Patrick Oconnell
Dead skin can sometimes smell like cheese due to the presence of bacteria on the skin that feed on the lipids and proteins in sweat, producing compounds that smell like cheese. This process is known as bromhidrosis, and it can be influenced by factors such as diet, hygiene, and the type of bacteria present. While deodorants and antiperspirants are commonly used to reduce or prevent body odour, it's important to maintain good hygiene practices and be aware of any underlying health issues that may be causing the odour.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Reason | The smell of dead skin is caused by the presence of microbes on the skin that metabolize certain compounds in sweat and produce foul-smelling odors. |
| Microbes involved | Corynebacterium, Staphylococcus epidermis, and Actinobacteria |
| Odorants produced | Thioalcohols, volatile fatty acids, and isovaleric acid |
| Prevention | Deodorants and antiperspirants are commonly used to reduce or prevent body odor. |
| Diet | The smell of dead skin can also be influenced by diet, with certain foods such as dairy and greasy foods contributing to the odor. |
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What You'll Learn
Bromhidrosis and body odour
Bromhidrosis, also known as osmidrosis or ozochrotia, is characterised by unpleasant body odour. It is caused by the breakdown of sweat, sebum, and keratin by bacteria on the skin surface. While sweat itself is odourless, it can produce a strong smell when it comes into contact with bacteria.
There are two types of sweat glands: eccrine and apocrine. Eccrine sweat glands are distributed over most of the skin surface and are important for thermoregulation. Their secretions are typically odourless. However, in some cases, eccrine sweat can develop an offensive aroma, resulting in eccrine bromhidrosis. This can occur when eccrine sweat softens keratin, leading to bacterial degradation and a foul smell. Eccrine bromhidrosis presents as a generalised malodour and may be associated with bad breath, anogenital odour, and smelly urine.
On the other hand, apocrine glands are located in specific areas, including the axillae, anogenital region, and breasts. These glands become active during puberty and secrete an oily fluid that is initially odourless. However, when bacteria act on this fluid, it can result in apocrine bromhidrosis, the most common form of bromhidrosis in adults. Apocrine bromhidrosis is typically localised to the armpits and/or anogenital area.
The smell associated with bromhidrosis can vary depending on factors such as diet, hygiene, and the type of bacteria present on the skin. It is often described as pungent and musky, with a strong and lingering odour. In some cases, it may smell cheesy or sour, resembling aged cheese or fermented foods due to the bacterial breakdown of sweat proteins. Other descriptions include onion-like or garlicky, sweaty and ammonia-like, and, in severe cases, fecal or sulfuric.
The treatment options for bromhidrosis depend on its severity. In milder cases, improving hygiene practices, such as frequent washing with soap and water, using deodorant or antiperspirant, and removing sweaty clothing, can help neutralise bacteria and reduce odour. In more severe cases, medical treatments such as botulinum toxin A (Botox) injections or surgical removal of the offending sweat glands may be considered.
It is important to note that body odour can sometimes be a sign of underlying health issues. Conditions such as diabetes, liver disease, kidney disease, or infections can contribute to abnormal body odour. Therefore, if the odour persists despite good hygiene practices, it is recommended to consult a healthcare professional to rule out any potential medical causes.
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Bacteria and compounds
Dead skin can sometimes smell like cheese due to the presence and activity of certain bacteria and compounds. Body odour is primarily caused by the apocrine sweat glands, which develop in hairy areas like the armpits, genitals, and scalp. These glands secrete an oily fluid made up of proteins, lipids, and steroids. When this fluid mixes with bacteria on the skin, it can produce an unpleasant odour.
The odour produced can vary depending on factors such as diet, hygiene, and the type of bacteria present. For example, the smell of bromhidrosis can be pungent and musky, cheesy or sour, onion-like or garlicky, faecal or sulfuric, or sweaty and ammonia-like. The intensity and character of the odour depend on individual body chemistry and hygiene habits, with some people experiencing a milder scent while others have a more overpowering smell.
The production of certain compounds by bacteria also contributes to body odour. For instance, when lipid-rich sweat mixes with skin bacteria, they produce thioalcohols, which smell like sulfur, onions, or raw meat. Additionally, certain bacteria, such as Staphylococcus epidermis, can degrade leucine in sweat to isovaleric acid, a compound with a cheesy odour. Other bacteria, such as Staphylococcus hominis, produce 3-methyl-3-sulfanylhexan-1-ol (3M3SH), a thioalcohol that gives the underarms a rotten onion or meat-like smell.
The ABCC11 gene has also been linked to body odour. This gene encodes a protein that transports molecules across cellular membranes, including sweat molecules. If the ABCC11 gene is non-functional, the bacteria on the skin's surface cannot access and metabolize the organic compounds in the sweat, resulting in a lack of odour. This loss-of-function mutation is relatively common in East Asian populations, with a prevalence of 80-95%.
While deodorants and antiperspirants are commonly used to manage body odour, they can have unintended consequences. For example, the use of antiperspirants has been shown to increase the presence of odour-producing Actinobacteria in some individuals. Additionally, excessive body odour could be a symptom of underlying health issues, such as diabetes or infections.
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Diet, hygiene, and skin bacteria
Body odour is caused by a mix of bacteria on the skin and sweat. The type of bacteria on your skin and how it interacts with sweat determines body odour. Sweat itself does not have a smell, but when it comes into contact with the bacteria on the skin, it produces an odour. This odour can be good or bad, or may not be perceptible at all.
