Body Odour

Body odour is produced by some people when they sweat. The smell is not caused by the perspiration, but by bacteria on the body that breaks down the sweat into products that produce the unpleasant smells.
All of us sweat, or perspire. It is one of the ways that the body regulates temperature and gets rid of waste products from the body, apart from the more obvious methods of body waste removal, such as bowel motions and urine. There are two types of sweat glands: eccrine glands which are all over the body and help to maintain normal body temperature by producing odourless perspiration, and apocrine glands that are in hairy areas, such as the armpits and groin. The apocrine glands start producing sweat at puberty, with the arrival of pubic hair, and produce sweat that contain proteins which cause bad smelling substances when broken down, resulting in odours that can become offensive. Apocrine sweat also contains pheromones that are reputed to cause attraction between people.
Anyone can get body odour, but men often sweat more than women, so are more likely to have body odour. However, being overweight and some medical conditions, such as diabetes, may also cause people to be more likely to develop body odour. Foods like garlic, as well as alcohol, can also be excreted or removed from the body via sweat and produce odours. Anything that makes you more likely to perspire may worsen body odour. Some of us sweat more when stressed, or nervous.

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