In a world where deodorants, eau de toilette and perfume are as much a part of a person’s image as a dress, shoes, tie and briefcase, people don’t always think about how their body smells without additional fragrances. But some diseases do not allow you to forget about it. And then by the smell of the body one can guess what the person is sick with.
Among the huge variety of human aromas, we have selected 7 interesting odors that are associated with diseases.
A severe deficiency of carbohydrates in the diet leads to the fact that the body begins to burn stored fats to obtain glucose. On the one hand, this is pleasant for those who want to lose weight. On the other hand, it doesn't smell very good in every sense of the word.
As a result of this process, ketones are formed, or more precisely acetone, which actually gives the smell of rotting apples or nail polish remover. The breakdown of fats into glucose and acetone also occurs during normal nutrition, but very little acetone is formed - it is excreted in the urine or enters into further chemical reactions. If a person decides to completely switch his body to fuel from fats, then too many ketones accumulate, the body cannot cope with their elimination, and the urine and body of the person acquires a characteristic odor. A similar situation occurs during fasting, when the body, due to lack of food, is forced to begin breaking down its own fat reserves.
Diabetes is another condition that leads to the production of excess ketones. Let's say the pancreas does not produce insulin or the hormone is available in the required quantity, but the cells cannot receive it for various reasons. In this case, glucose cannot reach organs and tissues and accumulates in the blood. The brain, not receiving glucose, requires food, and the body begins to break down fats, producing, as in the previous case, a large amount of ketones, which are excreted through the skin.
This smell is present in various deviations of the body’s condition from the norm. The fact is that ammonia is a volatile substance with which we get rid of excess nitrogen. It can be excreted in urine, exhaled air, or sweat.
Ammonia breath is common in people with kidney failure and also indicates a possible Helicobacter pylori infection and a high risk of liver failure. Cystitis causes the characteristic ammonia-like odor of urine.
But if the skin smells of ammonia, this means that the kidneys and liver are not able to process all the excess nitrogen, so it is excreted through sweat through the skin. To do this, the body needs to spend a lot of water. And the first thing that the smell of ammonia emanating from the body indicates is a possible deficiency of fluid in the body.
The ammonia smell also suggests that there is an excess of protein in the human body. This problem may be encountered by people who prefer low-carb diets. In this case, it should be understood that it is more profitable for the body to use carbohydrates than proteins to obtain energy. To stop the breakdown of proteins, it is enough to introduce the required amount of carbohydrates into the diet. This is especially important to do against the backdrop of intense training.
By the way, active excretion of ammonia through the skin can be provoked by consuming certain sports supplements, as well as vitamins and medications. Excessive addiction to asparagus can also cause a characteristic smell.
If a person smells like fish, and even rotting fish, then he most likely suffers from trimethylaminuria. The cause of this syndrome is a rather rare genetic disease that develops against the background of a mutation in the FMO3 gene. It is responsible for the production of the enzyme flavin monooxygenase-3, which is involved in the processing of a digestive byproduct - trimethylamine. If there is no such enzyme, the substance accumulates in the body, combines with other body secretions (urine, sweat, exhaled air) and becomes the cause of the characteristic fishy odor. Substances that produce trimethylamine during digestion are choline, carnitine, and lecithin. Accordingly, people with trimethylaminuria syndrome are not recommended to eat foods containing them. For example, carnitine is found in abundance in red meat, fish and whey. There is a lot of lecithin in egg yolk, in buttermilk, as well as in seeds, nuts and raisins. Choline is also present in large quantities in egg yolk, liver and sprouted cereals.
But the smell of rotten fish in vaginal discharge is a characteristic symptom of bacterial vulvovaginitis (gardnerellosis). Its causative agents are Gardnerella bacteria, which are normally opportunistic microorganisms. But when the acid-base balance of the vaginal environment is disturbed or when the immune system is weakened, they begin to multiply too actively and simultaneously produce volatile amines - putrescine and cadaverine. An interesting point: the smell becomes stronger after sexual intercourse. This is because semen, with its alkaline pH, activates the production of volatile amines, which enhances the “flavor”.
This is what people who suffer from the genetic disease tyrosinemia smell like. There are several varieties of this disease, but their essence is the same: due to certain mutations, the body cannot produce enzymes that break down the amino acid tyrosine. As a result, the body accumulates amino acids such as tyrosine, methionine and phenylalanine. This leads to severe pathologies of the kidneys and liver, disruption of the central nervous system and changes in bone tissue. And the increased content of methionine and tyrosine in the blood is the cause of the characteristic smell of boiled cabbage emanating from such patients.