Diet can also influence body odour. The foods we eat do not directly trigger body odour, but they can be a factor by increasing the amount of sweat produced by the body. For example, monosodium glutamate (MSG), spices like curry powder or cumin, and hot sauce or other spicy foods can increase sweating. Similarly, alcohol consumption can lead to body odour as some of the alcohol metabolized in the liver is released through sweat. On the other hand, a vegetarian diet is perceived to result in a more pleasant and less intense body odour compared to a meat-based diet. Consuming fruits and vegetables rich in potent carotenoids is also believed to positively affect body odour.
Hygiene practices can also influence body odour. Maintaining good hygiene by regularly taking a bath or shower with antibacterial soap helps remove bacteria from the skin and prevent unpleasant body odour. Shaving the armpits can also help as it ensures that sweat evaporates quickly, reducing the time for interaction with bacteria.
Additionally, factors such as hormones, medications, infections, and underlying health conditions can also impact body odour.
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Microbial origins of body odour
Body odour, or bromhidrosis, is a common issue that affects many people at some point in their lives. While sweat itself doesn't have a smell, it is often the root cause of body odour when it mixes with bacteria on the skin. This mixture of sweat and bacteria can produce a range of odours, from pungent and musky to cheesy or sour, onion-like or garlicky, and even faecal or sulphuric in severe cases.
The human body has three types of sweat glands: apocrine, eccrine, and sebaceous. Eccrine sweat glands are present in all skin types and produce mostly water and salt, so their sweat doesn't typically have a strong smell. On the other hand, apocrine sweat glands develop in hairy areas like the armpits, genitals, and scalp during puberty, secreting an oily fluid containing proteins, lipids, and steroids. This lipid-rich sweat from apocrine glands can mix with skin bacteria, producing thioalcohols—compounds that smell like sulphur, onions, or raw meat, contributing to body odour.
The ABCC11 gene has also been linked to body odour. This gene encodes a protein that transports molecules across cellular membranes, including sweat molecules. If the ABCC11 gene is non-functional, sweat molecules cannot reach the skin surface, depriving the bacteria on the other side of their food source. As a result, these bacteria cannot produce odour-causing substances, and body odour is reduced. This loss-of-function mutation is common in East Asian populations, where 80-95% of people have it.
While deodorants and antiperspirants are commonly used to manage body odour, they can have unintended consequences on the skin microbiome. For example, a study found that the use of antiperspirants led to an increase in odour-producing Actinobacteria in certain individuals. Additionally, some underlying health issues, such as diabetes, infections, or other conditions, can cause changes in body odour, so it is important to be aware of any unusual or persistent odours.
In summary, body odour is primarily caused by the interaction of sweat with the bacteria on our skin, resulting in a range of odours depending on individual factors such as diet, hygiene, and the specific bacteria present. While deodorants and antiperspirants can help manage body odour, they may also alter the skin microbiome, and persistent or unusual odours could indicate an underlying health issue.
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Deodorants and antiperspirants
Dead skin can sometimes give off a cheese-like odour due to the presence of bacteria on the skin that break down sweat into acids, resulting in a cheesy scent. This can be addressed by maintaining proper hygiene, such as showering and wearing clean clothes, as well as using deodorants and antiperspirants.
When choosing a deodorant, opt for one designed for sensitive areas, as these can help reduce odour without causing irritation. Additionally, consider using antibacterial soap or body wash to reduce the amount of bacteria on the skin. It is also important to wear clean, breathable clothing, preferably made from natural fabrics like cotton or bamboo, as they allow sweat to evaporate more easily and reduce moisture buildup.
Antiperspirants work by blocking sweat ducts in the skin, often through the use of aluminium chloride, which creates a gel-like substance. Many antiperspirants also contain antimicrobials like propylene glycol, triclosan, and benzalkonium chloride, which help decrease bacterial abundance. However, it is important to note that altering the skin microbiome in the armpits can have unintended consequences, such as an increase in odour-producing bacteria in some individuals.
In addition to deodorants and antiperspirants, there are natural remedies that can help manage body odour. Applying baking soda mixed with water to the armpits can help balance the skin's pH and reduce odours. Green tea bags soaked in warm water and applied to the underarms can also help block pores and reduce sweating. Apple cider vinegar and lemon juice mixed with water can be used as a natural spray deodorant, as the acid in vinegar and the citric acid in lemon juice help kill bacteria.
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Frequently asked questions
Dead skin can smell like cheese due to the presence of bacteria on the skin that mixes with sweat. This results in the production of thioalcohols, which are compounds that smell like sulfur, onions, or cheese.
The intensity and character of body odor can vary depending on factors such as diet, hygiene, and the type of bacteria present on the skin.
Deodorants and antiperspirants are commonly used to reduce or prevent body odor. Deodorants contain chemicals that kill bacteria and block the production of odor-causing compounds, while antiperspirants reduce sweat by clogging sweat glands.
Thioalcohols are compounds produced when lipid-rich sweat mixes with skin bacteria. They have a strong odor reminiscent of sulfur, onions, or raw meat.
Yes, in some cases, body odor can be an indication of an underlying medical condition. For example, a fishy or foul vaginal odor that doesn't go away could be a sign of an infection or another condition.
