Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
Avatar universal

Body Odor

Hello. This is my first post of any kind like this so I am kind of anxious about this but I am very desperate!

To get to the point I was wondering if anxiety of any kind can cause body odor. I have had no help about this on the internet because they all say the same things like, it is normal for everyone or that you have to shower regularly. But for me, this is a bunch of frustrating bull.

This has been going on now for 5 years when I was 11 or so. It began midly to the point where no one noticed the odor I was giving off in my private areas. However, one day in the 6th grade about 3 weeks into September I abruptly began to over sweat my deodorant then it spread to my groin area. The smell keeps changing some in variety but it always evolves around this strange scent off well, groin even in my armpitts. People don't want to sit next to me anymore and some have even spoke loudly of a horrible smell when I was around three feet away. I used to think I was lactose Intolerant becuase I used to get stomach cramps when drinking milk. I stopped consuming dairy but the smell didn't change. I used to not have problems with my bowels but that started recently too at the end of last year. Both problems seem to minimize some when I am not in school which makes me wonder is it anxiety or is it hope that during weekends and breaks I am normal?

I am diagnoised with hyperhidrosis and I was given a perscription for a solution. I put it on my armpitts and my upper/inner thighs all around. My arm pitts don't sweat near as much but I over sweat it right away "down there". The smell doesn't go away at all in either region.

I tend to be very passive to the point where at school especially I have a hard time getting upset or liking anything. But this issue has broken through that and is frustrating me to hell and back. That is why i want to drop out of school and take on-line classes but I know I will be avoiding the problem.

If anyone can think of anyother health problems that may be causing this please speak up. By the way I had blood work done lately and they did not diagnose me with any disease like diabetes or anything so as far as i know I am a clean slate. I have lost 20 pounds recently, that didn't help. Talc or baby powders only modify the smell and make it 10 times more noticable. I drink about 6 glasses of water a day and try to eat salad with every dinner and fruit with every lunch. That doesn't help either. I even exerscise by walking home from school and walking my dog when I am not playing my instruments. This doesn't help at all.

I sincerely thank you if you read this long post.
16 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
1118884 tn?1338592850
Hi,
Hope all the information you've received has helped.
Thanks for asking the question.
I have suffered from anxiety in various forms for many years.  
Noticed after retirement, that my deodorant seemed to have  stopped working.
Really suspected anxiety, but now I am sure.
The body gives off odor...maybe as a primitive protective mechanism?!
Best,
Ann
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi,
I second the Apocrine Bromhidrosis. I have it too mostly in the groin like you do. It starts at puberty because thats when the apocrine glands switch on. Its not the sweat itself but the chemicals your glands are secreting mixing with bacteria that cause the odor. The darkened skin could be a factor, I wonder what your nationality is because AB is more common in dark skinned races and it tends to run in families. You can have it anywhere theres apocrine glands, groin, breasts, armpits, feet. Mine is primarily groin. I went through hell in my early years dealing with this and I would go to doctors thinking it was a vaginal problem only to be left with no answers. It wasnt until visiting a cousin on my fathers side that I became aware that I wasnt the only one. That knowlege started me researching and I was finally diagnosed at 23! by a dermatologist. Anywhoo, a medication I went on to quit smoking, wellbutrin, unexpectedly wiped out about 80% of my symtoms, the doc said this was not a common use for the drug but it does decrease gland secretions. My other regimine has been 1% cleocin lotion applied to the groin everyday, twice if need be, and a clinical strenght antiperspirant(I use certain DRI) applied to my inner thigh and around my pubic mound. This has worked very well for years but lately I have had some break through symptoms and am trying some herbal things to help. My experience:
Im trying yucca extract daily, its a natural internal cleanser. it has alot of health benefits and its used in some pet food to deodorize animals-tastes terrible:-)
Cranberry supplements help reduce odor and there is a product im going to try called crancitrin that is a natural female deodorant
Ive been reading about chloryphyl(sp?) this may reduce odor too.Im going to try that next.