The sour smell of fermented dough accompanies Norwegian scabies, a severe form of the disease caused by the common scabies mite. It has many names that best characterize the appearance of the affected tissues - crusted, crustose scabies, etc. The disease usually develops against the background of disorders of the immune system and other diseases: AIDS, leprosy, age-related dementia, tuberculosis, skin lymphoma, leukemia, etc.
When Pseudomonas aeruginosa is rampant in a person’s body, his body begins to emit a characteristic sweetish odor, which is compared to the smell of honey. By the way, even in the laboratory a Petri dish with Pseudomonas aeruginosa can be easily distinguished by the strong smell of jasmine. Despite its pleasant aroma, Pseudomonas aeruginosa is one of the most dangerous nosocomial (or nosocomial) infections. Some strains of this bacterium are resistant to the most common antibiotics. Pseudomonas aeruginosa can cause various diseases of the respiratory tract, meningitis, otitis, inflammation of the facial sinuses, cause severe abscesses and lead to the development of purulent processes in wounds, etc. For a doctor, a honey smell emanating from a patient is a bad symptom that requires immediate action .
People suffering from another hereditary metabolic disorder smell like cheese (or “sweaty feet” - it all depends on perception). This time we are talking about congenital deficiency of the enzyme isovaleryl-CoA dehydrogenase. Against the background of its absence, isovaleryl-CoA accumulates in the body, which, as a result of hydrolysis, turns into isovalerate and is excreted in sweat and urine. It is isovalerate that gives the characteristic smell of cheese.
The vast majority of body odors that differ from the norm indicate metabolic disorders - temporary or permanent. Therefore, any unusual odor emanating from the body is a reason to consult a doctor. Perhaps this is a signal from the body that something is seriously wrong with it.
Frequent washing, deodorants, perfumes, and perfume oils eliminate body odor, but this only lasts for a few hours. Then the problem returns, and it haunts people of both sexes, from adolescence to old age, an entire period characterized by high levels of hormones and physical activity. Therefore, it is necessary to take into account the nature of activities during the day and use special methods to combat odors.
The unpleasant odor is caused by the proliferation of bacteria, a favorable environment for which is created by sweat. During active movements or exercise, especially in high humidity environments, a person sweats. Sweating regulates temperature body, but the smell is sometimes so intense that it is necessary to take action.
There are many other ways to combat body odor. The main thing is to keep problem areas clean, protect against bacteria, and eat a healthy diet. Following these principles will help you get rid of odors forever.
Unpleasant body odor - causes and manifestations of the disease
● It is well known that each person has his own individual, special smell. If you follow basic daily hygiene rules, body odor is insignificant, and it is practically not felt by people around you who do not have a heightened sense of smell. However, even normally, body odor becomes more aggressive during the menstrual cycle in women and during puberty in adolescents.
● At the same time, for a number of people, unpleasant body odor becomes unbearable due to serious pathological processes occurring in the body. For example, with diabetes and other diseases associated with metabolic disorders, chronic liver and kidney diseases, eating disorders, alcohol abuse and smoking, the normal smell of the human body changes dramatically. Problems with gums, carious teeth, chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, and smoking contribute to the development of bad breath.
● Often the cause of unpleasant odor is problems associated with excessive sweating. In the body of every person, there are two types of sweat glands: exocrine glands, which are located throughout the body, and apocrine glands, located in areas of the body covered with hair (pubic area, armpits). It is the apocrine glands that produce fatty substances that cause the unpleasant odor. If hygienic measures are observed, the sweat of a healthy adult does not have an intense odor, however, metabolic breakdown products and bacteria living on our body can give a strong accent to sweat.
● The cause of a strong and unpleasant odor may be certain types of fungi and bacteria that produce specific substances while taking antibiotics. Sugar also plays a significant role in this: the more it enters the body, the more actively bacteria multiply, and the stronger the unpleasant odor caused by them.
Unpleasant body odor - control and prevention measures
● If you have an unpleasant body odor, get examined by a doctor, do a general blood and urine test, check your diet and coordinate it with a nutritionist; Avoid spices, carefully observe the rules of personal hygiene, and check your oral cavity at the dentist more often.
