Sweating and body odor can have a significant effect on you psychologically, socially, and professionally. Many things can contribute to changes in body odor, from exercise to certain foods and even medical conditions. A lesser-known cause of body odor is medication side effects. Please continue reading to learn more about some of the medications that can cause body odor.

What causes body odor?

Unknown to most people, sweat itself doesn’t have a bad smell. Body odor occurs when sweat mixes with bacteria on the skin. It can smell sweet, sour, tangy, or just unpleasant.

There are two types of sweat glands in the body: eccrine glands and apocrine glands. Eccrine glands are present all over the body, including the palms and soles. They secrete sweat that evaporates and has a cooling effect. Apocrine glands open into the hair follicles and are present in the groin and underarms. They become active at puberty and cause body odor when it comes in contact with odor-causing bacteria on the skin.

Anyone can develop body odor, but it is more common in men because they have more hair and apocrine glands.

Body odor is not necessarily related to sweating. Some people sweat a lot and don’t have body odor. Others don’t sweat much and have a strong body odor. This is because of the type of bacteria on the skin and their interaction with sweat that determines body odor.

Why have my armpits suddenly started smelling?

Sweating is a natural process. The amount you sweat depends on various factors like genetics, weather, exercise, food, and hygiene practices. Apocrine glands are the type of sweat glands that are responsible for causing body odor, and the armpits are one of the body areas that have apocrine glands. Therefore, armpits would, naturally, tend to have an odor. However, if you have noticed sudden changes in body odor, it could be for the following reasons.

Excessive sweating from exercise

Sweating during an exercise regimen is normal and helps to keep your body cool. People who are overweight or obese and those who exercise in a hot environment may sweat more. Sweat mixed with bacteria on the skin can cause body odor.

Foods

What you eat can affect your body odor. Certain foods can increase sweating or lead to a change in body odor because of the compounds they contain. For example, high-fiber vegetables like cauliflower, cabbage, broccoli, and kale can cause an egg-like odor. Sulfur-rich foods like garlic, onions, curry powder, and cumin can not only cause bad breath but also cause a sulfur smell, which can smell like a rotten egg. Other foods that can lead to a body odor that is different from your natural smell include monosodium glutamate (MSG), hot sauce, spicy foods, caffeine, and alcohol.

Health conditions that affect body odor

A sudden change in body odor may be one of the symptoms of a medical condition. This will usually be accompanied by other symptoms. Some of the health conditions that can affect body odor include:

Hyperhidrosis (overactive sweat glands)

People with a condition called hyperhidrosis have overactive sweat glands leading to excessive sweating. Sweat by itself does not have an odor. However, when sweat comes into contact with certain types of bacteria on the skin, a bad odor can occur as a result.

Diabetes

A fruity body odor can happen in people with diabetes. Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is a life-threatening complication of diabetes. DKA happens when there is not enough insulin in the body to turn glucose into energy; instead, the body burns fat for energy, causing a buildup of ketones. Fruity-smelling breath is the warning sign of diabetic ketoacidosis in diabetic patients, especially those with type 1 diabetes.

Kidney and liver disease

Body odor may be a sign of kidney disease or liver disease. When these organs are not working properly, there can be a build-up of toxins in the body, producing a body odor that is bleach-like. Similarly, gout can change a person’s usual body scent.

Skin infections

Skin infections can cause a very unpleasant smell due to bacterial or fungal overgrowth. For example, athlete’s foot can cause smelly feet. Gangrene, which is the death of body tissues, can produce a smell similar to rotting meat in severe cases.

Overactive thyroid

Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) can result in increased sweating and body odor.

Menopause

Falling estrogen levels in menopausal women can result in relatively higher levels of the male hormone testosterone. This change in hormones can lead to more smelly sweat, among other symptoms.

Trimethylaminuria

This is a rare metabolic disorder where the body cannot break down trimethylamine, which is the chemical that gives rotten fish a bad smell. When the body fails to process this chemical, trimethylamine accumulates in the body, and a foul odor in the breath, sweat, and urine happens as a result.

Can medication make your body odor change?

Medications can indeed change your body odor through increased sweat production. Examples include amphetamines, adrenaline, pseudoephedrine, certain antidepressants (fluoxetine, paroxetine, venlafaxine), tricyclic antidepressants (desipramine, nortriptyline), opioids (tramadol, codeine), pregabalin, gabapentin, pilocarpine, omeprazole, thyroid medications, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

Some medicines have a strong smell themselves or produce compounds that can cause body odor. Examples include bisphosphonates and lithium.

Medicines can also cause bad breath by decreasing saliva production or affecting food movement in the digestive tract. Examples include HIV medications, certain antidepressants, opioids, neuroleptics (antipsychotic medications), and antiseptic mouthwashes, which reduce moisture and cause dry mouth.

If your body odor is troublesome and you suspect it is a possible side effect of a medication, talk to your healthcare provider. Along with certain lifestyle changes, including incorporating certain deodorants into hygiene practices, your doctor may adjust the dosing, stop treatment, or use an alternative therapy to alleviate this bothersome side effect.

Is body odor a side effect of antidepressants?

Body odor can be a side effect of antidepressants. Sweating is a common adverse effect of these medications. Approximately 7-19% of people taking antidepressants experience increased sweating. Both tricyclic antidepressants and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) cause sweating. In fact, antidepressant-induced sweating can continue to be a problem even after taking the medication for 6 months or more. Moreover, some antidepressants can lead to a reduced sense of smell, and as a result, a person taking these medicines may not be aware of their body odor problem.

If you think antidepressants might be causing body odor, seek medical attention. Your doctor may reduce your dose of antidepressants. Anti-adrenergic drugs (terazosin, clonidine) and anticholinergic drugs (benztropine, glycopyrrolate) are possible treatment options for antidepressant-induced sweating causing body odor. However, there is no evidence of a lasting improvement in excessive sweating with these treatments. In addition, these treatments are not recommended because anti-adrenergic medications can reduce blood pressure causing dizziness, and anticholinergic agents are associated with many cognitive side effects.

How do you stop body odor naturally?

You can take several steps to reduce body odor naturally, such as:

Keeping your skin clean by bathing with antibacterial soap, focusing on areas like the underarms and groin.
Shaving your armpits so that sweat evaporates quickly.
Regularly doing laundry and wearing clean clothes.
Wearing loose-fitting clothes in fabrics like cotton that allow your skin to breathe and sweat to evaporate.
Using over-the-counter or prescription antiperspirants.
Avoiding smelly foods that make your body odor worse.
Reducing stress levels (stress can trigger the apocrine glands).
Applying a paste of baking soda and water, placing green tea bags soaked in warm water, or spraying a mix of apple cider vinegar or lemon juice with water on your underarms to reduce sweating.

What is the best medicine for body odor?

Prescription antiperspirants like Drysol and Xerac AC and prescription wipes to reduce excessive underarm sweating, like Qbrexza, can help. There are also nerve-blocking medications, such as botulinum toxin (Botox) injections, that can temporarily prevent sweating. However, with any type of medicine that prevents sweating, it must be used carefully because it can prevent your body from sweating when it needs to cool down. Your doctor may also prescribe antibiotics to control bacteria in your skin.

A hand-held device (MiraDry) can be used to destroy sweat glands in the underarms with electromagnetic waves. Surgical procedures, including sweat gland removal or nerve surgery to block nerve signals, can be done as well for severe cases.

References:

https://rarediseases.org/rare-diseases/trimethylaminuria/?filter=ovr-ds-resources

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