur-like smells, such as onions or garlic, can also leave your hands smelling unpleasant. In some cases, an underlying medical condition could be the culprit, with liver or kidney disease causing a bleach-like odour, and diabetes resulting in a sweet, fruity smell.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Cause | Sweat, diet, bacteria, medication, underlying medical conditions |
| Prevention | Regular bathing with antibacterial soap, use of deodorant or antiperspirant, changing clothes |
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What You'll Learn
- Bromhidrosis: a strong, persistent odour caused by bacterial breakdown of sweat
- Pungent foods: onions and garlic can cause a lingering, sulphur-like smell on hands
- Medication: certain drugs can cause heavier sweating, leading to stronger hand odour
- Medical conditions: some health issues can cause unusual hand odours, e.g. diabetes, kidney disease
- Bacteria and genetics: hand odour can be influenced by bacteria on the skin and genetic factors
Bromhidrosis: a strong, persistent odour caused by bacterial breakdown of sweat
Bromhidrosis is a chronic condition that causes an unusual and unpleasant body odour. It is caused by bacterial breakdown of sweat. The odour can vary depending on factors such as diet, hygiene, and the bacteria present on the skin. However, it is generally described as a strong, lingering pungent and musky odour.
The condition is more commonly known as body odour (BO) and is usually related to secretions by apocrine glands. These glands are located primarily in the underarm, groin, and breast areas. Apocrine sweat is thicker than eccrine sweat and contains proteins and lipids. While apocrine sweat is odourless upon reaching the skin surface, it can create a strong, persistent odour when bacteria on the skin break it down. This odour is due to the production of thioalcohols—compounds that smell like sulphur, onions or raw meat.
Eccrine bromhidrosis is the rarer form of bromhidrosis. Eccrine sweat glands are found all over the body and produce watery sweat that helps regulate body temperature. Eccrine sweat is typically odourless, but it can assume an offensive aroma in certain circumstances, such as when bacteria on the skin break down the keratin in the sweat, yielding a foul smell.
The treatment for bromhidrosis depends on the severity of the condition. In some cases, preventive measures such as improving hygiene habits and using deodorant or antiperspirant may be sufficient. In more serious cases, medical treatments such as botulinum toxin A (Botox) or even removal of the offending sweat glands may be necessary.
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Pungent foods: onions and garlic can cause a lingering, sulphur-like smell on hands
Pungent foods like onions and garlic have a strong, sulphur-like smell that can linger on your hands after you handle them. This is because when you eat these foods, they can leave compounds in your sweat, giving it a distinct odour.
According to dermatologist Dr. Chacon, "Hands and fingernails tend to pick up odours simply because they're touching different things." This is especially true for foods with strong smells, like onions and garlic, which can cause a lingering, sulphur-like smell on your hands even after you've washed them.
The smell of sulphur is often associated with rotten eggs, and in some cases, it can be caused by specific bacterial activity on the skin. This type of odour is typically described as pungent and musky, and it can be challenging to get rid of. While contact odours usually go away on their own, you can try rubbing your hands with a stainless steel object, like a spoon or faucet, to speed up the process.
Additionally, certain medications can also contribute to increased body odour, which you may notice on your hands. These medications can cause heavier sweating, leading to more noticeable odours. Some common medications that may have this effect include cholinesterase inhibitors used to treat Alzheimer's and dementia, opioids for pain management, and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) used for depression and anxiety.
In rare cases, an unpleasant hand odour could be a sign of an underlying medical condition. For example, a sweet, fruity smell could indicate undiagnosed or poorly managed diabetes, while a bleach-like odour may be a sign of liver or kidney disease. If you are concerned about any unusual or persistent odours, it is always best to consult with a healthcare professional.
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Medication: certain drugs can cause heavier sweating, leading to stronger hand odour
While there are several reasons why your hands may smell like cheese, one of the causes could be related to medication. Certain drugs can induce heavier sweating, which can, in turn, lead to a stronger hand odour. This phenomenon is known as hyperhidrosis in medical terms, referring to excessive sweating that occurs even when one is not feeling hot.
Several medications across different categories have been associated with increased sweating as a side effect. For instance, antidepressants are a well-known group of drugs that can cause hyperhidrosis. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as escitalopram (Lexapro) and fluoxetine (Prozac) are commonly prescribed for depression and anxiety, and they have been linked to excessive sweating in more than 22% of adults in the United States who take them. Tricyclic antidepressants like Elavil, Norpramin, and Pamelor are another subset of antidepressants that can have similar side effects.
Pain medications, both prescription and over-the-counter (OTC), can also trigger hyperhidrosis. This includes opioids used to treat pain, such as OxyContin, Percocet, and Vicodin, as well as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen, which many people take for headaches, minor aches, and pains.
Hormone therapy and cancer treatments are another category of medications that can induce sweating. Hot flushes and night sweats are common side effects of hormonal therapy, particularly during treatments for breast, prostate, or endometrial cancers. Additionally, steroids, which may be prescribed during cancer treatments, can also cause increased sweating.