Also, you probably sweat more at school because of anxiety, more sweat= more apocrine secretion= more odor. Your digestive symptoms can be caused by anxiety too. Bottom line sweetie is its a medical condition that can be treated and its not your fault. Do some research into it online-there are even support groups to help you cope if necessary. If your Dermatologist doesnt know about it, go see another dermatoligist.
Take Care
P.S. dont eat Indian food LOL!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thank you everyone. Really. You don't know how good you are making me feel right now...
bromhydrosis, I never even knew what it meant but it seems like such a promising lead. I do have an appointment scheduled for a dermatologist but that is months away. I take back what I said about odd colorations because besides my neck, I have really dark colored inner thighs, they are discolored in a purple-ish gray colored sort of way. Can people with bromhydrosis have that or does it have to do wth something else like management of internal waste product?
The main thing I am immediatley concerned about though is ways to manage it. I wash before i go anywhere, antibacterial soaps don't help. But the thing is, can i do something with my clothes because I get a moldy smell from too much detergent/fabric softner and a yeast smell when I use vineager in the wash. Non denim pants, it oozes through, denim, it oozes through a tiny degree less. Skirts, its still there.
Thank you everyone very much!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi, I think my previous post may have been deleted because I included a quote. I had said that after doing a little research on your symptoms, it sounded like they were related to your apocrine glands, which are in your armpits and groin. There is something called apocrine bromhidrosis, in which the bacterial breakdown of sweat from these glands causes a strong odor. It appears that this can be combined with hyperhidrosis so they need to be treated in concert.



The kind of doctor who specializes in apocrine bromhidrosis is a dermatologist. Share a couple of these links with your parents and see if they will take you to a dermatologist who is familiar with this condition. Best of luck!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
one word...bromhydrosis. i believe thats how its spelled...i have hiperhydrosis all over, and sweat more in my grion, as well as backs of my knees, and lower back, esp my hands and feet. the older i get, it seems the worse it gets. HH is a horrible disease to have, but finally its recognised as a disease. it was so frustrating to go to dr after dr to explain my symptoms, only to have them say, its all in your head. well, not, its not, because if it was, why are my hands dripping with sweat??? job interviews...what a nightmare! i had to drop out of college with a major in fine arts, imagine trying to do a charcoal drawing without completely wrecking it. it *****, and dating...i wont even go into it!

my old boss had the odor but not the sweating, it was an odd dirty smell, and people thought it was because she didnt shower, but i knew about this bromhydrosis, im thinking thats what she has.

i had to fight ins companies to get botox shots in my hands, what at the time were concidered to be 'cosmetic', and cost about 1000$ out of pocket. i fought because why should i have to pay for something that was not cosmetic? and i won, but the botox didnt work. ive had it about 3 different times, and it dosent work for me, i think im resistant or something.

at this point in my life, ive just accepted it as part of myself, and learned how to live with it. im completely honest with people about it, no matter how hard it is, and almost always, the people are understanding and genuine about it, not mean. i even had some guys tell me that sweatyness is sexy, it turned them on, esp my ex...he lovet so touch my lower back when it was all sweaty, he said it was a huge turn on for him...go figure!

i thought id just put that term out there for you though, maybe to helo you with your search. brom is hard to diagnose, and i dont know all that much about it, but maybe if you can research it online you can find out more about it. if you want to talk more, PM me. i will answer whatever i can for you. good luck!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Oops, I meant to post this link instead of the other one twice. It is an ad for an antiperspirant, but it seems to give a clear description of apocrine bromhidrosis.

http://www.odaban.com/UseageGuideOdour.asp?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Dang. Had no idea they would block out something like the word p*ss. And I thought that word for pee was pretty mild. Damn
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Medical. Don't know why though. When my mom tried to schedule the appointment the system wouldn't even let them do it. Any ideas what can I do till then? I try not to feel sorry for myself but its affecting everything and my parents don't even believe just how bad off I am. In fact my dad plays it down and laughs at me everytime it comes up in an arguement which are becoming more frequent because I am becoming more and more frustrated with myself. Like I said, I had blood work done before school and the OBGYN ruled out anything down there. I don't have any odd swelling, any deformities or odd coloring and all my cuts heal just fine. However I have problems with having an excessivley dark colored neck which requires at least 3 clearasil acne wipes to clean. I can smell alot of what I eat on me. For example, I drank soy milk before school and it made me reak really bad like rotted diary milk. I seem to have a base smell of **** and sometimes cat **** and then in the morning house hold cleaners. Any ideas? Anything? oh yeah, I also have problems with irreagular bowel movements which started about half a year ago. I have frequent bouts of constipation followed by diarrhea which always gives me grief with gas during the day and bloating however there is no funny coloration. Could all of these be signs of something together?
Helpful - 0
370181 tn?1595629445
Why do you have to wait until your 16? Is there a medical reason for that or a parental issue?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I can't.have my thyroid checked or anything like that because I have to wait until I am sixteen to get the tests. Dang it!!!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
One more question.....have you had your Thyroid checked?  The hyperhidrosis is associated with Nerves but it could be a hyperthyroid as well in which they could put you on medication.

Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Try Rephresh Gel, its a gel you insert vaginally which lasts up to 3 days. It balances your PH levels and does not have any perfumes or dyes. I am very prone to yeast infections and my OBGYN recommended I use this product & it works so well.  I dont ever have to worry about oder or infections anymore.
Its a little pricey 14.99 at Target  18 or 19 at a CVS/Walgreens but it will get you through 2-3 weeks use of use. And since this seems to be affecting your self esteem its worth the investment and a try.
Best of luck!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Firstly, I have to say I'm sorry for your situation. It is not difficult to understand your frustration.

You ask if anxiety of any kind can cause body odour and the answer to that is yes, it most definetely can.
This has something to do with stress; stresshormones and complicated biochemical activity.
Some say you can actually smell fear and that it is unforgettable to those who've smelled fear in extreme and dangerous situations.

When I was very ill from CFS I had a terrible body odour, the sweat or just odour from my body...I can even start to describe what it smelled like. As a matter of fact that was one of my first "symptoms" even before I got very ill. I noticed that the odour of the sweat from my armpits had changed. I didn't understand what it was back then. It had definetely something to do with the extreme amounts of stress hormones in my body. Now I'm back to almost normal odour, but it varies. Some days I'm surprised that I don't sweat at all(no odour), at other times the "heartnote" definetely has a hint of "sickness".

A friend of mine who's a psychologist told me once that she some times have clients that leave a very strong odour in the room, probably because of  yes....fear.

Another friend told me that when she boards a plane and sits there, scared to death ,her husband always notice that her breath gets very bad due to fear.

Another friend always had an extra top in her bag because she would sweat excessively during the day.  

Having listed all of these anecdotes...the truth is that everyone has their own particular body odour, some stronger than others or just different...but fear/anxiety can be the culprit of an extreme body odour yes.
Unfortunately this can also become a vicious cycle because the more you fear the odour it will be produced by the very fear itself. So you might have had just a little problem in the beginning, but when people started to make comments  you got even more stressed out about it.

I don't know the solution to your problem, but if you do have anxiety issues it might be useful to see a therapist and see if that actually could be of help to you. Just a suggestion.

Best regards,
Nora




Helpful - 0
370181 tn?1595629445
You say your thighs and thigh area are always damp. Dampness means sweat. Sweat comes from glands. Perhaps you should see an endochronologist? Being 15, you are dealing with puberty and your hormones are running rampant............perhaps there is a problem there. Something could just be out of whack which could be put back in whack.............sheesh, I sound like Dr.Seuss, sorry!
I'm sure there is an answer, Sweetie..............don't give up. I'll alert nursegirl to this post and see what she comes up with for you.
Be strong.
Peace
Greenlydia
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I have actually been to an OBGYN recently. Sorry that i wasn't clear but, they did lab tests on me and found that it wasn't anything from the vagin. It seems to be more from the upper thighs and thigh area which, is always damp.

Thank you
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Have you been checked for a yeast infection?  Any itching?  
Helpful - 0
Have an Answer?

You are reading content posted in the Anxiety Community

Top Anxiety Answerers
Avatar universal
Arlington, VA
370181 tn?1595629445
Arlington, WA
Learn About Top Answerers
Didn't find the answer you were looking for?
Ask a question
Popular Resources
Find out what can trigger a panic attack – and what to do if you have one.
A guide to 10 common phobias.
Take control of tension today.
These simple pick-me-ups squash stress.
Don’t let the winter chill send your smile into deep hibernation. Try these 10 mood-boosting tips to get your happy back
Want to wake up rested and refreshed?