What Causes Body Odor?
Why are some areas of the body more prone to smell?
Sanaz Majd, MD
Body odor is known in scientific circles as bromidrosis. The root cause of the socially handicapping odor is our old friend, bacteria. But bacteria aren’t always very friendly; in fact, they are often impolite guests on your body, leaving waste products that are anything but hospitable. The more bacteria there are, the more waste; and the more waste, the more the stink.
Recalling what we learned from earlier articles, bacteria grow well when they have:
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Moisture
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Food to eat
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Warmth
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Proper environment, including things like sodium concentration and pH
Can you guess where on your body bacteria consider prime real estate? Applying the “sniff test” you would guess: armpits, groin, and feet. And you would be right!
Image courtesy of Shutterstock
