Smelly Sweat: Here's Why You Might Have it

There are many reasons why your sweat might smell. Yet, the smell from sweat isn’t from the sweat itself.

Originally posted on December 22nd 2020

The following written content by Charlotte Hilton Andersen

Smelly Sweat: Here's Why You Might Have it, follow News Without Politics to learn more about the reasons why your sweat smells, most news unbiased, non political news source, health and wellness

If you think your roommate’s lack of deodorant use is highly questionable, know this: Some people actually don’t have smelly sweat. If you’re not one of the lucky ones and are left scouring search results for answers to “why does my sweat smell,” the good news is you have more control over your stench than you think.

Turns out, your armpit doesn’t smell because of the sweat itself, but rather it’s the bacteria that feast on your perspiration that causes the sweat to smell.

Here are nine possible answers to the age-old question of “why does my sweat smell?” Just remember this before you spend too much time on your brand scent: Sweat and smelly armpits are just a fact of life — even more so if you’re an active human being. Go easy on your body; it’s just doing its job.

Stress

If just imagining a blind date makes you sweat, you’re not alone. A majority of people report breaking out into a nervous sweat when confronted with something stressful. Anxiety activates the hormone cortisol in your body, which in turn kicks your sweat glands into high gear. The sweat then gets trapped in your leggings or tank, combines with bacteria, and suddenly you have smelly sweat on your hands.

Certain Clothes

Natural fibers including cotton, wool, and linen soak up sweat from your skin and allow it to evaporate. But while synthetic fibers including Rayon, polyester, nylon, and even some natural fibers such as silk look pretty, their ability to repel water and sweat will make your sweat smell worse in the end. Instead of helping move the sweat away from your skin’s bacteria, these fabrics keep it trapped on the surface. (Related: How to Shop for Sustainable Activewear)

Your Deodorant

A catch-22 of modern hygiene is that the stuff you buy to help keep your armpit smell away may actually be making the problem worse. Ingredients in some antiperspirants, deodorants, body washes, body sprays, and lotions can encourage smelly sweat by giving bacteria more food. Read more from Shape.