Health expert shares causes of bodily smells – and the best way to treat them

A health expert has detailed the most common bodily smells that many of us face every day – as well as what causes them and how we can keep them at bay for longer

Let’s face it, we all smell.

We might like to pretend we don’t, but from bad breath to general body odour, there are so many parts of our bodies that generate their own funky smells if left to their own devices for too long.

And unfortunately, ridding our bodies of these smells is not always as easy as just brushing our teeth or spraying a bit of deodorant under our arms and hoping no one will notice – as some smells can be the warning signs of something much more serious going on under the surface.

Thankfully, the team behind the digital pharmacy, Medino, have spelt out the most common bodily smells and has even explained what causes them and when to treat them.

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Giulia Guerrini, the lead pharmacist from Medino, says: “The number one thing to avoid if you notice a strange smell is to just hope that an extra bit of deodorant will make it go away.

“Leaving something untreated will make it worse in almost every scenario, bodily smells or not. While it can be awkward, embarrassing and uncomfortable, properly treating these smells is only in your best interest. You owe it to yourself to take care of your body.”

Bad breath

One of the most common smells we all encounter is bad breath – as this can stem from a number of things, including the well-known “morning breath” that plagues us all when we first wake up.

Health experts say bacteria build-up can be caused by surplus food between your teeth and in all areas of your mouth without regular brushing and flossing.

They said: “The bacteria release a sulphuric compound that causes your breath to smell and taste bad.

“Everyone should brush their teeth twice per day for two minutes, if not more often, depending on your eating habits. You can also lightly brush your gums during the day to take care of as much bacteria as possible.”

If you experience severe bad breath for more than three weeks, you could be suffering from an oral disease or infection such as gum disease, which will need treatment from a dentist.

Nipple leakage

You might not expect to discharge from your nipples, but it can happen to both men and women – and when it does, it can carry a pretty bad smell.

Those who are breastfeeding may experience leakage during the day or night and it’s not usually anything serious – but if you’re a woman who isn’t breastfeeding and you leak without applying any pressure to your breasts, you should make an appointment to see a doctor.

For men, any leakage at all is a sign you should see a doctor.

Haemorrhoids

With haemorrhoids, you’ll probably be able to feel them long before you can smell them – but they can cause an unpleasant aroma if left untreated.

Experts say the smell isn’t actually from the haemorrhoids themselves but is instead a result of the mucus-esque discharge that they can produce.

They stated: “You might not think that your haemorrhoids are leaking, but the swelling from haemorrhoids can prevent your anus from fully closing which allows the discharge to leak out.

“Also, the icing on the cake, an untreated haemorrhoid can develop an abscess of pus. Pus, haemorrhoid-related or not, smells gross on any part of the body.”

Body odour

Another common smell we all face is body odour, commonly referred to as B.O.

And while we might stereotypically associate the smell with young people going through puberty, we can all develop a strange aroma through things such as a change to our diet, environment, hormones, or medication.

Bacteria breaks down protein molecules in our sweat, which causes the infamous stench of BO.

The clash between bacteria and protein molecules is most likely to take place around a person’s armpits, belly button, ears, feet, genitals and groin among others.

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