Other miscellaneous medications that have been linked to excessive sweating include triptans used for migraines, blood pressure medications, antibiotics, and gastrointestinal issue treatments. It is important to note that the intensity of the odour can vary depending on individual body chemistry and hygiene habits.
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Medical conditions: some health issues can cause unusual hand odours, e.g. diabetes, kidney disease
While there are many reasons why your hands may smell like cheese, it is important to consider any underlying medical conditions that could be causing unusual hand odours. Some health issues, such as diabetes and kidney disease, have been known to cause strange smells.
Diabetes
Undiagnosed or poorly managed diabetes can cause a sweet, fruity smell, particularly on the breath. This is a result of diabetic ketoacidosis, which occurs when the body doesn't have enough insulin to allow blood sugar into your cells for energy. As a result, the liver breaks down fat for fuel, producing acids called ketones. These excess ketones can build up in the blood and are excreted through the breath, urine, and sweat, leading to peculiar body odours.
People with type 1 diabetes may develop ketoacidosis due to infection, injury, serious illness, surgery, or missing insulin doses. While less frequent and severe, ketoacidosis can also occur in people with type 2 diabetes if they have uncontrolled blood sugar levels over a long period.
Other signs of high blood sugar levels and diabetes include dark patches on the skin, particularly around the neck, armpits, and groin. This condition is called acanthosis nigricans (AN). High blood sugar can also affect vision, causing blurry vision or difficulty focusing due to altered fluid levels in the eyes.
Kidney Disease
Chronic kidney disease can also cause unusual body odours. Trimethylaminuria, or fish malodour syndrome, is a rare genetic metabolic disorder associated with chronic renal failure. It causes a highly objectionable odour that resembles decaying fish. This odour can severely impact a person's social and work life. The condition is caused by the body's inability to break down trimethylamine, a smelly chemical compound found in certain foods.
While kidney disease itself may not directly cause hand odours that smell like cheese, it can impair the sense of smell. Studies have shown that patients with chronic renal failure have a severely impaired ability to smell, which can affect their quality of life.
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Bacteria and genetics: hand odour can be influenced by bacteria on the skin and genetic factors
Body odour, including hand odour, can be influenced by bacteria on the skin and genetic factors. While some people experience a mild scent, others may struggle with a more overpowering smell. This variation in odour intensity and character may be due to differences in individual body chemistry, hygiene habits, and genetics.
Bacteria on the skin can cause body odour when mixed with sweat. Eccrine sweat glands, which are found all over the body, produce watery sweat to regulate body temperature. On the other hand, apocrine sweat glands, located in areas like the underarms and groin, secrete thicker sweat containing proteins and lipids. While eccrine sweat typically does not have a strong odour, apocrine sweat can create a persistent smell when broken down by bacteria, resulting in compounds like thioalcohols, which smell like sulphur, onions, or raw meat.
Additionally, certain medications can cause increased sweating or directly contribute to body odour. For example, cholinesterase inhibitors used to treat Alzheimer's and dementia, opioids for pain management, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) for depression and anxiety, tricyclic antidepressants for conditions like OCD, and penicillin are known to affect body odour. These medications can be excreted through sweat glands, leading to an unpleasant smell when mixed with skin bacteria.
Genetic variations also play a role in body odour. Research suggests that slight genetic differences between individuals can lead to variations in the perception of odour, with some people detecting a vinegar-like scent in their sweat. Additionally, the way the body breaks down certain substances found in foods like garlic, onion, cruciferous vegetables, and dairy products can leave compounds in the sweat, influencing its odour.
Furthermore, underlying health problems can cause unusual odours in the body, including the hands. For example, a sweet, fruity smell could indicate undiagnosed or poorly managed diabetes, while a bleach-like odour may suggest liver or kidney disease. In some cases, a strong pungent odour could be a sign of trimethylaminuria, a metabolic disorder where the body cannot break down trimethylamine, a chemical compound found in certain foods.
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Frequently asked questions
The smell of bromhidrosis can be cheesy or sour, similar to the smell of aged cheese or fermented foods due to the breakdown of sweat proteins by bacteria.
You can try washing your hands with antibacterial soap to reduce the levels of bacteria on your skin that are reacting to sweat. You can also try using deodorant or antiperspirant.
Yes, certain foods, drinks, and medications can lead to increased body odor, which you might notice on your hands. For example, dairy products, including milk and cheese, can change the way your sweat smells.
Yes, certain health problems can cause your hands to give off an unusual odor. A strong, pungent odor could be a sign of trimethylaminuria, a metabolic disorder where the body is unable to break down trimethylamine, a chemical compound found in certain foods.
It is quite common for babies to have stinky hands, especially if they are constantly sucking or chewing on their hands. This is usually temporary and tends to go away once they start reaching for things more and their hands are able to "air out".
