How to Know What Causes Body Odor

A person's body odor is individual and can be influenced by many factors, including diet, gender, occupation, mood, health, medication and genetics. If you are having difficulty with body odor and the antiperspirant or deodorant you use does not seem to be working, it may be time to think about what might be causing your body odor.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Talk to your doctor about any prescription medicine you may be taking. Some medicines can cause body odor.
2. Hormonal changes can cause body odor, particularly during puberty.
3. Certain types of foods can cause body odor. These include red meat, highly processed and refined foods, foods which contain large amounts of chlorine such as eggs, and strong-smelling foods such as onions, garlic and curry spices.
4. Some medical conditions can cause body odor. If you cannot determine the cause of your odor through any other means, talk with your doctor about diagnosis.

Tips & Warnings

• If your body odor is noticeably different from the normal type of body odor (for example, if it has a chemical, sweet or fruity type of smell), see your doctor. Some kidney and liver diseases can cause abnormal types of body odor.