6 Medical Conditions that Cause Body Odor

3 min read

What diseases can cause bad body odor? Beyond hygiene, there are certain cases where diseases or medical conditions can alter a person’s body odor. Here are some of the top medical conditions that cause body odor, collated by experts from Australian online casino.

  1. BROMHIDROSIS

Bromhidrosis is a medical condition that causes extreme body odor. It occurs when your skin’s bacteria breaks down sweat and produces an abnormal smell that mimics sulfur or onions. There are two types of bromhidrosis: apocrine and eccrine. Apocrine bromhidrosis is the most common type, causing excessive odor in your armpits and genital areas. This odor happens when sweat from apocrine glands mixes with skin bacteria, creating a smell that can resemble onions, sulfur or raw meat. Eccrine bromhidrosis is a lesser-known form of bromhidrosis, causing smelly sweat on the hands, feet, head and torso. This odor happens when sweat from eccrine glands softens the skin’s keratin, breaking down bacteria that produce excessive odor.

  1. HYPERHIDROSIS

Hyperhidrosis causes your body to sweat more than normal. While hyperhidrosis doesn’t cause odor itself, excessive sweating mixes with your body’s bacteria creating embarrassing body odor. There are two main types of hyperhidrosis: primary and secondary. Primary hyperhidrosis causes excessive sweat in one body area, like the underarms, hands, feet, head and groin. It’s usually hereditary and affects approximately 5% of the population.
Secondary hyperhidrosis is excessive sweating caused by a medical condition or certain medications. Secondary hyperhidrosis causes all-over sweating and can be reversed if the underlying medical cause is resolved or eliminated. Some medications whose side effects can include excessive sweating are:

Antidepressants (Pamelor, Norpramin, Protriptyline)
Pilocarpine (used to treat dry mouth)
Zinc supplements
Iron supplements

  1. DIABETES

Diabetes patients often experience additional medical complications. Diabetes-related urinary tract infections (UTIs) and high levels of blood glucose can increase body odor. Diabetic ketoacidosis is a life-threatening condition in which your body lacks insulin, depriving cells of the sugar they need for energy. One of the symptoms is a distinct, fruity breath smell. Contact your physician for medical advice immediately if you suspect you have diabetic ketoacidosis.

  1. THYROID CONDITIONS

Thyroid glands regulate many bodily functions, including our sweat response. When you have hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) or Grave’s disease, your body can produce an excessive amount of sweat, even if you aren’t exerting yourself. Before, playing online casino games, check them out.

  1. KIDNEY FAILURE AND LIVER DYSFUNCTION

The kidneys and liver help remove toxins from our bodies. When they cannot function properly, toxins can build up in the blood and digestive tract, creating odor. Kidney disease can cause urea to make your sweat take on an ammonia smell. If you suspect that you have a thyroid, kidney or liver condition, talk to a healthcare professional promptly.

  1. METABOLIC DISORDERS

While this is incredibly rare, gene mutations can also affect body odor. Trimethylaminuria, or TMAU, is a disease that prevents your liver from breaking down the chemical compound trimethylamine. Trimethylamine can be fishy-smelling or reek of eggs or urine. When your body cannot break down this compound, it builds up in your body and is released in your sweat, urine and breath.

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