Osmidrosis: why sweat smells so bad

The unpleasant smell of sweat, and even with increased sweating, often becomes a reason for the patient to seek help from dermatologists and cosmetologists. Osmidrosis, which causes this cosmetic defect, is perceived by most people as a sign of insufficient human hygiene, from which a strong smell of sweat emanates. But it happens that the smell of sweat becomes especially pungent, and  this is not at all due to hygienic oversights, but to much more serious disorders of the body that require treatment.

Why and in what cases  there is an unpleasant smell of sweat

Osmidrosis occurs against the background of excessive sweating and is due to the activity of bacteria that are present on human skin. Sweat itself has no odor. But streptococci and staphylococci, which are on the skin, form their waste products in the presence of sweat, which just give off a rather unpleasant smell.

Osmidrosis comes in two forms:

• apocrine (axillary) – unpleasant smell of sweat from the armpits;
• eccrine – an unpleasant smell with increased perspiration on the soles and in large folds of the skin.

Other reasons for bad breath can be internal diseases of the body. In this case, the diseased organ releases substances (for example, urea, fat metabolism products, free fatty acids, etc.), which, mixed with sweat, are excreted through the skin along with it and give it an extremely unpleasant odor.

Diseases associated with bad breath:

• chronic pyelonephritis;
• uremia;
• diabetes mellitus;
• endocrine disorders;
• menstrual irregularities;
• chronic constipation;
• peptic ulcer;
• intestinal obstruction;
• taking certain medications (especially those containing sulfur).

Diagnosis of the causes of bad breath and treatment of osmidrosis

During a diagnostic examination, the composition of sweat is analyzed, additional consultations of specialists are scheduled to find out the cause of the unpleasant smell of sweat.

The treatment of osmidrosis begins with the elimination of the underlying disease that caused the appearance of an unpleasant odor of sweat. Further measures are taken to treat hyperhidrosis (for example, botulinum therapy, ultrasonic destruction of the sweat glands). Of course, general skin hygiene is important.