● To improve body odor, you can use a significant arsenal of modern cosmetics. Antiperspirants can prevent sweat in the most problematic areas of the body (legs and arms, under the arms). These drugs contain organic salts of certain metals, aluminum and zinc, which reduce the ducts of the sweat glands and thereby reduce sweating by 20 to 40%. However, do not forget that such products should not be used for more than 8 hours a day. Moreover, they can cause allergic dermatitis in some sensitive individuals.
● The first symptoms of a skin disease resulting from the irrational use of cosmetics: itching, burning, hyperemia (redness) of the skin at the sites where the antiperspirant was applied.
● Another group of cosmetic products to combat sweat are deodorants. They contain deodorizing and disinfecting substances that destroy microbes and fungi that contribute to the occurrence of unpleasant body odor. At the same time, these preparations impart a pleasant odor to the environment. When choosing a deodorant, pay attention to the release form. Persons with sensitive skin are not recommended to use a spray containing alcohol, which can cause irritation, severe itching and redness of the skin. For these people, talc or powder is more suitable, and for dry skin, a deodorizing cream.
● And yet, before you run to the perfume store, try to get rid of the unpleasant smell using simpler, publicly available methods. Take a shower every day, and in the hot season if you sweat heavily - several times a day. Train yourself to always wear dry clothes, and if necessary, carry a spare T-shirt or tank top with you. Shave your armpit hair every day to prevent bacteria from growing.
● Monitor the condition of the skin between your toes, it should always be dry. Use zinc oxide ointments or talc. These drugs dry out the skin and reduce foot odor. Daily baths with a decoction of oak bark will help get rid of the bad smell. Before going to bed, keep your feet in the broth for 10-15 minutes. You can sprinkle crushed oak bark, which can be easily purchased at a pharmacy, into your socks or stockings before putting them on.
● The most important rule for people with unpleasant body odor: you should wear only clothes made from natural fibers: cotton, silk, wool, which allow the skin to “breathe” and prevent sweating. Your daily diet should include a sufficient amount of fluid (at least one glass of water per day for every 30 cm of height). And if you play sports, this amount of fluid should be increased; this also applies to people who are addicted to coffee and alcohol.
Unpleasant body odor - treatment with folk remedies
● Wipe the armpit area twice a day in case of excessive sweating with tincture of horsetail herb in vodka (1:10) or vodka tincture of walnut leaves (1:10). Before use, dilute the tincture with boiled water in a ratio of 1:1 or 1:2.
● If your palms are sweaty, do hand baths for five minutes using an infusion of sage and nettle leaves (1 tablespoon of herbs per 1 liter of boiling water, leave for 30-40 minutes).
● Another recipe for sweaty palms. Make hand baths in the evening before bed with an infusion of white willow bark (brew a teaspoon of powdered raw material with two glasses of boiling water and leave for 8 hours, filter).
● If your face sweats profusely, wipe it in the morning and/or evening with unboiled milk or wash with strong cold tea; After the procedure, do not wipe your face, let it dry!
● Wipe your entire body with excessive sweating with an infusion of peppermint herb (a glass of boiling water per tablespoon of raw material, leave for 30-40 minutes, filter).
● Drink one cup of sugar-free sage tea every day.
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In the summer, you may encounter a serious problem: unpleasant smell of sweat, how to get rid of unpleasant body odor.
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Folk Wisdom, Medicine and Experience
This problem should not be hidden with all kinds of deodorants, but should be prevented and even treated if necessary.
Remember that deodorants do not help in this case, but only block the sweat glands, thereby suppressing their natural work.
Deodorants form a film on the surface that interferes with the removal of toxins from the body.
Unpleasant sweat odor is caused by toxins from the body that rise to the surface of the skin through the sweat glands. To speed up the elimination of toxins, it is recommended to drink at least two liters of water daily.
To further stimulate the detoxification process, add the juice of one lemon per liter of water. Drink this water for at least one week.
For showering, try to use only dermatological products purchased at the pharmacy.
In addition, instead of shower gels and soap, you can use baking soda - it cleanses and disinfects the skin, making it perfectly clean.
Wash your skin very well with a sponge, focusing on areas that produce more sweat to remove excess dead cells or deodorant that are blocking toxin release.
For the underarm area, you can use white vinegar after every shower.
Let the vinegar sit for 20 seconds, then rinse with plenty of clean water. Vinegar eliminates odors, deeply cleanses and disinfects the skin.
Eat more vegetables and fruits, and less spicy and fatty foods, for at least one month. not only increases the amount of sweat, but also enhances its unpleasant odor.
On the other hand, natural and a lot of liquids are very useful for eliminating the smell of sweat.