What your body odour can reveal about your health and when you need to see a doctor

Smelling bad from time to time is a normal aspect of life, but if your scent suddenly becomes foul, there might be an underlying issue.

Whether it’s from sweating or not taking a shower that day, everyone has smelled not so pleasantly before.

However, usually, it’s nothing that a bit of deodorant under the arms can’t fix.

But if that doesn’t seem to work and you’re also noticing your feet are a bit pongy, it’s best to get that checked out.

According to Kenny Chan, the lead information services pharmacist at Numark, having consistently smelly breath, feet and underarms could ‘provide important clues about your health.’

He said to The Scottish Sun: "Even though it is normal for everyone to have a scent, changes in your body odour can sometimes indicate underlying health issues."

Here’s what your odour could mean.

Smelling badly might be a sign of a health condition. (Getty Stock Image)

Smelly feet

Do you take your shoes off and think, ‘pwhar, that’s a bit much’?

Maybe you’ve got a foot smelling issue.

Chan explained that this could be the fact that you either don’t wash your feet enough or you wear the same shoes and socks for too long.

Or, you could have a fungal infection you’ve not noticed before.

He said: "Athlete's foot is a common fungal infection that can cause a strong odour."

If you think you might, check for itchy or white patches between your toes and request anti-fungal medicines from a pharmacy to treat it.

Or, you could have an excessive sweating issue which ‘can create a moist environment that promotes bacterial growth, leading to odour’.

Bad breath

Also known as halitosis, this could be due to a build-up of bacteria in your mouth if you don’t take care of your oral hygiene.

Or, it could be gingivitis, an early stage of gum disease which makes your breath smell.

You’ll know if it’s gingivitis if your teeth bleed when you brush them, floss or eat hard foods or if you also have red and swollen gums.

If your mouth is dry, it could also give you smelly breath as saliva helps to cleanse the mouth.

Or it could be your diet.

Chan explained: "Foods like garlic, onions, and certain spices can cause temporary bad breath.”

There are also chronic health conditions which could be at play.

Chan said: "Chronic bad breath can be a sign of conditions like diabetes, liver disease, kidney disease, or gastrointestinal issues."

It could be bad hygiene practices. (Getty Stock Image)

Excessive sweating

Sweating is a, of course, normal, but if you find yourself constantly sweating when you’re not exercising or too hot, you may need to see a doctor for something called hyperhidrosis.

There are two parts to the condition, primary hyperhidrosis where you sweat too much without an underlying condition, and secondary hyperhidrosis, where it’s side effect of medical conditions such as diabetes, an infection, the menopause or thyroid problems.

Some meds could also do this too, such as SSRI antidepressants or painkillers.

General body odour

Body odour that just won’t go away could be caused by a variety of things.

This could be your diet if you ear garlic, spices or onions.

Or it could be your hormonal changes such as puberty, menopause or menstruation.

Health conditions can also cause you to smell, from diabetes to liver and kidney disease.

Maybe it’s a simple bacterial or fungal infection.

There’s no need to worry about this unless it’s a ‘sudden, unexplained change in body odour’ and it ‘could indicate an underlying health issue’.

He explained: "A fruity or sweet smell could be a sign of diabetic ketoacidosis, which requires immediate medical attention, and an ammonia or bleach-like smell could indicate liver or kidney problems.

"A fishy smell could be a sign of a bacterial infection.

"When it comes to a persistent foul odour, if good hygiene practices don't resolve the issue, it could be due to an infection or other medical condition.

"If you notice excessive sweating along with a change in odour, it could be due to hyperhidrosis or a thyroid issue."