The armpit odor, like that of the feet and groin, is part of the list of physiological odors, therefore completely natural, regularly emanating from the body. However, when these exhalations exceed a certain threshold of "tolerability", this "odor" is turns into real stink.
The typical odor of underarm sweat, extremely unpleasant, pungent and acrid, is the result of an increased decomposition of the apocrine secretion, operated by the bacterial flora that normally populates the superficial layers of the skin. An unpleasant underarm sweating is caused by the exhalation of butyric compounds (short-chain fatty acids), sulphurous (mercaptans) and proteins (amines and ammonia).
Underarm sweating becomes overabundant (hyperhidrosis) and foul-smelling (bromhidrosis) in some circumstances: it is known that stressful situations and tensions stimulate the apocrine and sweat glands to produce massive amounts of apocrine secretion and sweat. We also remind you that the activity of these glands is also heavily influenced by hormonal stimuli: it is no coincidence that underarm sweating of children during puberty is particularly "nauseating". Lastly, "profuse and / or unpleasant underarm sweating can be linked to some pathologies (eg hyperthyroidism, hypoglycemia, depression, obesity) and to the administration of certain substances (eg antidepressant, thermogenic, cholinergic drugs). Nutrition too, as we shall see, can play an important role.
- Please note: very often, excessive and malodorous underarm sweating can reflect poor or inadequate body cleansing.
