When an individual’s body gives off a scent unpleasant to others, it’s known as body odor (BO). Although, in many instances, body odor isn’t a glaring concern, it can be pretty embarrassing. Fortunately, one can take multiple precautions to prevent the problem. But it’s also essential to understand the factors that can trigger the foul smell. Here, we’ve listed seven potential reasons for body odor.

1. Bacteria by-product
Bacteria tend to flourish in moist conditions. However, we must understand that it’s not the bacteria that produce the stench. When a person sweats, the bacteria break down proteins in the sweat into acids. The by-product of this process produces an unpleasant body odor.

2. Diet
A person’s diet may also be one of the reasons for a temporary alteration in body odor. According to research, people who maintain a diet rich in fruits and vegetables have better body odor, even when they sweat too much. On the other hand, people with a high carb intake produce sweat that smells bad.

3. Apocrine glands
The apocrine glands are located in the armpits, genital region, breasts, and other such regions. These glands remain inactive until puberty, which explains why kids aren’t susceptible to unusual body odor. Once these glands are activated, they produce sweat. This sweat is broken down and creates an unpleasant body odor.

4. Stress
Stress is another reason for body odor. An example of stress is when a person is nervous due to an upcoming event, like waiting for an examination or interview. When a person is stressed, it can cause their apocrine glands to overwork. And as we’ve already mentioned, the apocrine glands can disburse smelly sweat.

5. Health conditions
An individual’s health condition can also lead to a change in their regular body odor. Some problem-causing illnesses include diabetes, liver problems, overactive thyroid, and even those that stem from genetics like the Fish odor syndrome. Sometimes, side effects of medications can also lead to unpleasant body odor. If an abnormal change is found in regular body odor due to either of these health conditions or medications, we recommend speaking with a doctor immediately.

6. Body weight
An unhealthy diet can lead to an increase in body weight. This can, in turn, cause skin folds that hold sweat and bacteria. Further, a person who is overweight may exert themselves to perform tasks. These factors combined present suitable breeding grounds for unpleasant body odor.

7. Poor hygiene
Among all the reasons for unpleasant body odor, poor health hygiene stands at the center. It’s caused when people don’t take the necessary precautions to avoid foul body odor. These include not showering daily, poor oral hygiene, not taking care of the feet, not keeping the genital regions clean, among several others.