Worried About Body Odor
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Try one of these related symptoms.
Concerns over body odor
Change in body odor worries me
About the Symptom
It refers to the behavior of people who worry about emitting a bad body odor from any part of their body.
Doctor's Diagnostic Questions
Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this symptom:
- Are you worried about your body odor?
Reviewed By:
Weston S. Ferrer, MD (Psychiatry)
Weston Ferrer is a physician leader, psychiatrist, and clinical informaticist based in San Francisco. With nearly a decade of experience in academia and more recent immersion in industry, he has made significant contributions to the fields of digital health, health tech, and healthcare innovation. | As an Associate Professor at UCSF, Weston was involved in teaching, leadership, and clinical practice, focusing on the intersection of technology and mental health. He recently led mental health clinical for Verily (formerly Google Life Sciences), where he applied his expertise to develop innovative solutions for mental healthcare using the tools of AI/ML, digital therapeutics, clinical analytics, and more.. | Weston is known for his unique ability to innovate and support product development while bringing pragmatism to technology entrepreneurship. He is a strong advocate for patient-centered care and is committed to leveraging technology to improve the health and well-being of individuals and communities. |
Yu Shirai, MD (Psychiatry)
Dr. Shirai works at the Yotsuya Yui Clinic for mental health treatment for English and Portuguese-speaking patients. He treats a wide range of patients from neurodevelopmental disorders to dementia in children and participates in knowledge sharing through the Diversity Clinic.
Content updated on Jan 29, 2025
Following the Medical Content Editorial Policy
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- Concerned about my own body odor
- Worried about my own body odor
- My body odor concerns me
- My body odor worries me
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FAQs
Q.
Are You Sending the Wrong Signals? Why Your Pheromones Drive Attraction and Medical Next Steps
A.
There are several factors to consider. Natural pheromones can subtly influence attraction and are usually mild and unique, but a sudden, strong, or unusual odor is more often due to bacteria on sweat, hormonal shifts, diet, medications, or health conditions. See below for critical red flags and next steps, including when new odor with other symptoms should prompt medical care and examples like fruity breath in diabetes or fishy odor in TMAU, since the full details can affect what you do next.
References:
* Kavaliers, M., & Choleris, E. (2010). Olfactory and vomeronasal contributions to chemosensory regulation of neuroendocrine function and behavior: an emphasis on the human. *Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology*, *31*(1), 127-139.
* Lübke, J. H., & Paepke, A. J. (2016). Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) and mate choice in humans: a critical review. *Evolutionary Human Sciences*, *2*(1), e4.
* Savic, I., & Lindström, P. (2008). PET and MRI show differences in regional brain activity between homosexuals and heterosexuals when smelling body odor. *Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences*, *105*(25), 9015-9020.
* Wyatt, T. D. (2017). The search for human pheromones: the scientific and methodological challenges. *Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences*, *284*(1862), 20170494.
* Martins, R. P., & Lima, M. G. (2020). Olfactory dysfunction and its social impact. *Current Opinion in Otolaryngology & Head & Neck Surgery*, *28*(1), 40-45.
Q.
Persistent Body Odor? Why Your Body Smells & Medically Approved Next Steps
A.
Persistent body odor most often comes from bacteria breaking down sweat in the armpits and groin, amplified by excess sweating, diet, hormonal shifts, or skin infections; less commonly it can signal diabetes, thyroid disease, kidney or liver problems, or trimethylaminuria. Medically approved next steps include daily antibacterial hygiene, clinical strength antiperspirant at night, breathable fabrics, diet adjustments, and doctor guided treatment for hyperhidrosis or infections, with urgent care if there is a sudden strong change, fruity or ammonia-like smells, fever, confusion, or weight loss. There are several factors to consider; see the complete guidance below for details that can shape your next steps.
References:
* Cunha MG, Hachem M, Kurban M, Rubeiz N. Bromhidrosis: A Review of Etiology, Diagnosis, and Treatment. Am J Clin Dermatol. 2021 Oct;22(5):669-679. doi: 10.1007/s40257-021-00612-z. Epub 2021 Aug 28. PMID: 34453406.
* Callewaert C, Lambert J, Van de Wiele T. The Human Axillary Microbiome: From Production of Odorants to Clinical Implications. Trends Microbiol. 2019 Apr;27(4):306-318. doi: 10.1016/j.tim.2018.11.006. Epub 2018 Dec 21. PMID: 30678252.
* Natsch A, Gfeller H. Molecular mechanisms of human axillary odor formation. Exp Dermatol. 2019 Mar;28(3):236-240. doi: 10.1111/exd.13824. Epub 2019 Jan 10. PMID: 30743133.
* Lin D, Ma J, Wang T. A Comprehensive Review of Bromhidrosis Management. Int J Gen Med. 2022 Jun 29;15:5835-5844. doi: 10.2147/IJGM.S371802. PMID: 35790835; PMCID: PMC9255260.
* Muro T, Utsumi A, Maeda M. Trimethylaminuria: An Overview. Intractable Rare Dis Res. 2021 Apr;10(2):61-64. doi: 10.5582/irdr.2020.01072. PMID: 33924976; PMCID: PMC8069351.
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